Given that almost any kayak, save the most extremely low-volume ones, will handle a 45# load of camping gear, I wouldn't worry about taking your son. A 17' boat will sink about an inch in the water for every 100# added to the boat, if what I read a while back was true. The big question would be when your son would be too big to continue riding in the kayak with you. If you built a Chesapeake 18 (the big daddy, not the 'LT' version) your son could ride with you until he's four-and-twenty...:-) Dean

> Mike, Thanks for the advice. I was hoping to hear from you as I had read
> some of your posts and will undoubtedly have more questions. What I've
> read so far doesn't indicate a capacity. Have any idea? I'd like to build
> a fairly large cockpit so I can take my three-year-old with me. By next
> summer (anticipated completion date) he'll be for and I'd guess about 45
> lbs. making our combined weight about 230. Thanks agaiin. Tom