Canoe weight limit is hands-down the most important parameter to consider before buying a canoe and setting off on a canoeing trip.
So what’s a canoe weight limit? The most common canoe size; the 16-foot 2-person recreational canoe, can hold a maximum weight of 940 pounds. Other than that, an average 14-foot canoe can support about 700 pounds, while an average 17-foot canoe can accommodate more than 1160 pounds.
Keep reading for additional information on the canoe weight limit and how you can calculate it.
What does Weight Capacity Mean?
Also referred to as a canoe’s weight limit, a canoe’s weight capacity is the maximum weight the canoe can hold, including passengers and gear.
Usually specified by the manufacturer, you should never try Don’t try to go over that limit even if your canoe seems capable of handling it. Pushing the weight limit puts you, your gear, and your canoe at a huge risk of sinking.
What’s more, it’s recommended that you don’t use up the entire weight capacity of the canoe and allow for some leeway instead. That’s because the specified limit is estimated by the makers of the canoe, so there’s a chance it’s a bit more optimistic than reality.
If you do need to carry more weight, then wait until you can purchase a larger canoe. This is why you should carefully think about your canoeing requirements when it comes to how many people will often accompany you and how much gear you typically pack.
In general, larger canoes or canoes meant for more passengers offer a higher weight capacity. On the other hand, shorter canoes support a very low weight capacity because so they can’t hold as much gear or as many people.
What Factors can Affect Canoe Weight Limit?
When it comes down to it, the dimensions of the canoe and the shape of its hull are the two most important factors that affect the maximum weight a canoe can hold. Other significant factors include fullness and building materials, here’s a simple breakdown of each one.
- Canoe Length — as a rule of thumb, the longer a canoe is, the more weight it can support.
- Canoe Width (Beam) — similarly, the wider a canoe of a certain length is, the more weight it can hold.
- Canoe Depth — the depth of a canoe is the distance from the gunnel to the bottom of the hull. Given that the length and width of a canoe are fixed, the “deeper” the canoe is, the more weight it can handle.
- Fullness — the fullness of a canoe is how quickly it turns wide as we move from the bow or stern towards the middle. Generally speaking, a fuller canoe can carry more weight compared to a thinner one.
- Building Materials — if you want a canoe to accommodate as much weight as possible, look for one that’s built out of a sturdy but lightweight material such as wood, aluminum, or fiberglass. These materials are already light, so they won’t count for a lot of the overall maximum weight limit, allowing the canoe to carry more passengers and gear.
On the other hand, canoes that are made of cheaper materials such as polyethylene plastic are heavier, so they take away from the canoe’s overall maximum weight capacity.
What is Canoe Performance Weight Limit?
If you’ve been shopping for a canoe for a while, chances are you came across a few high-end manufacturers that list a weight limit referred to as “performance”, “practical”, or “efficient” capacity. This value is always a lot less than what the company has specified for the maximum weight limit.
Such a weight limit is the carry load that guarantees the best performance out of a canoe. This is an indication that you should never load up your canoe to its maximum capacity because the company is saying that less weight would provide the most efficient performance.
Why do Some Manufacturers Avoid Specifying a Maximum Weight Limit?
There are a few manufacturers, such as Wenonah Canoes and Clipper Canoes, that don’t list the maximum weight capacity limits in the descriptions of their canoes.
If you’re wondering why companies would refrain from specifying such important information, you’ll be pleased to know that there are rational reasons behind this decision. They say that the maximum weight capacities disclosed by other canoe makers are often misleading.
We can agree due to several reasons including:
- The water in the canoe’s bilge quickly tops up the boat’s load.
- The fact that if a canoe is loaded up to its maximum stated weight limit, or even somewhere close, it won’t handle well or perform practically.
- The experience and skill level of the canoeist can substantially impact the amount of load a canoe can deal with.
How can I Calculate My Canoe’s Weight Limit?
If you want to figure out the weight capacity of your canoes, you need to first determine the length and width of the canoe. Once you have those parameters in check, apply them to the following formula:
- Length x Width / 18
This formula will give you the carrying capacity of the canoe. From there, multiply the carrying capacity number by 180 (average weight of one person) to get the maximum weight limit of the canoe. Some websites use 15 and 150 pounds, but that estimate is a bit outdated.
Here’s an example to help you understand these calculations:
- For example, let’s say we have a 16.5-foot canoe that’s 3 feet wide. Then, 16.5 x 3 = 49.5, and 49.5 / 18 = 2.75 people. So, this canoe can carry approximately 2.75 passengers or about 2.75 x 180 = 495 pounds.
This method just gives you an estimate. Remember, there are other factors to consider when it comes to a canoe’s weight limit.
Wrap Up
Knowing the maximum weight your canoe can support allows you to plan how many passengers can join you and how much gear you can carry.