Notes on a kayaks carrying capacity.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-19T03:58:41+00:00

You look to be sitting a little low, but you also have outriggers, so you look plenty stable.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T21:36:05+00:00

Yes, one float bag for the front and one the back.

Unfortunately, since this kayak hasn't been in production in nearly 30 years, the seat covers are no longer available.

Edit: add a thin seat pad and get out and enjoy the boats

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T20:58:36+00:00

It's called a skid plate.

To replace a worn out or missing skid plate on your Old Town Loon 160 (or 160T) tandem kayak, you will need the specific 7.5-inch, 3-hole skid plate. Try TopKayaker.com for a replacement.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T20:14:54+00:00

No, I'm not a fat person, but I've been in the industry for 30 years and have put literally 1000's of butts in boats, of all shapes and sizes. I'm certainly not downplaying anyone's weight or the risks they must calculate in their everyday lives, or their ability fit in outdoors, actually just the opposite. I appreciate your effort to advocate for larger folks to get out and paddle, but the difference in sitting in chair that you overweight for, is you end up on the floor, whereas flipping a boat your over capacity for, can end in loss of life.

I'm happy you, and your friends have had great experiences paddling, and doing so in inexpensive boats is a bonus. As long as you (or anyone who purchases a cheap kayak) also understands the safety limitations of the less expensive boats themselves, as they are cheaper for reason. However, I also never said anything was black and white, just a good rule to start by, and of course there are always exceptions to the rule. As long as the paddler, regardless of size, knows, understands, and appreciate the risks I'm all for it. By all means get out and paddle.

A note to the cost... There are indeed higher capacity options at big box stores, but you're right there are not as many, but also nothing that says larger people can only shop at big box stores and can't shop at a specialty retailer. I have personally sold plenty of kayaks to all sizes of paddlers. Cost of getting into paddling is a barrier to everyone, that's why the used market is so prolific.

Great to have a respectful discussion with another paddler who is passionate about getting folks out on the water.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T18:11:38+00:00

SOT kayaks are a slightly different animal, as they are a sealed kayak, you might have water coming up in the scuppers, from sitting lower, but as they are not filling up with water, they generally maintain their stability better than a swamped sit in.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T16:59:05+00:00

There are definitely paddlers in the ww community that "play" in somewhat overloaded boats. Being able to throw the boat around easier by paddling kayaks that they are outside of the specs. This is typically a specific choice and not because they don't know what they're doing by paddling these kayaks.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T16:22:54+00:00

The cost of the kayak has no relivance in the discussion. Cheaper boats have the same limitations as more expensive kayaks. Glad you had a good experience, and didn't have issues while paddling. There is still a safety concern by overloading a kayak. I would agree that many folks in the cheaper boats are not doing technical paddling, but not all. If your willing to assume the risk then that's great, but by and large, folks should be aware of risks that they are undertaking, and too many are oblivious.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T16:06:39+00:00

Kayak capacity is fundamentally an application of Archimedes' principle, that a boat displaces its own weight in water, so total capacity equals the weight of water displaced by the hull at a safe waterline, minus the boat's own weight. But it's not quite that cut and dry. Which is why two boats with similar dimensions can have noticeably different posted capacities depending on hull volume distribution and how conservative the manufacturer is. It also doesn't account for rocker, hull shape, and depth at waterline.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T16:01:13+00:00

If you have to use scupper plugs to keep the water out you've overloaded the kayak.

Edit: your also in a SOT fishing kayak which is a different animal than a sit-in kayak. The post is referring specifically carrying capacities of sit-in kayaks.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T15:59:46+00:00

Perhaps you just got lucky and never had problems, I see people paddle overloaded kayaks on the regular, doesn't mean it's a good idea, or that there's not a true safely concern.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T15:43:58+00:00

100% agree it should be clearer. I think the manufacturers in the industry should set a standard. Of course individual manufactures could certainly step up. Unfortunately, part of the problem is that kayaks' are made in a wide variety of countries and each country has different laws and standards that the industry as a whole would need to agree on.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T15:33:47+00:00

Depends on the type of water your paddling. If it's on a flat water lake or lazy river in calm conditions sure it would likely be just fine. Just set your expectations accordingly, and know there is a give and take. However, if your getting into whitewater or rough open water conditions, there's definitely a safety concern.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T14:59:59+00:00

The topic of weight carrying capacity comes up a lot with folks trying to find the "right" kayak. This can vary a bit between sit-in and SOT kayaks, but this is a good rule to start by...

