The capacity of a Kayak in Sian Ka’an is limited. It is limited in the number of crew members that can go and in the luggage capacity that can be carried.
The capacity of a kayak is usually a factor that we do not take into account. That is why we often do not understand how it is possible for a kayak to capsize or why it is so difficult to move forward.
Types of kayaks according to the number of crew members
- Open or self-bailing kayaks, also called “Sit on Top”, which means “sitting on top”.
- Closed kayaks or “bathtub” kayaks, where we get inside. These are usually recreational Kayaks and there are different modalities: Whitewater Kayaks, Sea Kayaks, Rodeo Kayaks, Surf Kayaks,…
- Inflatable kayaks.
- Demountable kayaks.
- Competition Kayaks, where we find different disciplines: Whitewater Kayaks, Track Kayaks and Kayak-polo Kayaks.
And although the generic common denominator of all of them is that they can be single or double, there are some variations.
The cases where we can find Kayaks in Sian Ka’an with a capacity equal to or greater than 2 persons are:
- The Quiet Water Competition Kayaks: this type of kayaks are abbreviated with the prefix “K” followed by the number of crew members (1, 2 or 4). The existing modalities in Kayak de pista are K.1, K.2 and K.4.
- The “closed” recreational kayaks: this type of kayaks admit a maximum of two people. In this group we include Sea Kayaks, Inflatable Kayaks and Demountable Kayaks.
- Self-bailing or “open” kayaks: they can be single, double, three-person or even four-person kayaks, although with their limitations.
Factors influencing the capacity of a kayak
Length and beam
In all kayaks in Sian Ka’an with a capacity of more than 2 people, the length of the kayak is related to the number of crew members.
Thus, for example, in the trail kayaks the maximum length for a K.1 is 5.2 meters. For a K.2 it is 6.5 meters and for a K.4 it is 11 meters.
As we can see, in a 4-person kayak the length is 11 meters and this is ideal to give a lot of directionality and speed. However, it is impossible to turn the kayak because the turning radius would be such that we would need a huge space to turn just a few centimeters.
The beam (width) of a kayak is also another factor that affects a kayak’s capacity. The beam is what will give more or less stability to a kayak.
In a trail kayak it is not necessary to turn, but in a recreational kayak, whether “open” or “closed”, it is essential to be able to turn easily. On the other hand, a recreational kayak carrying four people would obviously not be able to measure 11 meters. That is why the ideal capacity of a recreational kayak does not exceed two people.
Maximum Load
Each kayak in Sian Ka’an can support a maximum weight. This information is given on the kayak’s data sheet. Exceeding this weight would mean sinking the kayak too much because it would exceed the waterline. The waterline is an imaginary line that should always be above the water. If this line is underwater it will cause a lot of instability. Also, having the waterline below the water will cause a lot of hull friction and therefore lead to very slow and heavy progress.
The capacity of a recreational kayak will then be limited to the weight of the sum of the people inside. We must also take into account that we will carry part of the weight with our equipment and therefore this will also affect the load capacity.
Double self-bailing kayaks: The family kayak
The rise of family tourism has led many manufacturers to develop self-drafting kayaks with a higher capacity than usual.
They are manufactured with a large volume and a very wide beam.
The high volume that they have allows counteracting the length that would be necessary to carry up to four people. They do not usually measure more than 4.5 meters, as opposed to the 11 meters needed for a K.4 de Pista.
In addition, engineering has allowed these kayaks to have a very fast and stable navigation.
This type of kayak, the Family Kayak, is prepared to carry two, three or even four people.
However, they also have a maximum load that must not be exceeded.
If the capacity of a Family kayak is for three people, the person in the center should be a teenager no older than 12 years old.
If the capacity of a Family kayak is for four people, at least two of the people should be children under 7 years old. We can never include four adults.
Obviously, all this is a function of the total weight and this data may vary depending on the weight of the crew and the load we carry.
The signal that will visually indicate an overload will be the waterline. We will also be able to detect that we are overloaded if the crew members get their butts wet, especially the person sitting in the back of the kayak.
These kayak in Sian Ka’an are also ideal for transporting our pets. The large volume allows the central area to be spacious and comfortable to accommodate our furry ones.
