Greeting all!

I would like to ask a question. I looking to purchase my first Kayak.
I have done some mild Kayaking in the past and have developed a good
idea of what I am looking for (basically a shorter touring/rec kayak
with at least one dry hatch). Anyway I am looking specifically at the
Wilderness Systems Cape Lookout 135 and 145.

I really like the fit of the 135. I have sat in both several times and
paddled the 135. I like the 145 as well, but don't like the fit quite
as much. I'd prefer the 135. I weigh 215 pounds and the 135 has a 240
weight limit - on occasion I would be interested doing some overnight
trips and I'm concerned about going over this weight limit with the
stuff I pack. My question is this (don't laugh): If I go slightly over
the limit - like 245 or 250 pounds (due to gear and food) am I going
to sink? I would guess not - but I though I'd ask some more
experienced paddlers.

Thanks for any advice or experiences!

-Matt

(Matthew Twomey) wrote in
om:

Greeting all!

I would like to ask a question. I looking to purchase my first Kayak.
I have done some mild Kayaking in the past and have developed a good
idea of what I am looking for (basically a shorter touring/rec kayak
with at least one dry hatch). Anyway I am looking specifically at the
Wilderness Systems Cape Lookout 135 and 145.

I really like the fit of the 135. I have sat in both several times and
paddled the 135. I like the 145 as well, but don't like the fit quite
as much. I'd prefer the 135. I weigh 215 pounds and the 135 has a 240
weight limit - on occasion I would be interested doing some overnight
trips and I'm concerned about going over this weight limit with the
stuff I pack. My question is this (don't laugh): If I go slightly over
the limit - like 245 or 250 pounds (due to gear and food) am I going
to sink? I would guess not - but I though I'd ask some more
experienced paddlers.

Thanks for any advice or experiences!

-Matt


It won't sink, but performance characteristics will suffer, and you'll
sit lower in the water than the design. It won;t track the same, it
wont turn the same. I cant really tell you if it will be better or
worse.. It will probably be harder to paddle than if you were within the
design limit.

EvilTwig

--
"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."


---- Douglas Adams

I own a Wilderness Systems myself but my husband just got a Perception
Eclipse because of the issue you are concerned about and it has resolved
it... He suggests you not go with the Wilderness Systems. With the Eclipse,
you will find the the highter profile and weight capacity to your liking and
comfort without it suffering a loss of tracking and speed.

"Matthew Twomey" wrote in message
om...
Greeting all!

I would like to ask a question. I looking to purchase my first Kayak.
I have done some mild Kayaking in the past and have developed a good
idea of what I am looking for (basically a shorter touring/rec kayak
with at least one dry hatch). Anyway I am looking specifically at the
Wilderness Systems Cape Lookout 135 and 145.

I really like the fit of the 135. I have sat in both several times and
paddled the 135. I like the 145 as well, but don't like the fit quite
as much. I'd prefer the 135. I weigh 215 pounds and the 135 has a 240
weight limit - on occasion I would be interested doing some overnight
trips and I'm concerned about going over this weight limit with the
stuff I pack. My question is this (don't laugh): If I go slightly over
the limit - like 245 or 250 pounds (due to gear and food) am I going
to sink? I would guess not - but I though I'd ask some more
experienced paddlers.

Thanks for any advice or experiences!

-Matt




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Matthew Twomey wrote:

Anyway I am looking specifically at the
Wilderness Systems Cape Lookout 135 and 145.

I really like the fit of the 135. ...
I weigh 215 pounds and the 135 has a 240
weight limit - on occasion I would be interested doing some overnight
trips and I'm concerned about going over this weight limit with the
stuff I pack. My question is this (don't laugh): If I go slightly over
the limit - like 245 or 250 pounds (due to gear and food) am I going
to sink?

Well, according to notes on the Wilderness Systems forums

(at http://forums.confluencewatersports.com/)

WS *used to* advertise paddler weight as an optimum weight. Since other
companies would use a maximum weight, WS boats looked like they wouldn't
carry much, so WS began to publish max weight instead.

(For instance, see

http://forums.confluencewatersports....636&highlight=

for a sample.)

If that is the case, I wouldn't want to push the limit too much (that is,
not at all). You might want to post your question on the WS forum. In
fact, someone around your weight posted the same question:

http://forums.confluencewatersports....398&highlight=

Matt,

If your intention is to do tour with other kayakers, including some
overnight touring, at your weight I think you'd be sadly disappointed
with a 13 or 14 foot boat. Someone in the Cape Lookout 135 or 145 is
likely to have a hard time keeping up with other kayakers due to such
a short waterline length.

Many people buy a short, wide barge-style kayak like the Cape Lookout
thinking it's more stable and convenient to store in a garage, but
they're back the next year buying the longer, narrower boat that they
should have bought in the first place.

It would be good to look around at the boats other kayakers are using
in your area for the purpose you intend, and buy something similar.
At your weight, that is likely a 16' or 17' boat like the Perception
Eclipse the earlier reply mentioned, and a width about 22".

You received good advice in an earlier reply to look at the OPTIMAL
paddler weight for a boat instead of the maximum weight.

John


(Matthew Twomey) wrote:
..... I looking to purchase my first Kayak.
I have done some mild Kayaking in the past and have developed a good
idea of what I am looking for (basically a shorter touring/rec kayak
with at least one dry hatch). Anyway I am looking specifically at the
Wilderness Systems Cape Lookout 135 and 145.
........
I weigh 215 pounds ....

John Caldeira
Dallas, Texas, USA
http://www.outdoorplace.org/beekeeping

John Caldeira wrote in
:

Matt,

If your intention is to do tour with other kayakers, including some
overnight touring, at your weight I think you'd be sadly disappointed
with a 13 or 14 foot boat. Someone in the Cape Lookout 135 or 145 is
likely to have a hard time keeping up with other kayakers due to such
a short waterline length.

Many people buy a short, wide barge-style kayak like the Cape Lookout
thinking it's more stable and convenient to store in a garage, but
they're back the next year buying the longer, narrower boat that they
should have bought in the first place.

The Cape Lookout 135 and 145 are 24" wide. That's not really what I would
consider to be barge-style.

but
they're back the next year buying the longer, narrower boat that they
should have bought in the first place.

"should have bought in the first place"? Longer, narrower boats might be
appropriate if you're primarily interested in paddling longer distances and
do some overnight touring, but not everyone is interested in paddling long
distances and touring.

"paddlingmaniac" wrote in
:

I own a Wilderness Systems myself but my husband just got a Perception
Eclipse because of the issue you are concerned about and it has
resolved it... He suggests you not go with the Wilderness Systems.
With the Eclipse, you will find the the highter profile and weight
capacity to your liking

Until you get it out in a lot of wind...then a lower volume boat will track
much better.