Tripping Ideal Capacity?

[Black_Fly]

What percent of maximum capacity is the sweet spot between performance and hauling? My P14’s capacity is 400 lbs. I’m thinking 75-80% of that (300-320) is as loaded as I’d want to be on a windy crossing. That would preclude any longer trips in that boat, certainly rule out taking my dog. Any rules of thumb?

 

[Tryin']

All of mine seem to really like 50-75% of the manufacturer's max recommended numbers. If using "industry capacity" (usually 6" WL), more like 40-65%.

 

[gumpus]

In my experience with quite a few canoes you just want to be within the manufacturer's recommended weight range. I never had 400 pounds in my SRT but it should be fine. I've had lots of solos rated 160-280 or 180-320 and they are just fine right up to their limit. I've had a boat loaded to 95% of it's design load in rough conditions many times with zero worries. I also think it's best to have at least the minimum recommended weight or boats feel (to me) like they have a lot of skin friction sucking out your energy for no good reason. I specifically look for boats that feel good with and without weight since until recently my dogs were 60-70 pounds. I've found some solos that feel ponderous with very poor handling when even slightly overloaded. I remember Dave Curtis laughing when I told him I had my lab with me in a Vagabond. So 275 in a boat rated for 250. That boat was overloaded and would have been very easy to swamp. My Swift Peregrine felt good up to it's 320 limit but any more and it felt burdened and handling got sluggish. It also felt too big when loaded only to it's lower limit of 180.

On the other hand if anyone uses the industry capacity as a guideline I think something bad could happen.

 

[Black_Fly]

The swift website says “optimal load range” is 150-400#. Seems generous. With my dog, I’m at 235# (no gear). I generally take 3 packs weighing on average about 38# for 114#. So I’m likely to use 350# of capacity, or 88%. If I scratch the dog and his food, I’d be about 280#, or 70% of capacity. The Magic’s published optimal load is 160-280, so I’ve been exceeding that for years.