What Size Kayak Do I Need For My Weight?

The world of water sports is an exciting one, and there are many different pursuits within it that can help keep you fit while having loads of fun.

Kayaking is a popular choice for both kids and adults, and it is common for towns to have a club or organisation you can join to provide you with everything you need.

If you’ve never done kayaking before, it’s easier than ever to get started, so why not get the whole family involved?

There are certain things you will need to take into consideration before diving in headfirst, to make sure you’re properly prepared.

One of these is the size of kayak you use – kayaks come in various sizes, each of which has a different weight limit.

It is not quite as simple as it may sound, so you should think carefully about all the factors involved before making your decision. That way, you can keep everyone safe and maximize your enjoyment. 

What Different Kayaks Are There?

The first thing you’ll want to do is find out what kind of kayak you want. This will depend on what you want to do with it, where you intend to go, and how often you plan to use it.

You will also need to consider whether you would like to paddle solo or if you’d prefer to bring along others.

If you are planning on taking up kayaking as a hobby, then you might be looking at getting something smaller and lighter. Recreational kayaks tend to be easier to maneuver and handle, but they aren’t necessarily ideal for long trips. 

They are good for beginners because they are less intimidating, as well as being more affordable. However, once you become more experienced,

you may decide that you want something a bit bigger and heavier. Touring kayaks are ideal for serious kayaking over long distances.

A large kayak will usually weigh around 50 pounds, although there are models that are much larger. For example, the longest recreational kayaks are around 12 feet and weigh 70 pounds,

whereas performance kayaks can be up to 18 feet and 120 pounds! It really does depend on your personal requirements as to how big your kayak will be.

It is also good to know that kayaks are designed to be used by people of varying weights. Some manufacturers even offer different models that cater to different needs.

For example, you could opt for a kayak that is suitable for children, teenagers, or adults. Each model will have a different weight limit, and you should choose one accordingly.

Weight Capacity

Every kayak available will have its own weight capacity that it can take. However, this does not mean that any person who is below the stated weight can safely use that kayak.

You should always keep safety in mind when choosing a kayak, and this includes knowing the limits that you’re working with.

If you are going to be doing a lot of paddling, you will probably want to look for something with a larger capacity. This means that you can carry more equipment, food and other supplies.

Therefore, you will need to take this into consideration, as it will all add extra weight alongside your own body weight.

The maximum capacity of a kayak represents the largest amount of weight it can hold without sinking.

It isn’t the optimum weight that you should aspire to put in it, and it certainly won’t perform as well when closer to its limit than it does with a bigger leeway. 

The figure is calculated based on physics and precise measurements, and even one pound over the limit could have catastrophic consequences.

However, not all manufacturers use the same formula to determine their kayaks’ weight capacity, so it will mean different things for different models.

Ideally, you should be looking for a kayak with a weight limit that is comfortably above your own weight, so you can hit a decent performance level and won’t hinder your kayaking progress.

For most recreational kayaks, the weight capacity is somewhere around 250-300 pounds, although some are built to hold more than that.

How To Choose A Kayak Based On Weight Capacity

There is a straightforward method you can use to establish what weight capacity a kayak needs to have to be able to perform at its best.

It will be based on the combined weight of your body and anything else you’ll need to have in the kayak with you. 

Since most kayak manufacturers give their capacity in pounds, you should work out your weight in pounds first, so you’re using the same units for everything.

Taking into account optimal performance, the best kayak would be one with a weight limit that is 125 pounds more than you yourself weigh.

In other words, your weight should be up to 30% less than the kayak’s capacity, as that is a reasonable amount for the kayak to hold to operate well. 

The calculation to find out the maximum functional weight for a certain kayak is to multiply its stated maximum capacity by 0.7, which is the 30% we’ve already mentioned.

For example, for a kayak with a 300 pound weight limit, you should weigh 210 pounds in total.

You can also work it out the other way round, if you want to know what weight limit you need your kayak to have to support your weight.

An example would be if you personally weighed 180 pounds, and you had a further 30 pounds of equipment to bring with you.

This would add up to 210 altogether, so you then divide that by 0.7 to get the bigger number: 300 pounds. Therefore 300 pounds is the smallest weight limit your kayak should have.

You can choose a kayak with a higher weight capacity than you need, but bear in mind that you may then be too light to achieve a high level of performance, since your mass actually helps to power the kayak. 

We suggest that you choose a kayak designed for your age or weight group, so you can be as close to the recommended weight for that kayak as possible.

Conclusion

The key to choosing a kayak is knowing how much weight it can hold while still offering a high performance output.

This means that you should still weigh significantly less than the maximum capacity the manufacturer states, because otherwise the rowing action may be compromised and move you too slowly through the water. 

It is also more likely that accidents will happen if you overload the kayak, so it is best to stay well under that level anyway.

If you use the formula we’ve given above, you should be well on your way to finding the perfect kayak for your size and weight.