The Case For Lightness - Canoeing / Kayaking

Table of Contents

The Case For Lightness - kayakjak - Feb-09-13 2:56 PM
- Weighted Kayak - willi_h2o - Feb-09-13 4:36 PM
  - some - gjf12 - Feb-10-13 12:40 PM
  - Willi_h2o's statement about a paddle - shirlann - Feb-14-13 9:51 AM
    - Actually... - kayakjak - Feb-14-13 3:56 PM
- yes and no - pblanc - Feb-09-13 4:59 PM
  - Good points - kayakjak - Feb-09-13 5:07 PM
- You are absolutely correct in your .. - Jackl - Feb-09-13 5:54 PM
  - Lighter Boat Accelerates Faster - clydehedlund - Feb-11-13 5:48 AM
- weight distribution - angstrom - Feb-10-13 4:08 PM
- Lighter boat - tkamd - Feb-10-13 4:27 PM
- The biggest advantage I find to having.. - Bob_d - Feb-11-13 4:21 AM
- That doesn't look comfortable to me - Waterbird - Feb-14-13 8:31 PM
  - I'll give it the butt test next month - kayakjak - Feb-14-13 10:50 PM

Messages in this Topic

  Weighted Kayak
  Posted by: willi_h2o on Feb-09-13 4:36 PM (EST)

Kayaks were designed to carry things, people, cargo;
and often perform ""better"" with ballast in them.

If you want to go light - get a light paddle.
That highly repetitive movement is where the grams count.

  some
  Posted by: gjf12 on Feb-10-13 12:40 PM (EST)

Some kayaks are designed to carry stuff and land on rocky shores. Others are designed to go fast, surf, etc. If 95% of your outings are day trips, then light is very nice indeed. There is nothing like a very light paddle combined with a very light boat.

I tried to get the P&H Cetus in a very light layup with no day hatch and no front storage hatch, but they refused.

  Willi_h2o's statement about a paddle
  Posted by: shirlann on Feb-14-13 9:51 AM (EST)

is right on for arm comfort. Proper paddling method is just as important. Lighter paddles may be a bit costly, but you'll enjoy the ability to paddle farther without a 'heavyweight'. I've purchased three used from fellow p-netters at decent prices.
Our heavy paddles are kept for those who may borrow our plastic boats and don't bother to be cafeful of how they're used.
As far as carrying my boats, I finally went with a Hullavator. Awesome piece of equipment. Thank you hubby, who suggested I order two of them. Over the years, I've have a few people ask for a demo, even while filling my car with fuel. Works for this 5'2" person.

  Actually...
  Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-14-13 3:56 PM (EST)

I bought a really light paddle a few years back. I can't remember details about it though. I do remember a few years ago, while on a week long camping/kayaking trip in Cape Breton, my arms were pooping out a bit. Someone gave me a paddle that was just a bit lighter, but that made all the difference.

I'm not really thinking of speed because I want to go a lot faster. It's more about paddling longer distances with a bit less effort. I paddled almost 21 miles a couple of years ago, and at the end of the day, I couldn't even push myself up out of my boat (Hurricane Tampico 140L). I may go longer down the road, but I'm not certain yet.

  yes and no
  Posted by: pblanc on Feb-09-13 4:59 PM (EST)

Lighter boats do accelerate from a standstill a bit quicker and adding weight to your boat will increase its draft (sink it lower in the water) and thus increase the wetted surface area and possibly the beam at waterline, both of which will theoretically result in decreased speed.

But in all likelihood you, your boat, your clothing and your gear weigh over 200 lbs so a 2 lb weight savings is going to amount to a less than 1% change. Any effect on performance in the water is therefore probably going to be so infinitesimal as to be unobservable.

  Good points
  Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-09-13 5:07 PM (EST)

I guess that I was, partly at least, thinking about cars and how they're trying to reduce weight for better efficiency. Of course, it probably amounts to more than a 1% change.
I unfortunately weigh over 200 pounds without any help from my boat or gear (working on that though). ;) So I guess I should just be happy, assuming I do the mods, for the usual, ease of lifting reasons.

  You are absolutely correct in your ..
  Posted by: Jackl on Feb-09-13 5:54 PM (EST)

last statement. The lighter the boat is the faster it will be. It will take less effort to paddle it, and it will pick up speed quicker.

Jack L

  Lighter Boat Accelerates Faster
  Posted by: clydehedlund on Feb-11-13 5:48 AM (EST)

But slows down quicker than a heavier boat. I like the lighter boat for going upwind, but find no advantage going downwind with it over a heavier boat. Once up to speed, the heavier boat is just as fast as the lighter boat and somewhat more stable too.

  weight distribution
  Posted by: angstrom on Feb-10-13 4:08 PM (EST)

Keeping the ends of a kayak or canoe light will make a difference in how in maneuvers and handles waves. It's much better to have weight centered and low than out at the ends.

  Lighter boat
  Posted by: tkamd on Feb-10-13 4:27 PM (EST)

As I almost fatally discovered, a lighter boat will be taken away faster and further, by the wind, if you happen to let go of it during a failed roll and re-entry. tkamd

  The biggest advantage I find to having..
  Posted by: Bob_d on Feb-11-13 4:21 AM (EST)

a lightweight boat is the ease of loading and unloading from the car and carrying to and from the the water.

Many people are quick to assume a lighter boat equates to speed.

My boat is quick because of the time I have put in fine tuning my technique, my fitness (and my weight), the hull shape and to a lesser degree the weight of the boat.

The boat I use for most of my training is light, 12 kg (26 lb)and it is surprising how many fellow paddlers feel this affords me the biggest advantage, disregarding all the hard work I have put in.

