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You can find the maximum weight capacity of each model of Eddyline kayak listed on its respective product page. The capacity of a kayak is defined as the maximum weight that the kayak can hold (paddler + gear + weight of boat) and still maintain buoyancy. Eddyline’s listed capacities do not necessarily represent the "ideal" weight limit for your boat that will result in optimal paddling performance on the water. There are many factors to consider when deciding on the proper amount of gear to take with you in your Eddyline, including the weight distribution and type of water that you’re paddling.
In general,a typical recreational kayak has a weight limit of 250-300 pounds, touring (sea) kayak has a limit of 350 pounds, sit-on-top kayak has a weight capacity of 350-400 pounds while a tandem kayak has a limit of 500-600 pounds.
If you max out that weight limit, the kayak will perform very differently than if you don’t run up the scale all the way. Imagine the height of the water along the side of your kayak (the water line). As you put more weight into the kayak, the water line will go up. The more a kayak is weighed down and the higher the water line rises, the more difficult it can be to maneuver the boat because you are pushing through much more water. The “effective” water line of the boat becomes longer since it’s sitting lower in the water, and this results in a paddling experience that is less speed efficient and less maneuverable. On the other hand, if you’re way too light for the kayak that you’re in, then the kayak will float much higher in the water than intended and the stability would suffer as a result. That's why it's important to find your "Goldilocks" boat, or the one that fits you just right!
To reiterate, the maximum weight capacity is the rating a manufacturer assigns to their kayaks to indicate how much weight it can hold and stay afloat. This is different from the “ideal” weight capacity, which is more indicative of a weight zone where the kayak’s water line is near its intended level in order for the paddler to experience maximum performance in your kayak (think optimal stability, efficiency, and maneuverability).
There is no industry standard for the “ideal” weight capacity, but one commonly used equation to calculate the ideal weight capacity of a boat according to its max weight capacity is that the “ideal” capacity stops at about 60%-70% of the max weight capacity. For example, with a weight of 145 pounds this would require a kayak with a maximum weight capacity of over 200 pounds. If I want to go kayak touring, I’ll need to load my kayak up with extra gear, so that’s something else that you need to take into consideration when choosing a kayak. I can use the same equation and add in the likely weight of my gear to zone in on an optimal weight capacity, so as not to totally fill up the maximum weight capacity.
For more on this subject - check out the article How much weight can a kayak hold by the website, Water Sports Wiz.
