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When you buy a new kayak, you want to make sure it has the capacity to carry you, your gear, and any two or four-legged companions you may wish to take out on the water.
Manufacturers give their kayaks a maximum capacity rating but this figure can be misleading. The practical kayak weight limit is much lower.
Read on to find out how to calculate the size of kayak you need for your weight and intended activity.
What Is a Kayak’s Weight Limit?
A kayak’s weight limit is the total weight a kayak can carry on top of the weight of the kayak itself. This includes you, your paddle, and kayaking gear, plus the weight of any modifications or additions you make to your kayak.
Manufacturers use different methods to calculate the maximum weight capacity for their kayaks. Some use computer modeling programs, while others load weights into a prototype boat. The best companies test the kayak weight limit in real-world conditions, i.e. they get a big guy and his gear to take the kayak out on the water.
It isn’t just the total weight that’s important. The distribution of weight also impacts how a kayak performs under different loads. That’s why in-use tests are likely to give a more accurate weight limit than theoretical calculations.
Bear in mind that a kayak’s base weight is the weight of the hull alone. Accessories such as seats, mounting frames, and motors will all count towards the maximum weight capacity of the kayak.
Maximum Capacity vs Performance Capacity
A kayak’s advertised weight capacity is typically its maximum capacity. This is different from its performance capacity.
The maximum capacity or weight limit is the maximum load your kayak can carry without sinking.
Sounds simple, right? Just load your kayak up with all the gear, and as long as you don’t exceed that magic number, you’re good to go.
Not quite. Your kayak may not sink under the weight of you and your gear, but it won’t be very easy to paddle either. If you go kayaking with a fully-laden boat, you won’t get the kayaking experience you expected and the manufacturer intended.
Some manufacturers give a performance weight limit for their kayaks. This is a more practical figure to use when calculating what size and model of kayak you need. As long as the total weight of you and your gear is less than this figure, the weight won’t affect the performance of your kayak.
How To Calculate What Size Kayak You Need For Your Weight
For optimum performance, the practical weight capacity of a kayak is around two-thirds of its maximum capacity. To keep things simple, let’s call this a 35% reduction.
Manufacturers usually advertise the maximum weight capacity of their kayaks. You can calculate the performance capacity of the kayak as follows:
Performance capacity = maximum capacity x 0.65
For example, if you’re looking at a kayak with an advertised weight capacity of 300 pounds, the total practical load will be 195 pounds (300 x 0.65). If you weigh 210 pounds in your birthday suit, you may want to look at a different model.
If you want to know what size kayak you need based on your weight, then simply reverse the calculation.
Let’s say you weigh 210 pounds and your gear weighs an additional 25 pounds. Add those figures together and you want a kayak with a performance weight of 235 pounds or more. To calculate the maximum capacity, divide this figure by 0.65.
Maximum capacity = performance capacity / 0.65
You want a kayak with an advertised weight limit of at least 362 pounds.
If your phone’s calculator is out of reach (and if numbers just give you a headache) then the table below gives the performance capacity for commonly advertised weight limits.
Kayak Performance Weight Limits
How Much Does Your Kayaking Gear Weigh?
It’s easy to underestimate how much gear you carry on your kayak. Even if you’re just heading out for a short evening paddle, there are items you’ll throw into your kayak without thinking about it.
Here’s some of the gear you may take with you.
If you use your kayak for fishing or overnight trips then you’re likely to carry a lot more gear than what I’ve covered above.
Of course, camping and fishing gear may not be all you need to factor in. If you want to take your dog or child out on the water with you, don’t forget to include their weight in your calculations!
How To Calculate the Total Weight of You and Your Gear
The easiest way to calculate the weight of your kayaking gear is to use whatever scales you have at home. A digital luggage scale is the easiest to use. Use it to weigh an empty backpack. Pack all your kayaking kit into the backpack, then weigh it again. Subtract the weight of the bag from the total to get your gear weight.
If you don’t have luggage scales, then you can wear the backpack or hold your kayaking gear while standing on a bathroom scale. This will give you a total weight for you and your gear.
An alternative method is to weigh each item individually. This is more time-consuming but may be necessary if you have large items such as a kayak cooler or camping gear.
Different Types of Kayak and Their Weight Capacities
Kayaks are designed for different purposes, which means there’s no average weight limit. A kayak intended for multi-day use will have a higher weight capacity than one designed for skipping down whitewater rapids. The material a kayak’s made from can also affect how much weight it can carry.
Let’s look at some of the most common kayak categories and the range of weight capacities you can typically expect to find.
Recreational Kayaks: 250-350 lbs Weight Limit
Recreational kayaks are designed for casual paddling on calm water. They’re intended to be used for short trips and typically don’t have much storage capacity.
You can buy sit-inside and sit-on-top recreational kayaks. Sit-on-top kayaks tend to be more stable and have a higher weight limit.
Budget recreational kayaks have a low weight capacity of 250-300 pounds. Better quality models may stretch up to 350 pounds.
300 pounds may sound like plenty of weight but bear in mind that that’s the maximum capacity. The practical weight limit would be 195 pounds—a little under the average weight of an American man.
Recreational kayaks are a great choice for lighter kayakers, but heavier guys and gals may find they don’t offer enough capacity for their needs.
