When shopping for a kayak, make sure you read all the specifications. You want to make sure your purchase will meet all your needs.
Each model should indicate the overall size of the boat, as well as its weight. This is a major consideration when it comes to ease of transport.
But be sure to check one more thing, because, in the world of kayaks, one size does not fit all.
Check the weight capacity if it is a kayak for 300 lbs.
You will find that a majority of the boats available are designed to support between 200 to, perhaps, 300 pounds. This will include you, as well as any equipment you may wish to transport.
You may need to be concerned about carrying diving gear, or fishing equipment like a spinning rod, not to mention the occasional overweight seal if you have a successful hunt!
So, I have listed below a number of choices for, shall we say, people with larger concerns. Check ‘em out.
Vibe Kayaks Sea Ghost 110 -11 Feet Fishing Kayak
First up is the Sea Ghost 110 from Vibe Kayaks. This eleven foot, a sit-on-top model is designed for the serious fisherman. It comes equipped with two flush-mount rod holders and four gear brackets to allow you to customize your rigging.
It also has a two-position adjustable seat to add to your comfort, as well as a toe controlled rudder system to ease those long paddling sessions or help you fight a strong wind or current.
The Sea Ghost provides a high level of stability and maneuverability, allowing you to navigate anything from still water ponds to whitewater with ease.
It also has a high weight capacity of 425 pounds, making it sufficient for almost everybody’s needs. The Sea Ghost should provide all you need for a successful fishing experience, even things you didn’t know you needed.
Sun Dolphin Bali- 10 Feet Kayak (Big And Tall)
Next, you may want to consider the Sun Dolphin Bali SS 10-foot kayak. This is another sit-on-top model, and, because of its length, it can accommodate taller individuals.
It comes equipped with adjustable foot stops to allow you to tailor it to your own requirements, It also has a large, comfortable seating area, and thigh pads for additional comfort and protection. The P.A.C. )Portable Accessory Carrier) provided may be used for the additional stages.
This extra-large kayak is ideal for use in rivers and lakes, and, if the style is important to you, is available in a choice of six colors.
The weight capacity, as provided by the manufacturer, is 395 pounds, so their plenty or support for those long legs of yours. It is an ideal choice for a big and tall person. This kayak weighs only 44 pounds, so it is easy to transport.
Wilderness Systems Ride – Kayak For Big Person (500 Pounds)
Another excellent kayak choice is the Wilderness Systems Ride 115X Max Kayak. And, make no mistake about it this is a max kayak, measuring 11.5 feet long, with a weight capacity of a whopping 500 pounds.
This model comes with a removable, slidable, and elevated which adjusts from a reclining position to allow you to lie back and enjoy the day to a fully upright and battle-ready position for optimum control when fishing.
This kayak is designed for an excellent fishing experience but would be just as at home in a leisurely ride across a tranquil lake.
The Ride 115X is equipped with not one but two hatches, one in the bow and one midship, offering a more than substantial storage space for everything from fishing gear to a tasty snack.
This kayak is made of polyethylene, making it extremely durable, and comes equipped with a comfortable foot-bracing system and bungee deck rigging. An excellent choice for the larger kayak enthusiast.
Vibe Kayaks Yellowfin 130T – 12 Foot Kayak
The first multi-person, or tandem, kayak on the list is the Yellowfin 13T from Vibe Kayaks. This is a massive 13 feet long, with comfortable seating for two adults and a child, making it perfect for family recreational outings.
You can also order optional center position seating for a single rower option. Each kayak comes with two paddles and is available in two different versions of a camouflage print. This is a rudderless kayak, but a rudder is an option you can easily add as the vessel is pre-plumbed for this option.
As befits its three-person capacity, the Yellowfin 13T comes with many storage options, such as two cargo hatches with sealed bags, a bungee cargo option on the bow, and a read well secured with bungees.
There are two flush-mounted rod holders, as well as four additional mounting points for all your needs. As befits a multi-person vessel such as this one, the weight capacity is a generous 500 pounds, and the adjustable footrest make it even more comfortable for a larger person.
Ocean Kayak Scrambler 11 Recreational Kayak For Heavy
Next up is our first kayak designed to be used in the ocean. This is the Scrambler 11 by Ocean Kayaks. The Scrambler is an 11.5 feet kayak designed for recreational use, particularly in the sea.
It’s a sit-on-top design, with a foam padded seat that provides comfort, support, and even 4-way adjustability. Ocean Kayaks has patented an overlapping footwell system, providing comfort for paddlers of all heights.
Its storage options include a six-inch hatch for dry storage, as well as a tank secured by bungees for larger storage.
There is also a paddle keeper and even a cup holder and handles molded into the sides. Ocean Kayaks, as the name implies, specializes in sea-going models, but don’t let that put you off.
The hull design which provides such easy handling on swells and in the surf will work just as well on a calm mountain lake. This model of kayak weighs a manageable 47 pounds and can handle loads of up to 350 pounds.
Overall, this kayak is a good choice for big and tall people.
Sun Dolphin Journey 10-Foot Fishing Kayak
One of the more economical kayaks on the list is the Sun Dolphin Journey. This is a ten-foot, sit-on-top model perfect for fishing lakes and rivers. At only 44 pounds, it’s easy to transport to those more inaccessible fishing holes you may want to explore.
The Journey paddles with ease, and has two convenient flush mount rod holders, as well as an additional swivel-mounted one. Storage is not a problem, as it provides a large compartment, a paddle holder conveniently located on each side, and a water bottle holder.
The padded seat adjusts for your comfort, as do the foot braces, to allow for a wide variety of heights in the users. It also comes with a P.A.C. (Portable Accessory Carrier) for additional storage.
