Weight Limits for Shorter Boats

Lappie · Post by **Lappie** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:00 am

I paddled the Otter a bit when I started solo play boating and realy liked it! It is realy light, fairly fast and realy dry even at my weight! The first generation were prety "flopy", Hellman alluminum gunwale are junk, they are realy soft, so it makes the boat quite floppy. I would go with the wood gunwales and since the boat is glass, no need to remove them in the fall/winter( for the one of us who lives in cold climates!) They are realy tough, last year, one hellman canoe got wrap on a bolder and after recovry, the boat got paddled all the way to the take out with out taking water!! I would like to try one again since I have more paddling experience!!

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:12 am

As for the L'edge, I cut two feet out of the middle (the widest part) and it still floats me just fine at 185 and stays pretty dry when boofing. Can't imagine it not working for someone even quite a bit heavier.

OhCeeOne · Post by **OhCeeOne** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 1:54 pm

I'm 245lbs. I always felt like i was sinking the Ocoee a bit but made it work. The L'edge is the boat. I've never been so dry or capable. I think at this length, it can't be beat for large mammals such as myself.

jnorto01 · Post by **jnorto01** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:54 pm

Dude,

I think you need to get a Zoom!

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:54 pm

wooZ !

Sickboyuk · Post by **Sickboyuk** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:53 am

A question to the larger paddler (well, average sized!), how do you effect the handling on a prelude, more tippy, just wetter, even slower, i suppose the same question would go for any of the short boats, although not the l'edge it seems.
I've paddled a Spanish/super fly a few times and they're fine for playing, not sure i'd want to do a long section in one though...a bit wet

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:19 pm

Some small boats are worse then others for big guys, but yeah, all of the above - slower, wetter, and more tippy. Some are like paddling with a boat full of water, even when you're dry.

P.