Sounds rather arbitrary...
Shouldn't rated capacity be determined by actual testing?
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| Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 sport. http://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=35193 |
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| Author: | Grampa Spey [ Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 sport. |
http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaks/mirage/sport/ The current weight capacity of the 2011 Sport as per the link on this site is 225 pounds versus the 245 pounds for the 2009/10 model. The 245 pound capacity is in the 2009/10 brochure and on most sites selling the Hobie like Austin Kayak. Did Hobie change the design? Or was there another factor/reason? |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 spor |
No changes to the design... same molds. Must have changed the way we determine capacity. |
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| Author: | FishIt [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 spor |
Sounds rather arbitrary... Shouldn't rated capacity be determined by actual testing?
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| Author: | mmiller [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 spor |
Quote: changed the way we determine capacity Yes... testing is done. Yes, it is a somewhat arbitrary. Someone has to determine stability and acceptable waterline under load. That thinking likely changed as I noted. |
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| Author: | Roadrunner [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Re the reduction in the weight capacity of the 2011 spor |
The more you load up a boat, the higher the center of gravity and the less stable it becomes. Potential rough water conditions also have to be factored in. With tandems it becomes even more complicated because when operated solo, all the weight is loaded longitudinally off center. So where the absolute capacity of the boat may be much higher, the rated capacity is usually scaled down quite a bit based on safety, common sense and experience. I don't think there is a magic formula. The last two Oasis hull changes, for instance, added both volume and stability but not rated capacity. Three of us got on a Revo once -- about 500+ lb., and couldn't sink it (and didn't flip it). Yet it's sensibly rated at 350 lb. 
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| Author: | Grampa Spey [ Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Good news and possible bad news for potential Sport buye |
 The good news is that Hobie's gurus/engineers are constantly looking at their products and making changes to improve their yaks or like in this case changing/reducing their specs on their yaks for our safety. The bad news is the change in weight load limits puts the Sport for many of us into a no buy category.It seems that there is a market for a Hobie Mirage that is bigger than the Scout and smaller/lighter, stable and easier to handle than an Outback or Revolution for those of us who fish and would pack a day's gear and tackle on a Hobie Mirage that could handle us and our gear and still be light enough to get on/off or in/out of our pickups or our SUVs. Like an 10-11-12' footer weighing about 60#'s or less with the fishing necessities like rod mounts built in. This market will increase in size as the boomers get older, less spry and feel the limitations of decades of over abuse of their bodies like bad shoulders, backs, hips and knees. The continuing increase in gasoline prices and the impositions of those in charge of rivers, lakes and ocean shores, who do not like humans and as a result of their dislike, restrict shore access and boat fishing will increase the demand for fishable yaks. Most of us will not be out in the ocean fishing for Marlin, but we have lakes and rivers where the mirage can be the difference in an enjoyable day from beginning to the end at home versus a paddle only yak. I would be more than willing to 'beta' test any such yak.  mmiller wrote: Quote: changed the way we determine capacity Yes... testing is done. Yes, it is a somewhat arbitrary. Someone has to determine stability and acceptable waterline under load. That thinking likely changed as I noted. |
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