Hi, Newbie here. I'm looking at purchasing a 17'9 Sea Lion by Perception. The problem. I'm 6'2 and 246lbs. I won't have the chance to put this is the water prior to buying. Should it be ok for the size?

Thanks,
B

You should at least try it on before you buy it.

In a perfect world we could all test paddle every boat of interest but I found it's just not possible. I would however suggest at least sitting in it for a bit to see how it fits. My next boat will definately be paddled first because it will need to be my primary craft for at least several years.

I agree with Magooch. If you are a big guy, that may mean a high center of gravity. In that case, the way you experience a boat's stability may be very different from advertised. Also, fit is crucial for performing self-rescues.

You should really try any type of watercraft out before you buy it. I am also 6'2'' tall and 250-260 lbs. I have a 16' Carolina by Perception and I've never encountered any problems because of size. It paddles well with 425 lbs plus (total weight) on long voyages.
The main concern for large paddlers like ourselves, to me at least, is cockpit size. If you check out the specs on the Perception website if does state if cockpit size is for large paddlers for many of their kayaks. The large size cockpits designed by Perception are good, as are large necky cockpits.

I have recently modified my thinking about demoing prospective kayaks. I still think it is very, very important, but first impressions can be misleading. An initial demo should probably be for fit and comfort issues. A boats maneuverabilty, stability, speed and a few other issues can not be properly assessed in a single outing. I believe that most boats take some getting used to and it will take a while before a great variety of conditions can be experienced.

It is very important to figure out what you think you will be using the boat for. A boat that is hard to maneuver is not going to be very good in tight quarters and a boat that will turn on a dime is not going to be as easy to cruise as a boat that likes to track. The best solution is to have several boats, but to the extent that that is not an option, you must be even more careful about which boat you choose.