Sport Today

by **no one u kno** » Wed, 05 Mar 2003 01:40:57

Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My cheapy Otter
is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items and I'm
right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to increase that
capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

TIA!

by **-----** » Wed, 05 Mar 2003 04:21:41

Add "sponsons" or outriggers...you will drastically hurt the performance
however. Did you test it on the water loaded beyond the limit...it may
be okay

Quote:

> Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My cheapy Otter
> is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items and I'm
> right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to increase that
> capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

> TIA!

by **no one u kno** » Wed, 05 Mar 2003 07:49:19

I'm definitely riding much lower in the stern. I don't want to go
outrigger. I was looking at the floats that go into the bow and/or stern
but I can't really find any info on if they would help me or if are they
more for when you swamp the boat.

Quote:

> Add "sponsons" or outriggers...you will drastically hurt the performance
> however. Did you test it on the water loaded beyond the limit...it may
> be okay

> > Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My cheapy
Otter
> > is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items and
I'm
> > right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to increase
that
> > capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

> > TIA!

by **Richard Baile** » Wed, 05 Mar 2003 09:09:47

To increase capacity you need to either increase volume or modify the hull
design to provide acceptable performance with a greater load. Air bags are
used to exclude water to allow the hull to float higher in case of a capsize
or other event which fills it with water. This allows for easier rescue and
recovery. If you were to fill them with helium you might gain a couple of
pounds (you need to know the volume of the bags to determine the weight
differential between air & helium to calculate the potential lift).

Looking at your post, I am guessing that you meant that you are 210 rather
than 110 lbs, otherwise you would have room for way too much stuff. It looks
like you might need to look elsewhere for another boat if you want to do
more than poking around a bit.

Quote:

> I'm definitely riding much lower in the stern. I don't want to go
> outrigger. I was looking at the floats that go into the bow and/or stern
> but I can't really find any info on if they would help me or if are they
> more for when you swamp the boat.

Quote:

> > Add "sponsons" or outriggers...you will drastically hurt the performance
> > however. Did you test it on the water loaded beyond the limit...it may
> > be okay

> > > Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My cheapy
> Otter
> > > is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items
and
> I'm
> > > right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to increase
> that
> > > capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

> > > TIA!

by **no one u kno** » Wed, 05 Mar 2003 22:14:16

Hehe, 110lbs, you're right, 210 is correct. I guess the only solutions are
a new boat or diet. Neither one of which is appealing :)

Thanks!

Quote:

> To increase capacity you need to either increase volume or modify the hull
> design to provide acceptable performance with a greater load. Air bags are
> used to exclude water to allow the hull to float higher in case of a
capsize
> or other event which fills it with water. This allows for easier rescue
and
> recovery. If you were to fill them with helium you might gain a couple of
> pounds (you need to know the volume of the bags to determine the weight
> differential between air & helium to calculate the potential lift).

> Looking at your post, I am guessing that you meant that you are 210 rather
> than 110 lbs, otherwise you would have room for way too much stuff. It
looks
> like you might need to look elsewhere for another boat if you want to do
> more than poking around a bit.

> > I'm definitely riding much lower in the stern. I don't want to go
> > outrigger. I was looking at the floats that go into the bow and/or
stern
> > but I can't really find any info on if they would help me or if are they
> > more for when you swamp the boat.

> > > Add "sponsons" or outriggers...you will drastically hurt the
performance
> > > however. Did you test it on the water loaded beyond the limit...it
may
> > > be okay

> > > > Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My
cheapy
> > Otter
> > > > is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items
> and
> > I'm
> > > > right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to
increase
> > that
> > > > capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

> > > > TIA!

by **Backyard Renega** » Thu, 06 Mar 2003 03:45:15

Quote:

> Is there anyway to increase the weight capacity of a kayak? My cheapy Otter
> is only rated at 225lbs, and I'm 110. So toss in a couple of items and I'm
> right at the limit. Is there anyway short of a new kayak to increase that
> capacity? Floats, reinforcements, etc?

> TIA!

In order to do what you want to do, you must increase the displacement
of the boat by lengthening, widening, or deepening the boat. Is it
possible? Yes. Is it something you should do, probably not. When you
change an existing hull, you change the way it acts in the water. This
might be ok, or of little concequence, or it may be downright
dangerous.... either way, you can almost bet it won't be as good as
the origionally designed hull. Unfortunately, you really need to ebay
the Otter and buy a bigger boat..
Scotty
Helium....hee hee.....

by **Randy Hodg** » Thu, 06 Mar 2003 07:33:19

One important point here is that the "Recommended Maximum Weight
Limit" is not the same as the "Absolute Weight Limit." This is
particularly true for a recreational boat used on moderate water.

My guess is that there may no be any scientific basis for saying that
the weight limit is 230 pounds. I'd bet that they put the boat in a
pool and put various weights of people in it and asked them, "What do
you think, do you feel comfortable?" They also probably looked at the
trim of the boat.

An Otter with 240 pounds is not going to be that much more dangerous
than one with 210 pounds. Sure, the tail will be lower than the nose
but that in itself is not necessarily a safety issue. My guess is
that you are not doing too much Class IV in this boat.

by **no one u kno** » Fri, 07 Mar 2003 01:22:08

You are right about it uses. Mostly lakes and streams. We are going to do
some paddling in Pamlico sound around Ocracoke island and that's what
worries me about it. I plan on giving it shot and see.

Quote:

> One important point here is that the "Recommended Maximum Weight
> Limit" is not the same as the "Absolute Weight Limit." This is
> particularly true for a recreational boat used on moderate water.

> My guess is that there may no be any scientific basis for saying that
> the weight limit is 230 pounds. I'd bet that they put the boat in a
> pool and put various weights of people in it and asked them, "What do
> you think, do you feel comfortable?" They also probably looked at the
> trim of the boat.

> An Otter with 240 pounds is not going to be that much more dangerous
> than one with 210 pounds. Sure, the tail will be lower than the nose
> but that in itself is not necessarily a safety issue. My guess is
> that you are not doing too much Class IV in this boat.

Sport Today

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?

Anyway to increase weight capacity?