From experience and observation the best thing many paddlers could do to improve performance, rather than upgrade to a lighter boat, is lose some weight.

  That doesn't look comfortable to me
  Posted by: Waterbird on Feb-14-13 8:31 PM (EST)

The seat pan looks flat---no support under the thighs and no tailbone relief.

  I'll give it the butt test next month
  Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-14-13 10:50 PM (EST)

I'll see them with their new seats up close at Paddlesport in NJ towards the end of March, and I'll definitely be getting some seat time in the boats. Maybe not a real substitute for water time, but it'll hopefully give me some idea.

	Weighted Kayak Posted by: willi_h2o on Feb-09-13 4:36 PM (EST)
	Kayaks were designed to carry things, people, cargo; and often perform ""better"" with ballast in them. If you want to go light - get a light paddle. That highly repetitive movement is where the grams count.

	some Posted by: gjf12 on Feb-10-13 12:40 PM (EST)
	Some kayaks are designed to carry stuff and land on rocky shores. Others are designed to go fast, surf, etc. If 95% of your outings are day trips, then light is very nice indeed. There is nothing like a very light paddle combined with a very light boat. I tried to get the P&H Cetus in a very light layup with no day hatch and no front storage hatch, but they refused.

	Willi_h2o's statement about a paddle Posted by: shirlann on Feb-14-13 9:51 AM (EST)
	is right on for arm comfort. Proper paddling method is just as important. Lighter paddles may be a bit costly, but you'll enjoy the ability to paddle farther without a 'heavyweight'. I've purchased three used from fellow p-netters at decent prices. Our heavy paddles are kept for those who may borrow our plastic boats and don't bother to be cafeful of how they're used. As far as carrying my boats, I finally went with a Hullavator. Awesome piece of equipment. Thank you hubby, who suggested I order two of them. Over the years, I've have a few people ask for a demo, even while filling my car with fuel. Works for this 5'2" person.

	Actually... Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-14-13 3:56 PM (EST)
	I bought a really light paddle a few years back. I can't remember details about it though. I do remember a few years ago, while on a week long camping/kayaking trip in Cape Breton, my arms were pooping out a bit. Someone gave me a paddle that was just a bit lighter, but that made all the difference. I'm not really thinking of speed because I want to go a lot faster. It's more about paddling longer distances with a bit less effort. I paddled almost 21 miles a couple of years ago, and at the end of the day, I couldn't even push myself up out of my boat (Hurricane Tampico 140L). I may go longer down the road, but I'm not certain yet.

	yes and no Posted by: pblanc on Feb-09-13 4:59 PM (EST)
	Lighter boats do accelerate from a standstill a bit quicker and adding weight to your boat will increase its draft (sink it lower in the water) and thus increase the wetted surface area and possibly the beam at waterline, both of which will theoretically result in decreased speed. But in all likelihood you, your boat, your clothing and your gear weigh over 200 lbs so a 2 lb weight savings is going to amount to a less than 1% change. Any effect on performance in the water is therefore probably going to be so infinitesimal as to be unobservable.

	Good points Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-09-13 5:07 PM (EST)
	I guess that I was, partly at least, thinking about cars and how they're trying to reduce weight for better efficiency. Of course, it probably amounts to more than a 1% change. I unfortunately weigh over 200 pounds without any help from my boat or gear (working on that though). ;) So I guess I should just be happy, assuming I do the mods, for the usual, ease of lifting reasons.

	You are absolutely correct in your .. Posted by: Jackl on Feb-09-13 5:54 PM (EST)
	last statement. The lighter the boat is the faster it will be. It will take less effort to paddle it, and it will pick up speed quicker. Jack L

	Lighter Boat Accelerates Faster Posted by: clydehedlund on Feb-11-13 5:48 AM (EST)
	But slows down quicker than a heavier boat. I like the lighter boat for going upwind, but find no advantage going downwind with it over a heavier boat. Once up to speed, the heavier boat is just as fast as the lighter boat and somewhat more stable too.

	weight distribution Posted by: angstrom on Feb-10-13 4:08 PM (EST)
	Keeping the ends of a kayak or canoe light will make a difference in how in maneuvers and handles waves. It's much better to have weight centered and low than out at the ends.

	Lighter boat Posted by: tkamd on Feb-10-13 4:27 PM (EST)
	As I almost fatally discovered, a lighter boat will be taken away faster and further, by the wind, if you happen to let go of it during a failed roll and re-entry. tkamd

	The biggest advantage I find to having.. Posted by: Bob_d on Feb-11-13 4:21 AM (EST)
	a lightweight boat is the ease of loading and unloading from the car and carrying to and from the the water. Many people are quick to assume a lighter boat equates to speed. My boat is quick because of the time I have put in fine tuning my technique, my fitness (and my weight), the hull shape and to a lesser degree the weight of the boat. The boat I use for most of my training is light, 12 kg (26 lb)and it is surprising how many fellow paddlers feel this affords me the biggest advantage, disregarding all the hard work I have put in. From experience and observation the best thing many paddlers could do to improve performance, rather than upgrade to a lighter boat, is lose some weight.

	That doesn't look comfortable to me Posted by: Waterbird on Feb-14-13 8:31 PM (EST)
	The seat pan looks flat---no support under the thighs and no tailbone relief.

	I'll give it the butt test next month Posted by: kayakjak on Feb-14-13 10:50 PM (EST)
	I'll see them with their new seats up close at Paddlesport in NJ towards the end of March, and I'll definitely be getting some seat time in the boats. Maybe not a real substitute for water time, but it'll hopefully give me some idea.