Importance of kayak weight

Redcedar

Redcedar

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My first kayak weighed about 62 lbs , it was a hand layed up Nordkapp. I really liked the boat but it was a heavy carry for any distance and though I was a fit 138 lb a lighter weight kayak was desired.

Now 25 years later I'm a not quite as fit 152 lb and paddle a 25 lb skin on frame kayak most of the time.

Just wondering what other people think about kayak weight.


` feels like spring `
 
Now that I have two kayaks I can appreciate the advantage of a lighter boat. I've weighed my Explorer on a cheap bathroom scale, and it came in at just under 75 lbs. I weigh less than 130. So it's a handful to get to the water at times. But once it's afloat, the only real difference is going to be the amount of effort it takes to accelerate or slow the boat - and more often than not, boat design makes a bigger difference than weight. My Tern 14 weighs just under 40 lbs and it's a treat to be able to throw on my shoulder and carry down to the water. But when I'm heading out for a paddle and have to decide which boat to take, I usually decide based on the type of paddle I'm going on - ie the speed I want to sustain, or conditions I'll likely encounter, or what I want to practise etc. - rather than the weight. I have no regrets about buying such a heavy boat, as I know it'll take a lot more than the lighter boats, so if I'm playing in rock gardens and it's likely I may get hung up on a rock or collide with an 'immovable object' I know that if I survive, the Explorer will probably get me through it relatively unscathed.
 
Hi Mark - 75 lbs for the Explorer , is that plastic ? I imagine you use a cart for longer hauls. Do you find the Tern 14 slower than the Explorer ? I've paddled the Tern 14 and liked it quite a bit.
 
75 lbs for an Explorer?

8O

must have been a firday afternoon job ;)

they mostly weigh in around the 60 lb mark these days, god love'em!
 
My Telkwa Sport is 58 lb and being a woman, I do have to watch where I put in (and thus take out) if I'm alone...it gets pretty heavy loading it back up when it's wet! :roll: Other than that, I don't see that weight matters.
 
I know - I've often doubted that my scale is very accurate for that figure. I'll have to re-weigh some time. But I think it's close (it's definitely a heavy boat!).

Redcedar, yes, the Tern 14 is definitely a slower boat as far as hull speed is concerned. Paddling at a comfortable pace, I don't find I have to work too much harder to keep up with most leisurely paddlers. But when I get out with the more, uh, 'hard core' crowd, it's definitely harder to keep up. And when a sprint starts, I'm off the back in no time. The Explorer is not considered a fast boat either, but it's definitely easier to maintain a higher pace.

Of course, while they might be able to catch me faster when I'm in the Tern, its slippery deck and lack of toggles makes it harder for anyone to grab the boat to flip me over! :twisted:
 
Any advice on how to weigh my 21ft long triple? It feels close to 90+ pounds and it is too big to hold while stepping on a scale.
 
Kea here's 3 ideas.
#1 a truck scale, but may not be super accurate.
#2 2 people with fish scales on each end, combine readings
#3 2 floor scales on each end, combine readings.
 
rider said:
#1 a truck scale, but may not be super accurate.
Click to expand...

Actually you might be surprised (I was!). I once drove by one of these commercial scales after visiting the doctor in the morning. I was wearing the same clothes as when I weighed myself on the doctor's scale so I drove onto the scale and weighed my car just for fun. I then jumped out of the car and off the scale; the displayed weight decreased by exactly the amount that I had shown on the doctor's office scale an hour previously! True story! :D

I didn't try standing on the scale without the car so I don't know if it's accurate from zero, but the difference (with weight on the scale) seemed to be bang on.

BTW that's not how I weighed my Explorer... but perhaps I should (the scale is only a few miles from my house...)

8)
 
rider said:
Kea here's 3 ideas.
#1 a truck scale, but may not be super accurate.
#2 2 people with fish scales on each end, combine readings
#3 2 floor scales on each end, combine readings.
Click to expand...


Is combining readings as simple as adding the two weights together or is there some formula involved?
 
kea, just set the boat on a couple of saw horses, one at either end of the boat, and then position the scale near one saw horse, stand on the scale, and lift the boat barely off the saw horse while you stand on the scale and read it. Repeat on the other end. Add the two figures together and subtract twice your own body weight.

Don't lift the boat a long ways above the saw horse, or you'll have to do some trig to compensate. :wink:
 
why wouldn't you just pick the boat up and see the weight difference, I don't get why you would weigh each end separately. Surely even the worst scale is linear within 3lbs over a 70lbs range?
 
Doug said:
why wouldn't you just pick the boat up and see the weight difference, I don't get why you would weigh each end separately. Surely even the worst scale is linear within 3lbs over a 70lbs range?
Click to expand...
Original question: Any advice on how to weigh my 21ft long triple? It feels close to 90+ pounds and it is too big to hold while stepping on a scale.He can't hold onto it while on a scale, I guess.
 
Dave is right, the boat is just too heavy, too wide, and too long for one person to hold it and also balance on a narrow scale. Believe me I have tried it. The one time I got the boat steady and got on the scale, I looked down and couldn't see the scale cause the boat was in the way! I almost threw my back out so I wont be trying that again.
 
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with a 75 pound Explorer. It's my tank that I guide in so I love it.
 
I've read that a lighter kayak slows down more between strokes than a heavy kayak. That sounds correct but then it depends on the hull shape and the actual waterline length.

Any experts on fluid dynamics here'bouts ?
 
Redcedar said:
I've read that a lighter kayak slows down more between strokes than a heavy kayak.
Click to expand...
Yup. Other things being equal. 'Course, you really need to consider the total load, especially the paddler. BTW, this is why I pack around about 30 extra pounds ... so my glide is better. :wink: :wink:
 
Yeah, and we won't talk about the extra effort needed to get a heavier boat up to speed.
 
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