cheaterparts wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 3:43 pm
do the quick sums 125 kg max load 100 kg your kayaker 17 kg weight of the boat ( yes it will be in the equation ) and least a kg for the paddle
so that is now 118 kg from 125 leaving 7 kg for extra weight like wet clothing over dry and we haven,t even thought about fishing gear or a bottle of water
add to this both boats are way to short for the bay - calm days don't always stay that way and a short kayak is hard enough to paddle in good conditions
I never really advise anyone heading out on the bays to paddle anything under 4 meters ( 3.6 meters at a pinch ) and for a guy at 6' 6" and 100 kg you will need the extra weight capacity
kayaks get less stable as they get near or over the max capacity and taller the guy the less stabile as well as the centre of gravity also is higher
both these kayaks are pool toys or calm skinny water boats
So long as the paddler is in water no deeper than they can stand up in, the smaller/shorter yaks will be ok. Otherwise, I’d also strongly recommend a kayak 3.6m or longer - should be plenty that are fairly cheap in the 2nd hand market. Reason being winds on calm days can and do stir up unexpectedly, then when the short kayak can’t be steered back to shore in a strong offshore wind, you may as well be out in 20m of water if you can’t jump out and drag the kayak back to shore.
This is very similar to, if not the same as my first kayak which handles wind fairly well, could probably buy it cheaper than advertised
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/researc ... 1309294911
I am only so cautious of conditions because I have been unexpectedly caught out before. Had I been in a less capable kayak, I would’ve been in strife, probably requiring rescuing.