big people paddling Posted by: PeregrineNorth on Jun-17-12 8:42 AM (EST)
1) good for you man! 2) think about adding outriggers A very heavy and weak woman came to me for a private lesson years back. She had to more or less roll off the kayak deck onto the shore to get off the SOT and get up. She was so determined that we put some after market canoe outriggers on to provide more stability. Took some practice but next year she was back sans outrigger and with more upper body strength taking another lesson. The following year she was 100 lbs lighter and in a new boat.. 3) she told me that walking and gym work were fraught with constant injury due to the already overworked strain on her tendons from all the extra weight. She could never keep up with friends on the bike path and was always demoralized and embarrassed. But on WATER she was more equal and didn't stress her body and the end results were astonishing and a gateway to a new life. 4) great advice by posters about getting a PFD that works and bypass the shorter kayaks and get a 14 footer in a SOT. Yes they will be very heavy to transport but there are many ways to deal with that