The Journey is rated to carry up to 280 pounds, so you may want to consider this before you purchase. It is available in two outdoorsy colors, sand, and olive, and is constructed of strong and durable polyethylene plastic.
Lifetime 10 Foot, Sit-on Kayak For 2 Person
The next tandem kayak I recommend is the Lifetime 10-foot model. This is billed as a two-person kayak, but there seems to be plenty of room if you want to add a child or a water-; loving dog. The kayak comes with two soft backrests, which are placed into appropriate slots in the body of the boat.
With the two seats in position, there is room in the middle for a tag along. If you wish to operate this kayak as a single person model, merely remove the two seats and place one in the slots provided in the center.
Voila! You now have a single person kayak. There is plenty of room on the open deck for storage.
The Lifetime 10-foot model weighs 60 pounds, and it carries handles. Molded into the front and rear, make it easy to carry. Users have found it extremely stable, some calling it almost impossible to tip over.
This may be a major concern if you’re traveling with a child, or even a dog who hasn’t mastered the doggie paddle. This model is available in yellow and green,
Old Town Recreational Best Kayak For 300 Lbs
The Old Town Canoe and Kayak Vapor 10 is an economical and reliable choice when it comes to sit-in kayaks. This model is 10 feet long and is designed for recreational use by a single rower on lakes, ponds, or slow-moving rivers.
It is molded from durable polyethylene plastic, with build-in molded handles, a paddle holder, and a cup holder. It has a comfortable padded seat and a glide track foot brace system.
Its 46.5-pound weight makes it relatively easy to carry, and its weight capacity is a respectable 325 pounds. Its large cockpit, one of the largest to be found, makes it roomy enough for a larger person, and any canine passengers they may have accompanied them.
While this kayak is economically priced, it does lack some things. You will have to purchase a paddle separately, and the storage well in the stern is uncovered, with nothing to secure your cargo.
Sevylor Coleman Colorado 2-Person Fishing Kayak
Next, we can talk about an inflatable variety of kayak, the Sevylor Coleman Colorado two-person fishing kayak. This is an excellent choice for ease of transport and service, among its many other advantages. Imagines – no worries about securing the vessel to the top of your car, or even on a trailer. Just deflate and put it in the trunk.
And even when it’s inflated and ready for use, it is easily carried from the car to your launch site. Colorado is designed for two paddlers, with adjustable seats and abundant storage provided by mesh pockets.
The kayak is 10.75 feet long, with a weight capacity of 470 pounds. It is made of 18 gauge PVC, providing rugged strength for lake use. The bottom is encased in 1000 denier tarpaulin material, with the carrying case is a strong 840 denier nylon.
You would think that all this would make it virtually unsinkable, but, just to on the safe side, the kayak contains multiple air chambers, assuring that it will stay afloat.
It has all the bells and whistles needed for a complete fishing experience, with rod holders, paddle holders, and fitting for an optional trolling motor. Easy to transport. Easy to inflate, easy to carry, and easy to fish from. What more could you ask for at a bargain price?
Sun Dolphin 12-Foot Sit-on top Kayak – Bali SS
The last kayak I will recommend is the Sun Dolphin Bali SS 12 foot sit-on-tip model. This is a longer version of the Bali SS 10 footer.
The seats are comfortable, and the foot braces are adjustable to your height. This model contains a large storage area secured by shock cord deck rigging. The P.A.C. can also provide additional storage.
The Bali 33 12 weighs in a 54 pounds, making it relatively easy to transport, and has a loaded weight capacity of 395 pounds. For those who appreciate aesthetics, the kayak comes in three colors – red, blue, and lime.
So, we’ve covered some of the best kayaks on the market. Anyone of these would be a good choice. But whether it is an excellent choice is up to you.
Consider your needs, and shop carefully. Compare what is offered with each model. Some come with paddles, with others you must supply your own. Some offer excellent secure storage, others not so much.
Some may be more comfortable than others, others more stable. And how do you plan to use your kayak, and where? All these things come into play when making your purchase. So shop with care, and enjoy at leisure.
Kayaks History
It’s highly unlikely that when the Inuit people of the Arctic regions of North America launched their first kayak thousands of years ago, they could foresee how popular their little craft would become with people miles away and years in the future.
The first kayaks were made of driftwood, or even whale bones, with a covering of animal skins. The crafts were powered by a dual-sided paddle, and their small, sleek design enabled their operator to stealthily approach the prey.
By the mid-nineteenth century, these small watercraft had gained popularity with Europeans, predominantly French and German. The year 1931 ushered in the era of kayaking as a whitewater sport when an Austrian named Adolf Anderle traversed the rapids of the Salzach River at Salzachofen Gorge.
By 1936, kayaking was introduced as a sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. There are now more than ten whitewater kayaking events in the Olympic games. A far cry from that solitary hunter stalking the elusive seal in the cold waters of the Arctic.
Just as the use of the kayak has come a long way, so has its construction. In the 1950’e, the old wood and fabric construction was replaced with fiberglass. This was further improved upon in the 1980s with a polyethylene plastic variety.
There are also inflatable varieties made from lightweight, durable fabrics. Each type of material comes with its own advantages. Stitch and glue plywood kayaks can be the lightest, plastic can be very durable, but inflatable varieties can be remarkably strong and easy to transport. The choice of material depends on your personal preferences and priorities.
Kayaks can also vary in design. Some users prefer the sit-on-top design, meaning that the operator is positioned on top of a closed deck. Others may favor the cockpit-style, where the operator sits with his legs and hips inside the kayak, with a spray skirt around the waist.
Inflatables are usually a hybrid design, with an open deck with the rower’s hips and legs within the boat. And, while most kayaks are designed for a single person, tandem model kayak for 300 lbs are available, accommodating two, or even three, people.