If you've spent any time moving through old-school swimming forums or speaking to guys who've been on the drinking water since the 90s, you've definitely noticed someone mention the particular scupper pro ocean kayak . It's among those rare pieces of gear that achieved legendary status almost the minute it strike the market, plus somehow, decades later on, people are still looking for them on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace like they're looking for buried prize.
It's a bit of the weird phenomenon whenever you think regarding it. Most outdoor gear from 20 or thirty years ago looks like a total relic nowadays, but there's some thing regarding the Scupper Pro that just works . It doesn't possess the fancy your pedal drives or the stadium-style reclining seats you see on modern rigs, but it includes a soul. It's a pure, fast, and incredibly capable vessel that reminds you what kayaking sensed like before every sit-on-top became a floating 100-pound plastic material sofa.
The reason why this boat still has a cult following
So, what is this about the scupper pro ocean kayak that keeps people so addicted? To understand that will, you have to look with how most contemporary kayaks are built. Nowadays, companies are obsessed with "stability. " They want a boat so wide you can remain up and do yoga exercises on it. That's great for several people, however it makes the boat handle like a moist log. It's gradual, it's heavy, plus it's a headache to paddle towards the wind.
The Scupper Pro went the opposite method. It's long (nearly 15 feet) plus remarkably narrow. This particular gives it the "glide" that many sit-on-tops can just dream of. Once you dig your paddle in, the motorboat actually responds. It slices through the water instead associated with pushing a walls of it in front of you. For anyone who actually enjoys the particular act of paddling—not just getting through point A to point B—that's a huge deal.
Another thing could be the profile. It sits very low in the water. This particular is a huge advantage when the wind covers. In the event that you've have you been in a high-walled modern fishing kayak during a gusty afternoon, you know you basically turn into a sail and get blown halfway across the bay. The particular Scupper Pro remains tucked down close to the surface, which makes it much easier in order to manage when circumstances get a small snotty.
The particular classic design eccentricities
If you get your hands on a scupper pro ocean kayak , the first point you'll notice is usually the cockpit. It's tight. If you're a larger individual, it may even feel a bit "snug. " But that's actually by design. You sit deep within the boat, which usually lowers your middle of gravity. This particular is why, in spite of being narrow, the boat feels incredibly stable once you're moving. It has great "secondary balance, " meaning this might feel a bit tippy when you first sit in it, but you can lean it way over upon its edge with no it actually turning.
Then generally there are the hatches. Most versions came with a large front hatch and a center hatch. The storage space is actually pretty impressive to get a boat this slim. You can shove an amazing amount of camping gear lower into the hull. I've known men who've done multi-day coastal touring journeys out of these things, which is something most people wouldn't even dream of doing in the standard sit-on-top.
Of course, we need to talk about the "wet ride. " It's called a Scupper for a reason—the drainage holes (scuppers) are created to let water out, but because the seat is so reduced, you're almost constantly going to have a little puddle through your butt. If you're paddling in comfortable tropical water, who cares? But in the event that you're in the Pacific Northwest or the North Atlantic, you're going to desire a good set of dry slacks or a wetsuit. It's just component of the knowledge.
Is it a fishing motorboat or a touring boat?
The advantage of the scupper pro ocean kayak is that it doesn't really suit into an individual box. Back within the day, it had been the gold regular for spearfishers plus divers. Because it's so easy in order to climb back onto from deep water, it was the perfect platform for jumping off with a face mask and fins.
For the rod-and-reel crowd, it's a minimalist's dream. A person don't have equipment tracks everywhere or even built-in electronics pods. You have in order to be a little bit more creative along with how you rig it. But for the guy who else wants to launch through the surf, paddle three kilometers offshore to a reef, and obtain presently there before his close friends in their heavy "barge" kayaks, the Scupper Pro remains the king. It handles surf changes like a champ. While the big, broad boats are getting rolled over by breaking waves, the particular Scupper Pro just punches right through them.
The hunt for an utilized one
Getting a scupper pro ocean kayak today can be the bit of a challenge. Ocean Kayak (the brand) stopped making them years ago, much to the dismay of their hardcore fans. Because the plastic they used—linear polyethylene—is incredibly hard, you may still find plenty of them kicking close to, but owners have a tendency to hang on to them.
When you're searching at an used one, monitor the particular bottom of the hull. Because these types of boats in many cases are pulled over sand plus rocks, "fret wear" on the keel is common. The little bit is fine, but if it's worn thin good enough to be soft when you press upon it, you might have to complete some plastic welding. Furthermore, check the mechanical seals on the hatches. They're usually dried out out on old boats, but thankfully, they're pretty simple to replace with some DIY weatherstripping or even official replacements if you possibly can find them.
The current successor: Get bigger Watercraft
In case you love the thought of the scupper pro ocean kayak but you really want something brand name new with contemporary improvements, you should look into Swell Boat. The company was actually started by Tim Niemier, the guy which founded Ocean Kayak and designed the initial Scupper.
He basically took the original Scupper Pro blueprint plus fixed all the particular little gripes people had through the years. They made the footwells lower so that your heels aren't higher than your own butt (which much more ergonomic), and they will improved the drainage therefore you don't have to sit within a puddle all day long. It's essentially the particular "Scupper Pro 2. 0. " It's great to observe that the design philosophy hasn't not survived, even as the rest of the particular industry moved towards bigger and heavier boats.
Last thoughts on the classic
There's the reason why, within an era of high-tech pedal drives plus motorized kayaks, people still talk regarding the scupper pro ocean kayak with such reverence. It represents the time when water-skiing was more about the connection between the paddler and the water. It's a boat that benefits good technique and makes you think that an athlete rather than passenger.
It's not the nearly all comfortable boat regarding a long time of lounging, and it definitely isn't the driest. But if you want a kayak that may manage the open ocean, slice via a headwind, and turn an unteresting afternoon into an adventure, it's difficult to beat. If you ever see a single for sale at a decent price, perform yourself a favour and grab this. Even if you don't finish up keeping this forever, every kayaker should experience what a truly well-designed hull feels like at least one time.
It's a piece of history it is possible to use, and honestly, they just don't make them like this anymore. Whether you're chasing fish, exploring a tough coastline, or just looking to get the good workout in, the Scupper Pro remains a benchmark that not many motorboats have ever maintained to surpass.