[bazzoo]

g`day folks, just posted my first post in the new members section , i am looking for some advice, i come from a kayak racing background and sea kayaking , i am 67 years young and a bit heavy , well maybe a lot heavy, i am 183 cms and 120 kgs and i really liked the viking espri , am i too heavy for one , am also looking at the cobra navigator, so as you can see , i am trying to get kayaks that are easier to carry , as after 3 back surgeries, i have enough titanium in my back to open a mine :lol: :lol: :lol: , would really appreciate any advice i could get , thanks folks

 

[hairymick]

G'day BB welcome aboard mate.

I think the Espri might be a little on the small side for you. Not sure though.

Most of the plastic SOTs are pretty heavy - 25 kgs & up

good luck with the search mate. I'm pretty sure others will join in here.

 

[Dodge]

Welcome BB good to have you here mate.

About 6 months ago a bloke had a test paddle on my espri and built like brick dunny, a really big bloke about your height and I have a feeling he said 110kgs re weight because I thought the espri wouldnt cope with his size.

In fact he only put the chine line in the water for about 150mm at the waterline near his backside and it handled OK in very choppy conditions, might have been a different thing with a lot of tackle as well, but think it worth your while trying an espri out as you might be alright, but only a water test will give the answer.

And at 18kgs weight is good for you to carry on and off the car

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[Dodge]

My only concern would be the Viking high-backed seat. It's fine for me, but with your back, it might be worth looking at something with a bit more padding and support.

Yes thats a fair call Red, but there are a few other off the shelf seats of better quality, and also any upholsterer would custom make one OK I reckon

 

[bazzoo]

thanks for the advice guys , i really appreciate it, i must admit i really like the viking espri so after some of your comments will investigate it further :lol: :lol: :lol: , it would be great if it worked, the lighter weight really appeals to my back , i think i would only need a standard seat back , as i have a sea air sport seat and back that i use on the seakayak and find it really good , also i cannot stay too long on the water , approx 2to 2and 1/2 hours sees me out , as my legs go numb, but thats o.k . , the biggest problem is lifting the heavier kayaks even though i have made a couple of trolleys , and they work well , there always seems to come a time when i have to lift, and thats why i am really keen on lighter kayaks , thanks very much for your help and advice , you are really a great bunch of fellows, and it is very obvious to me that to join this forum was a top idea, thanks guys

 

[bazzoo]

thanks for the advice guys , i really appreciate it, i must admit i really like the viking espri so after some of your comments will investigate it further :lol: :lol: :lol: , it would be great if it worked, the lighter weight really appeals to my back , i think i would only need a standard seat back , as i have a sea air sport seat and back that i use on the seakayak and find it really good , also i cannot stay too long on the water , approx 2to 2and 1/2 hours sees me out , as my legs go numb, but thats o.k . , the biggest problem is lifting the heavier kayaks even though i have made a couple of trolleys , and they work well , there always seems to come a time when i have to lift, and thats why i am really keen on lighter kayaks , thanks very much for your help and advice , you are really a great bunch of fellows, and it is very obvious to me that to join this forum was a top idea, thanks guys

 

[bazzoo]

oops, had trouble logging on , sorry about the double post, give yourself an uppercut barry

 

[Salty Dog]

G'day Baz, what sort of fishing are you looking at doing mate?

If you just looking at skinny water, Hairymick can probably recommend some fibreglass sit ins that might be appropriate & lighter than plastic.

If you are looking to go outside, money is no object & you don't mind importing there are some fibreglass kayaks in South Africa that might suit.

This one you might find interesting as long as you aren't keeping too much weight around the bum. It's a sea kayak hull with a sit on top cockpit. Only 22Kgs & you can add a skirt as well if you want to reminisce about your sea kayaking days:

http://ftlauderdaleyakfishingclub.org/s ... yaks2.html

Another couple from the same manufacturer:
The Pelican - 23 Kgs but a little wider
http://www.kayak.co.za/kaskazi/pelican.htm

The Dorado - starting to get a bit on the heavy side at 28Kgs but I believe that Kaskazi can make them lighter if requested.
http://www.kayak.co.za/kaskazi/dorado.htm

If you are after a sit on top with similar dimensions to the Nemo, the Australis Squid is another option that you could test:
http://www.australiscanoes.com.au/watercraft-squid.php

Good luck with it mate, hope you find what you are after.

 

[Ironsides]

Bigbazoo, I'm 190cms and 110kg disabled with MS. I am going for an Espri.
I fit in fine and to me it seems to paddle well.
Its not too heavy.
Ideal for fishing in the river and Bay.
Best of all value, the price is good.
I am going with the high back seat and an upgraded paddle.
I am going to use a paddle float and stirrup system for reentry.
I cant wait, I ordered it yesterday.
Hope this helps.

Ian

 

[Dodge]

I am going to use a paddle float and stirrup system for reentry.
I cant wait, I ordered it yesterday.
)

Ian good to see everything has clicked for you mate, hope you get lots of pleasure from the boat.
And good to see you replaced the viking paddle for a decent one

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[shayned]

120kg Bah!!!! Bloody light weight wannabe!!! :lol:
If I could have found a fully rigged 2nd hand Espri that would have been my weapon of choice. I got a cobra explorer instead which is good but prob just a little too short for your height.

The Fat B

 

[hairymick]

G'day Ian, Congratulations mate. good choice I think.

 

[bazzoo]

120kg Bah!!!! Bloody light weight wannabe!!! :lol:
If I could have found a fully rigged 2nd hand Espri that would have been my weapon of choice.

love the look of the espri mate, but will have a look at the cobra viking, its not that i eat too much, its just that i breath fat air