Does adding flotation bump recommended minimum weight load?
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:47 pm
A local fellow canoer has repeatedly suggested that I stuff some flotation into the ends of my JEM Trapper 1538. So I might install sections of pool noodle in the ends for flotation.
But would that mean the Trapper 1538's minimum recommended best performance weight load would increase to more that the original 200 lbs?
I could determine how many pounds of water my pieces of pool noodle would actually float, and then add that to the 200.
But the more I think about it, I think the pool noodles would have no affect at all while they are in a dry-inside canoe.
In any case I'm not enthusiastic about the flotation idea, not wanting to sacrifice that space in the canoe ends. I'm usually paddling solo and have two or three 6 or 7 gallon plastic water cans at one end and I try to snug them as far to the end as they'll fit (which isn't far).
That extra weight is for one, because I don't weigh 200 and two, to trim for wind.
Also I don't really want to fill the end spaces cuz they're good for putting long poles, sticks, paddles forward so they won't block the floor where I be kneeling.
But would that mean the Trapper 1538's minimum recommended best performance weight load would increase to more that the original 200 lbs?
I could determine how many pounds of water my pieces of pool noodle would actually float, and then add that to the 200.
But the more I think about it, I think the pool noodles would have no affect at all while they are in a dry-inside canoe.
In any case I'm not enthusiastic about the flotation idea, not wanting to sacrifice that space in the canoe ends. I'm usually paddling solo and have two or three 6 or 7 gallon plastic water cans at one end and I try to snug them as far to the end as they'll fit (which isn't far).
That extra weight is for one, because I don't weigh 200 and two, to trim for wind.
Also I don't really want to fill the end spaces cuz they're good for putting long poles, sticks, paddles forward so they won't block the floor where I be kneeling.