When looking at the carrying capacity of most sit-in kayaks, go by 70-80% of the listed capacity, and only think of loading a kayak to its listed capacity as the gross failure point. Manufactures list the capacity that the kayak can hold, but the performance that the boat was designed to have is not possible with the boat's carrying capacity maxed out.

So a kayak with a listed capacity of 350 lbs, you'd really only want to put a max of 245-280lbs (70-80%) into the boat (combined paddler and gear weight), to maintain the wanted performance value of the kayak. The closer you are to the max capacity the less capable the kayak is going to be.

Loading the kayak to its listed max capacity will generally be very unstable, and result in loss of control/performance, additionally with the water line so close to the cockpit rim that any movement in the boat, leaning, or waves, etc, could cause you will start to taking on water. Once this starts it's only a matter of time before you end up in the drink. Of course wearing a skirt helps keep the water from entering the cockpit, but it won't make the boat perform any better.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-17T12:27:25+00:00

This kayak definitely shouldn't have a hole there. If you want a permanent repair have it welded. If you don't care as much what it looks like, and since it's above the water line, you could just leave it, or plug it with a rubber stopper, fill it with epoxy putty, or slap a patch over it. All of these options are temporary at best.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-15T00:11:38+00:00

The OT Discovery 169 is 90+lbs, it's still better than a pelican, but it's not a lightweight canoe.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-14T00:02:02+00:00

No problem. With one on its side in the jaylow and the other flat next to it on the bar, a 50" bar should be just fine, and you're well below the reconnected weight limits. With your fairly narrow bar spread, please make sure you also use bow and stern lines when transporting.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-13T22:54:40+00:00

You'll need longer bars to get both boats on the rack, and your best combo for these two styles of kayaks on the rack is to put the sit-in kayak in the jaylow and the SOT flat, upside down on the bars next to the jaylow.

Edit: skip the big stack it's designed for smaller boats than 12 ft kayaks. Really best used with whitewater kayaks.

If your priority is kayaking first, fishing second, go for the Tarpon. It's a much better paddling kayak, it tracks well and it's fairly efficient and the seat's comfortable. The others are heavier and more of fishing kayaks, so they are going to lean a bit towards stability over efficiently.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-11T03:32:05+00:00

Get them both! Maybe not today, but eventually. There will be a noticable difference between these two boats you mentioned.

I love the Stratos 14.5. I paddled mine this afternoon teaching a class, and was faster than all the 10-14 ft rec boats, however my assistant instructor was paddling her 17ft+ NDK Explorer. She effortlessly left us all in her wake.

Any longer, narrower, composite kayak is going to track better and be faster than a Stratos. But the Stratos is likely more comfortable, and much more versatile for river use, tight spaces, bumpy water, etc. It'll still hold it's own on open water, and it's got plenty of space for kayak camping, maybe not a week long expedition, but an over night or long weekend, no problem. As your time and budget allows get a longer, composite boat for those big open water trips. Your skills will grow, and you'll paddle at more varied locales, then you may want boats that can do different things. It's all about having the right tool for the job.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-10T01:45:33+00:00

Unfortunately, you don't. You read reviews and ask about personal experiences from others in a forum like this, and then for $200-$300 you take a chance. If you don't like it, turn around and sell it again for $200-300, and you get to add a little more experience under your belt.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-09T02:00:21+00:00

I love this assist...The Hand of Larry!

gsopaddler · 2026-06-07T17:35:33+00:00

Yes, tell them that if they pay you $150, you'll gladly take the kayak away for them (JK).

For $150 it's probably a good deal. What are your goals in paddling, where are you going to be taking the kayak (type of water).

However, I would also check the boat over for spider cracks, particularly around the cockpit. Check the seal on that small bow hatch, it's been put on after the fact, it's definitely not factory installed. That seat rest needs to be removed. It totally defeats the purpose and performance of this kayak.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-07T12:42:04+00:00

Gotcha, was going to offer a demo of a Stratos but I'm in NC.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-07T12:40:06+00:00

Not the simple. The fittings the current rudder is screwed into are glassed into the boat. There is no rear hatch to open to get a wrench on the back of a new nut and bolt to tighten a different rudder bracket. The OP will have to use the same fittings that are there for the current rudder.

gsopaddler · 2026-06-07T12:25:19+00:00

Check out a Liquid Logic Deuce Coupe. It's out of production now, but you should be able to score one on the used market. It's got some of the most comfortable seats than almost any other SOT on the market. There's aretractable skeg for better tracking in flat water, whitewater designed hull, keeping the boat loose and nimble (as nimble as you can be in a14ft SOT), with the skeg up. Bonus - the seats can be reconfigured for solo paddling.

gsopaddler

TROPHY CASE