Weight and Shoe size
Its no fun toting a long boat up the mud bank of a river and through the trees to portage. You’ll have to lift 2/3 of it out of the water to get up an 8’ bank, and then it’ll start to twist on the tail. Once up there, it doesn’t wind through the saplings and brush real well.
For me, at 6’2" and 300, the thing becomes an uncomfortable bit of compromise - how short can I go? Will it float me and a middling lunch without wallowing around? Is the cockpit large enough to work with my aging knees? Does it track and glide well enough to take it out on the lake?
At the moment, a Perception Sundance 12 is working fine. Maybe an Acadia? …a bit smaller cockpit and a bit less weight rating.
Ditto the sundance
But I think the acadia’s cockpit is a bit small for a big guy. The sundance has a much larger cockpit witch will give you more room and a better experience.
boats for big men
I am similar sized,paddled 40 yrs. Best Kruger Dreamcatcher or Seawind. Another good boat Easy Rider Eskimo 18’6". Do not go under 23"-24" beam to carry your weight and be stable enough to concentrate on forward progress instead of balance. Get a boat that tracks with rudder down and turns easy with rudder up, not tracks with rudder up and needs rudder to turn.
Tempest 180
I’m about 6’3" and bought a WS Tempest 180 last year when I weighed about 240. It’s my first kayak and I’m very happy with it. I could squeeze into a Tempest 170 but for safety reasons I thought I might not get out very fast. The Tempest 180 is very comfortable.
big guy kayaks
Hi, 6’7" and 300# here… I think we can talk “big guys”. Of course, whatever you decide, make sure you paddle it before you buy…Being comfy or “fitting it” on the showroom floor does not mean its going to handle well…etc. One thing to keep in mind is whether your height is in your legs or torso. If legs, consider the size of the front of the cockpit (keyholes are very restrictive if you have long legs). Also, how big are your feet. Kayaks taper and a large foot (size 14", for example) may not fit at the point along the taper down by the foot braces. Check the dimensions of the boat, a higher “depth” measure means its a taller cockpit and easier to enter, especially with long legs.
Another concern. IF you have to sit back on the aft cockpit to get those long legs down into a boat, make sure that aft cockpit deck area is reinforced. You can crack your deck with too much pressure. Try to get the narrowest boat you can IF you want to have a responsive boat. Some of the “Big guy” boats are just too darn wide. Wide is good for stability, but perhaps too limiting with speed, maneuvering, etc. Necky makes some nice larger kayaks, as does Current Design. I think Wilderness System has some larger boats, too.
GOOD LUCK…demo paddle first!
Solstice Titan LV
I tried the Solstice Titan and it was to big. Then I tried the Titan LV low volume version and it was great fit for me. If memory servers it is 3/4" lesss in hight, I didn’t think that would make a diference but it did.
Good luck.
Anything by Prijon
Except the Catalina.
MDM
How would you know?
In another posting you claim you are only 155 lbs, so how can you say what works for a big guy?
If you must get your jollies out of creating an alter ego, at least try to be consistent.
Necky Eskia, CD Storm
Necky Eskia, CD Storm are both plastic “big guy” boats that can often be found used locally, or sold from various outfitters stock of boats as they buy new.
Most Prijons as well, but they are harder to find and often cost more, even used.
Pungo 140 works well for this big gal
With my issues and history I’m lucky to be paddling at all. You can buy a new one for about $800.00 I think. Weight of Pungo is 53 lbs which is manageable enough.
Kayak for tall man
I am 6’5" and 215 with a 36 inseam. I have found only one kayak that fits well. The Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145. The key is that it has more depth. This kayak is very stable and surprisingly fast. It works great for me on both lakes and rivers. I found a great deal on amazon at this location: http://amzn.to/MiHvQl