Aloha all
I am a really huge guy (350+), lost 37 lbs in the last 2 months paddling an Ocean Kayak Tandem SOT kayak, this is my sole form exercise as I have bad knees.
My question is that I’d like to get out on a one man canoe but can’t seem to find one that will support me, seems like they’re only for lighter paddlers, then I read some of your comments on the Arrow, is this something I should be looking for.
are there any others that I can look at?
any input will be appreciated.
mahalo and stay dry
Sid
Submitted by sidjamma1 on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 9:19pm.
293 Posts
When I first got the outrigger idea in my head I thought “it is a Hawaiian sport, they will have stuff for heavier paddlers” but I have been having some trouble at 260 so I dont know what to say, the boats are built for a certain weight range. It is too bad. I have a friend that is in your weight range who really wants to try OC and is always asking me. Bigger guys who (from football, rugby. or just their own weight etc) have problems with their knees who could really enjoy a great “low impact” workout on OC and the bigger you are the more vital it is to keep moving…you have to be in good shape just to maintain health when you are big.
Would seem like balancing a seat in the middle of a smaller 2man with some extra reinforcement but this is out of my knowledge base, hope you find something.
If you have intention to maintain weight loss for a few more months or if you can get under 3 maybe a polaris???
Shawn Michael
Wed, 08/06/2008 - 10:00pm
9 Posts
How about a fusion? I bought one last year without doing my homework, and it is way too big for me (I’m 175lbs). Fun to surf, but I feel like I’m sitting in an SUV.
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:04am
293 Posts
I have a Fusion and while it is a high volume canoe, the enclosed cockpit does not fit larger paddlers…I am selling my 6 month old fusion at a 1000$ loss because my hip bones hit the sides of the boat.
Shawn Michael
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:33am
18 Posts
Sid - if possible, get in touch with a club, and start in OC6. OC1 is great too, but there is a certain teamwork and camaraderie in a 6man that is hard to beat!
Don’t stress about getting out in the single just yet….
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:43am
4 Posts
talked to someone today about purchasing an older tahitian style OC1, she doesn’t know model type but has picture of Hinano girl on hull. Trying to find out if this is oonly found on one type of canoe and if anyone knows what that might be
Mahalo
Sid
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 1:30pm
148 Posts
Kai used to make this one (and he still may) called an Arcturus (sp?) that was designed for big surfing. I’ve never seen one, but I heard they were MASSIVE.
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 7:08pm
148 Posts
Kai used to make this one (and he still may) called an Arcturus (sp?) that was designed for big surfing. I’ve never seen one, but I heard they were MASSIVE.
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 7:08pm
9 Posts
John Martin makes fiberglass OC1 (a Turtle) or even 1 model older than that that have a real sit on top seat that will accomdate wide butts (like mine too…). I can’t vouch that they would support 350lbs for a long time, but we brought a bunch out here to Guam and they were almost indestructable. Not a racing machine by any means but plenty fun and have been passed along to 3rd and 4th owners that are still using them..I gave mine to our kids crew to learn on.I’m sure you could find a used one around. The seat is really just a flat spot on the deck with foam matting on it, so your doggan can spread over the sides fine, no cockpit to fit in. Learn on that, then upgrade to Fuze or whatever like we all did!
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 7:24pm
36 Posts
Where do you live so you can try some canoes. What weight do you want to get to? Depending on you heigth, maybe a Waveblade or a Papakolea by Tiger would work. Keep at it and do join an OC6 club. Great benefit in learning proper technique and continuing to lose weight. The Arctaurus could possibly work too. Set your goals and go for it!
paddlefast
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 7:59pm
29 Posts
A guy in my crew started the season at 300 lbs and went down to 250 after 4 months. Maybe you’re more disciplined than I am, but I’d never work that hard if I didn’t have the peer pressure of a 6 man crew. A fiberglass tahitian might be strong enough if you can get in it. They are cockpit boats.
Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:02pm
19 Posts
I have seen some pretty big guys (~300 pounds) paddling the Huki V1-R, although the web site says that that model is optimized for paddlers 175 to 240 pounds. Extra reinforcement is available as an option, if that is a concern.
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 8:05pm
49 Posts
John Martin Nai’a to start with. AFter you get a little better, and maybe lose a little more weight, the Fusion should do you fine.
Also, if you can get your hands on an Ono made by Tiger, that one will float you as well.
I weigh over 250 lbs., not telling exactly, and paddle a Fusion and love it….chines and all.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:36am
612 Posts
You guys are joking about the naia right? Have you ever seen a 250lb guy on a naia with your own eyes? It don’t work. And this guy is bigger. Another lesson on why NOT to trust the internet….
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:43am
49 Posts
Sorry to Poopoo, but back when, I did the relay using a Nai’a and I was weighing in at 265 lbs. Boat did just fine. Back then my Nai’a was a standard fiberglass lay up, 32 lbs….carbon fiber wasn’t out yet. This was the days when Walter G. would make people put small bags of sand taped to the canoe to add weight because there was a minimum weight. BTW, my partner was about 190. Also, we were not bad….came in 12th overall…real close to the top 10…had about 30 + teams.
So, I have to disagree with your statement above. In fact, I still have that Nai’a. I’ll buss it out once in a while.
Jaws Out.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 11:45am
612 Posts
Hmm Ok I stand corrected then. A fellow paddler weighing 250 used a nai’a for one of our time trials. He struggled even though he was a seasoned one manner. It looked like he needed 2 naias double hull fashion the way his ass hung over the sides of the boat. I’ve never heard him swear so much in my life.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:37pm
49 Posts
Hey Poopoo…notice that I said RELAY, as in the channel, as in bumps to catch. This was the early days of one man development. If I not mistaken, W. Guild and partner won in a boat that Walter called “the sniper”. Go figga…..
I would never ever use a Nai’a for time trials…strictly in the surf. That Nai’a is a surfing demon….good fun boat…good for beginners…the malia mold of one man’s.
Jaws Out.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 2:23pm
612 Posts
Dude, I’ve paddled the “sniper.” I think thats about the worst boat I’ve ever paddled.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 2:43pm
35 Posts
We have an old Nai’a at our hale that some of us take out since we don’t have our own one-mans yet. It is a lot of fun to catch waves in - not that I have anything to compare it to - but man, is it heavy.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 3:24pm
49 Posts
Get out of here….you paddled the Sniper?? I’ll be damned. It looked like a cool design. Walt made it go fast…but I guess he would make anything go fast.
After the Sniper, I think Walt joined forces with Karel and the OC team. Walt helped with the development of a lot of Karel’s current designs, starting with the Viper.
Jaws Out.
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 3:45pm
319 Posts
Walter had people put weight on to level the field ?
Correct, in my opinion.
Competition should be paddled in weight classes and not in age classes.
That’s a no brainer. :)
http://www.oc1design.blogspot.com
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 9:44pm