Boat Size

[Josh Sanford]

How seriously do you take the manufacturer's listings about boater weights? For instance, several "normal" size boats top out at around a 190 to 200 lb paddler. If you are 205, do you get the jumbo boat that fits paddlers up to 280?

I am soliciting all opinions.

[Cowper]

I feel strongly both ways.

Some factors to consider:
1) The manufacturer wantsto want to make the boat appeal to more paddlers, so most "stretch" the recommended weight ranges. So being near the "middle" of the range is a safe bet in many cases.
2) Your skill level. If you are highly experienced and have good or above average natural balance, then pushing the upper limits of what the manufacter recommends is OK. Folks getting started, or with poor balance, willl want to be in the bottom half of the recommended range.
3) What do you weigh "wet"? I carried in my gear bag last night, and weighed it while the gear was still wet. PFD, rope, day bag, wet suit booties, etc added up to over 20#. And my dry suit was in a different bag. Summer gear is a different story.
4) For play boats that you want to get vertical in, being near the "heavy" end of the range is good. For creek boats where you want to stay on the surface, being no higher than the mid-point of the range may be more desirable.
5) Getting a boat too small will make it seem unstable. Getting a boat too big will make it feel like the boat is performing sluggishly and getting pushed around by the water currents.

[Charlie Ford]

What about folks like myself? I am a big guy that is new to the sport but there are very few playboats I can fit in. I am at the top range of those boats so does that mean that I must learn a lot quicker then someone that is a mid sized paddler? I know the easy answer is to just lose weight, but with that said I'm still not a little guy.

[Cowper]

One possible answer (there are probably several) would be to focus on having (or getting) a good roll to compensate for a slight increase in the number of times you will be upside down, and maybe insert a small extra degree of caution into what you choose to run. What that means depends on where you are skill-wise, but I'm thinking of things like avoiding getting on anything that is near flood stage, maybe knocking 1/2 class off what you would otherwise choose to run. On the things you do run, don't be overly timid, or that will just slow down your learning curve.

[Josh Sanford]

So if I am 220 with my gear and stuff, then how do you think I fit in a boat with a weight range of 155 to 280. Sounds like I am about right in the middle of the range, right?

The reason I ask is that I am interested in a creek boat but it seems SOOOOO big!

[jjones03]

im 160-165 and i paddle a fluid solo L. i think im completely under the manufacturer suggested weight range.

[RomanLA]

I am a big guy that is new to the sport but there are very few playboats I can fit in. I am at the top range of those boats so does that mean that I must learn a lot quicker then someone that is a mid sized paddler?

If you're wanting to throw cartwheels and loops, then you want to be near the top of the weight range. It will allow you to throw the boat around easier...especially practicing on flatwater. You'll flip a lot while you're learning to paddle, but if you want to be a playboater, you might as well get used to it!

So if I am 220 with my gear and stuff, then how do you think I fit in a boat with a weight range of 155 to 280. Sounds like I am about right in the middle of the range, right?

The reason I ask is that I am interested in a creek boat but it seems SOOOOO big!

Yeah...sounds like you're fine on the weight range. I'd look at the boat in person and demo it if possible though. I paddle a river/creek boat, but it looked tiny sitting next to a Mega Rocker this weekend.

[Max Carruth]

This guy says he's asking because he's shopping for a creekboat. At your weight with gear (220lb) you might find a mid size that you will like but Im gonna say your in the large size of every line of creekboats. The mega rocker is a huge boat but for the right person its idea. It might not be idea for you. There are plenty of other options out there. Creekboat=safety and safety= more volume (in most cases). Always paddle the boat before you purchase!!!
Max

[Josh Sanford]

I did upper Richland last week in my LL CR250, and I thought by the time it was over I would be better off in a bigger boat--I just didn't think I would have to go from 66 gallons to 87 or so, which is what the larger creek boats usually run.

[okieboater]

Not all, but around here, most creek boating is done in colder weather and often times it is either flood or close to flood stage when the good creeks run.

It was mentioned in this thread but deserves mentioning again :

"It is not just you, It is you, your heavy winter layers and all the stuff most creekers put in the stern of their boat" This includes extra water, extra food, bivy gear, rescue gear and the list goes on. I know Fish used to carry a good sized buck saw and small ax in his stern and they got a lot more use than most would guess.

Do not under estimate the weight of all this stuff.

Like others have mentioned, my opinon is you can push the weight recommendations on current play boat designs.

When you start creeking the steep and gnar, short daylight hours, difficult terrain etc my recommendation is go large on the boat size.

Current Creek boat designs have come a long ways since I was doing a lot of creeking. Hard to pick a bad one from the current offers. Minor differences, depending on the maker.

I weigh in around 220, 6 ft and last year purchased a Mega Rocker from OOO. Got it for a kayak self support Selway trip but ending up using it for a lot more runs.

It is a big boat but paddles much smaller. I ended up taking it all over last season because the thing is so comfortable. Probably cheating to call it a river runner, but it makes things a lot easier no matter what the run involves.

Point is weight ranges are just guesses, most of us carry a lot of extra weight in the boat and when you hit the gnar, big is good.

The best thing is to demo paddle designs and talk to other boaters who creek a lot and are close to your size.

[Cowper]

I know Fish used to carry a good sized buck saw and small ax in his stern and they got a lot more use than most would guess.

Small axes are for girly men.



On an unrelated note, when Jessica and I ran Richland Monday, we noticed that the dead tree that had fallen across the rapid below Green Rock is now gone. Looks like a large beaver chewed it in two or something.

[okieboater]

Jeez Cowper, you got a 2000 pound winch hidden away in that boat as well!!!

No wonder you can do stern squirts so well

I am impressed with that ax, looks similar to one used by firemen or forest fire teams

[Cowper]

Inherited from DeBo's father. I just wish I could use it with one-half of the skill he still possessed at age 70.

[Clif]

Aw, c'mom Dave, don't encourage him.

[okieboater]

I am looking forward for Cowper to design and sell a water proof, non poluting chain oil , mini chain saw that fits in the back of most creek boats.

That along with Father in law's axe would give Cowper the edge over any hand powered saw I know of.

Don't count Cowper out on anything, any one who sneeks into the river kitchen to clean up left over uncooked blueberry pancake mix and cake batter has to be unique, even for the ACC.