Weight Capacities of Popular Recreational Kayaks
- Perception Pescador 10 – 325 pounds
- Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 – 320 pounds
- Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 – 250 pounds
Touring Kayaks: 300-350 lbs Weight Limit
Touring kayaks (sometimes called expedition kayaks) look very different from recreational kayaks. Their slim, long profile improves the kayak’s performance in the water and makes paddling more efficient over long distances.
Most touring kayaks are sit-inside kayaks, with hatches in the bow and stern that give access to storage in the bulkheads.
Touring kayaks are designed to carry enough gear for multi-day expeditions. A touring kayak has a slightly higher weight limit than most recreational kayaks—typically between 300 and 350 pounds. Unlike some recreational kayaks, they’re only designed to carry one person, which is why the weight capacity isn’t as high as you might think.
Fishing Kayaks: 350-600 lbs Weight Limit
Anglers tend to have a lot of fishing equipment that they want to take out on the water. Although you can use a recreational kayak for fishing, a specific kayak gives you additional features such as fishing rod holders.
Fishing kayaks typically have a large weight capacity of up to 600 pounds. Their wide, flat design makes them very stable but you do sacrifice maneuverability.
If you’re looking for a stable kayak with a high weight capacity, then it’s worth looking at fishing kayaks whether or not you want to use the kayak for fishing.
Weight Capacities of Popular Fishing Kayaks
- Vibe Kayaks Skipjack – 300 pounds
- Sun Dolphin Boss – 500 pounds
- BOTE Lono Aero Inflatable Fishing Kayak – 400 pounds
Tandem Kayaks: 450-600 lbs Weight Limit
As tandem kayaks are designed to carry two (or sometimes three) people, their weight limit is correspondingly higher.
Many tandem kayaks can be configured for solo paddling, making them a good choice for heavier kayakers who want a recreational-style kayak. Sit-on-top tandems are a great option if you have a dog as there’s plenty of space in the open cockpit for your furry friend.
If you’re intending to carry two or more people in your tandem kayak, pay close attention to the kayak weight limit. For example, the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two is a popular tandem kayak with a relatively low capacity of 425 pounds.
If this is the maximum weight capacity, then the performance weight limit of the Malibu Two is around 276 pounds. That doesn’t give you much weight capacity to play with if one of you is an average or large guy.
Weight Capacities of Popular Tandem Kayaks
- Ocean Kayak Malibu Two – 425 pounds
- Wilderness Systems Pamlico 135 – 500 pounds
- Lifetime Manta 100 – 500 pounds
Inflatable Kayaks: 400-750 lbs Weight Limit
Inflatable kayaks are often ridiculed by serious kayakers as being little more than glorified pool toys, but when it comes to weight capacity, they beat hardshell kayaks hands down.
Modern high-quality inflatables have the rigidity of a solid hulled boat and are extremely buoyant and stable.
Even budget inflatable kayaks have a weight capacity of 400 pounds or more. Top-end kayaks can have a maximum capacity of 750 pounds, making them a great option for larger paddlers or families.
Weight Capacities of Popular Inflatable Kayaks
- Sea Eagle 380X Explorer Inflatable Kayak – 750 pounds
- Bote Zeppelin Aero – 600 pounds
- Intex Explorer K2 – 400 pounds
What Happens If You Exceed the Weight Limit on a Kayak?
Up to a kayak’s performance weight limit, you shouldn’t notice much difference if you chuck a few extra bags in the back of your kayak. Once you start adding weight to the boat above this limit, you’ll notice the performance drop. It’ll be harder to paddle and maneuver your kayak and you may find that it feels less stable.
As you approach the maximum weight limit, your kayak will start to feel overloaded. An overloaded kayak will sit lower in the water. This makes it more likely that water will splash over the edges into the cockpit. If you have a sit-on-top kayak, water may come up through the scupper holes.
If you exceed your kayak’s maximum weight capacity, then the boat will sink even lower and may begin taking on water, particularly if the weight is loaded at the stern of the kayak. You’ll find it really hard work to paddle and may start wishing you’d stayed closer to shore!
This video shows you this happening in practice:
Best Kayaks for Big Guys and Gals
When taking into account the 65% rule for calculating a kayak’s usable weight capacity, the choice of kayaks for larger paddlers becomes more limited. However, as the highest weight capacity kayaks have a usable weight limit of over 450 pounds, there’s still plenty of choice on the market.
If you’re worried that you may be too heavy for a recreational kayak, then a hybrid fishing kayak may give you some extra weight capacity. Inflatable kayaks often have a higher weight capacity than hardshells—plus, they’re easier to transport.
Here are five of the best kayaks with a listed weight capacity of 500 pounds or more:
- Bote Zeppelin Aero – 600 pounds (inflatable)
- Sea Eagle 380X Explorer Inflatable Kayak – 750 pounds (inflatable)
- Sun Dolphin Boss – 500 pounds (hardshell)
- Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler – 650 pounds (inflatable)
- Vibe Kayaks YellowFin 130T – 500 pounds (hardshell)
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Once you know how to calculate the performance weight limit of a kayak, you can make sure you buy one that’s the right size for you.
Lightweight recreational kayaks will suit smaller paddlers, whereas inflatables are ideally suited to families and big guys and gals. There’s a perfect kayak for everyone—you just need to find it!