I'm looking at buying a Zuma 13 sailboat (Laser class) to make into some semblance of a sneakboat. My issue is I'm a big guy 6'2" 425#.. From what I can find the weight limit is around 500lbs and with gear I'm sure I'll be right at the limit. I figure I'll raise the height and reinforce the transom to eventually add a small motor. Does anyone have any experience with this type of boat? Am I too close to the weight limit for comfort? I'm currently hunting out of a 16 royal canoe and this sailboat is 2' wider and would hopefully be more stable.. Thanks for your input
Fat guy in a little boat
- Thread starter MikeG
- Start date
Why that particular boat? I love Lasers. I grew up in a family that owned a similar boat, a Tanzer 14, that was a little drier and a little higher capacity. Another step up in size, capacity and sea worthiness would be an Oday day sailer, which I think was 16' and had a small cuddy forward. And of course there are plenty of purpose-built duck boats in that size class, too. I remember Lasers being pretty wet when sailed, and I'd be reluctant to push their published weight limits. I own a fleet of Royalex canoes of 16-17', and their published weight capacities are all in the 800-1200 lb range, so your probably going down in weight capacity. It's a long time since I've been in a Laser, but I'm not sure you are correct that the additional width will translate to a lot more stability. Lasers were racing boats, and wonderfully stable with the centerboard down sailing in a stiff cross or upwind with all the passenger weight on the windward gunwale. That's very different than the same hull with a heavy load in the hull and no force on the sails to balance it.
Thanks for the replies. The price was right on the Tanzer.. The canoe weight limit is certainly sufficient and I plan to add Spring Creek pontoons to it which are removable when I get to where I'm going. Having a high center of gravity is the issue. I was hoping I could reduce length and have something dedicated to duck hunting that I could eventually put a small motor on. I was also looking for an O'Day just haven't come across one cheap enough yet.