So, you are about to set out on your kayak after the festive period and think that you may have put on a couple of pounds. So, you have searched for an explanation of a kayak weight limit in the hope that you haven’t destroyed your chances of a kayak fishing weekend.
First of all, there are many questions that we see about kayaks and their weight limits. In this article, we will try to address them in detail so that you have a full understanding of weight limits.
Kayak Weight Limit Explained
Before we get into the article, we will take a look at what some of the more popular questions surrounding a kayak and its weight limit are:
- Do kayaks have weight limits?
- How accurate are they?
- What if you exceed the limit?
- What is the weight capacity for a tandem kayak?
- The weight limit for an inflatable kayak.
- The average weight limit for a kayak.
- The weight limit for a sea kayak.
The questions that I have listed above are some of the most common that we see. However, it is not a complete list. We will try to answer them as we go through the article.
Do Kayaks Have Weight Limits?
Yes, they do. Depending on the manufacturer, and the specifications of the kayak, it can change quite a lot. However, they will still have a rated capacity.
First of all, I would like to point out that a kayak will get wet inside it. No matter how light or heavy you are. Secondly, we all know that when you buy a kayak, there will be a weight capacity rating somewhere with it. It may be printed or stamped into the boat. Alternatively, it may be with the manual that you got. Either way, unfortunately, that number is not the weight that you, as the occupant, can be.
For example, the Vibe Skipjack 90 has a rating of 300lbs. However, if you load it with 300lbs of weight, you will undoubtedly be sat in the water. It will still keep you buoyant, but it will be pretty useless for anything other than that.
If you put the rated capacity of weight into a sit-on-top kayak, the waterline will be at the same level as the top of the boat. You are, therefore, rendering it pointless and unusable. Of course, before you all slander me and say that I am wrong because you have a 300lb rated yak, and you weigh 300lbs, and it is fine, it is undoubtedly wetter and slower, and more uncontrollable than a 350lb version would be.
How Accurate Is A Kayak Weight Limit?
Honestly, no one knows, except for the individual manufacturers. Unlike regulated items, such as lifting tackle (which is proof tested to 125% of maximum working load), kayak manufacturers have less stringent rules.
Although that doesn’t particularly answer the question. So, there are three ways in which you can find out, or have an educated guess at the accuracy:
- Contact the manufacturer. – Speaking directly to the makers and distributors of the boats is by far the best way to see what sort of weight they will comfortably hold you out of the water.
- Test individual kayaks. – Many people have preferred brands of everything that they buy. So, if you find that you really like a Pelican Argo 100XP, but you weigh 300lbs, you could check the returns policy and try it.
- Remove a percentage. – This method is a simple yet effective way to ensure you will be able to use the kayak after you buy it. I usually stick to around 20-25% less. So, a 300lb limit turns into 240-260lbs.
It may seem excessive to remove such a large amount of weight, but you will enjoy the experience much more if you are out of the water. However, just because that is what I do, it doesn’t mean that you have to. If you already own a kayak, the best thing that you can do is to see how close you can get to the limit without it being useless.
What Happens If You Exceed The Limit?
You get wet.
Seriously though, as there is no specific “kayak weight limit,” the only thing that we can do is try to give you examples.
- If you are under the weight limit by a lot, you will find that it could be too buoyant, making it prone to capsizing with weight shift or tight turns.
- As you move the weight up, you will find that it becomes more controllable, easier to use, and more enjoyable.
- When you start to pass an “optimum” weight, the kayak will start to become slow, sluggish, and less responsive.
- Reaching the limit, you will find it a very uncomfortable, slow, and unresponsive, not to mention hard work to paddle.
- If you exceed the limit a bit, the kayak will sit at the same height as the waterline, making the above issues worse.
- Taking it further, you will find it sat under the water, wanting to return to the surface as quickly as you give it a chance. That could be by leaning over the side, causing it to come to the surface without you.
As you can see from the points above, you are far better to try and find a kayak that accommodates your weight, with the capacity to spare. That is especially true if you are going to fish in it. Do not forget the added weight of tackle and landed fish!
Here are some fantastic fishing kayaks for beginners.
What Is The Weight Capacity For A Tandem Kayak?
As with the rest of the article, there is no magic number that we can give you here. However, do not think that you can double the weight it will hold because it is a tandem.
I have seen some with 425lb capacity, and others with 550lb. I am confident that there are some models with more or less capacity, but this is the most common range that I personally have seen. Even so, the limits for a tandem will have the same issues as a single-seater.
The Weight Limit For An Inflatable Kayak
An inflatable kayak will have a lower weight limit than a hard-shell, that much is certain. However, you can still get some pretty high capacity inflatables. In fact, the rated capacity of a Sea Eagle 370 Pro is 650lbs.
It is labeled as a three-person kayak, although there are only two seats. The weight limit is capable of holding three people, but if you are using it for fishing, you will only want two at the most.
On the other hand, though, some single-seaters have a rated capacity of closer to 220lbs. Therefore, if you apply the “guess and hope” method of removing a percentage, you will see that about 176lbs is the most you want to load it with. Bear in mind, though, that if you do not inflate it enough, that limit will reduce quite a lot.
Average Weight Limit For A Kayak
The average weight is perhaps a little more simple to give. For this, I have taken the weight limits of three kayaks in each of the categories and taken the average:
- Single-seat, sit-on-top, hard shell. – 275lbs
- Single-seat, sit in, hard shell. – 278lbs
- Single-seat inflatable. – 240lbs
- Tandem, sit-on-top, hard shell. – 496lbs
- Tandem, sit in, hard shell. – 550lbs
- Tandem, sit-on-top, inflatable. – 466lbs
Again though, bear in mind that these numbers are the maximum rated capacities, not a tested limit, so you will still want to err on the side of caution. However, it does give you a good baseline for which is most suitable for you.
Sea Kayak Weight Limit
Sea kayaks often have a larger weight limit so that they can handle the battering that they may get. However, it is not unlikely for you to find some of them that have the same capacity as a standard single-seater.
On the other hand, I have seen some, like the Vibe Sea Ghost 130, that boasts a vast 550lbs capacity. Therefore, if you want a kayak capable of more than rivers, but still want to go on a lake from time to time, or if you are a bigger person, then a sea kayak may be the best option. I would still be inclined to take a percentage into account while you are choosing one, though.
Conclusion
I hope that this article has explained the weight limits of kayaks a little for you. I wish that I could have given you a bit more concise answers to the questions you may have, but it really is not that simple. It is a little bit like shoe sizes from different brands, they are never quite the same, even if they have the same number on them.
I would always err on the side of caution when you are choosing a kayak. If you are 250lbs, aim to buy one rated for 300. That should give you some extra capacity for some fishing equipment, too. If possible, test them for a maximum weight within the return period, too. There is nothing worse than buying a kayak that is unsuitable, and not being able to exchange it.
