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.