100 Boats In 100 Days: Day 34 - Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro TW'

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Day 34 - Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro TW'

Back by popular demand the Scupper Pro TW represents what sit on top SOT kayaks were before they were fisherized. At 15 feet long and a respectable 26" wide this boat retains some of the glide you find in closed decked kayaks. For that reason it tends to be a bit faster than many of the new wide and stable platforms that are on the market today. This morning I was heading out with the Wednesday morning group from our docks at Aqua Adventures and figured I'd draw from the bag until I got a sea kayak that would allow me to keep up. The first draw gave me the Scupper Pro and although it is a SOT I knew it would be just fine.

I did have to work a bit harder than I would have in a equal length decked boat but I did keep up. One thing to expect from the Scupper Pro is the potential for a wet butt. The seat is set very low in the boat which is what helps it feel more stable but because of that water doesn't have to travel far up the scupper holes in the seat to leave you a bit wet. I deal with that by simply sitting on top of a padded seat which keeps me above the water. The big front hatch provides access to the entire inside of the boat for storage. Back in the day Aqua Adventures did overnight trips with Scupper Pros utilizing the storage capacity provided through the hatches. Back then the Scupper Pro came with two hatches (front and rear) the Scupper Pro that has been re-introduced is the TW (tank well) version which eliminates the rear hatch in exchange for a tank well where a dive tank, cooler, or fishing gear can be stowed for easy access while on the water. Because it does handle a bit more like a decked kayak, the Scupper Pro is one of my favorite SOT kayaks. You can fish off of it but if cruising is more your game you'd be using it to it's higher potential.

Scupper Pro Review

Manufacturer = Johnson Outdoors
Brand = Ocean Kayak
Model = Scupper Pro TW
Type = SOT
Material = Plastic
Length = 14'-9"
Width = 26"
Weight = 55 lbs.

Location = Ocean Beach Pier Loop
Time = 7:00 AM
Distance = Approx 5 miles
Duration = 1:30 hour
Avg. Speed = N/A
Conditions = Partly cloudy and breezy

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What's this all about

I was inspired by a Southern California paddler, Mark Sanders, who last year managed to paddle one hundred days in one calendar year. Paddling an average of almost two days a week is quite a feet for the average person that has to maneuver around work and family schedules to find the time to paddle, and I was impressed. Late last year as Mark’s paddle reports number 94, 95, 96… came in on the CKF club e-mail list I got to thinking that because I live so close to the water and as a instructor/guide at Aqua Adventures I have access to an entire fleet of kayaks, canoes, and other paddle craft, there is no excuse for me to not paddle almost every day. So, on January first of this year I set out to paddle something every day. Not necessarily always a kayak, because of the nature of our fleet we have open canoes, surf skis, and paddle boards available too. I figured it’d be good to mix it up on a different craft now and then to broaden my skill level in those areas, and just to get a little variety. To keep myself honest I set a minimum time limit of one hour to be sure that I couldn’t just dip a blade and call it a day. By mid March I had only missed five days in the year and was on track to finish my first hundred days within a month.

As I paddled up to our dock one morning before our Southwest Kayak Symposium I eyed the huge fleet of boats and boards that we have pondering what an enormous chore it is to keep all of those boats floating, much less in top operating condition. Then a thought struck me that I could paddle a different boat every day for almost a hundred days just from what we have on the dock. A quick count from water level gave me an estimate of about 85 boats in our fleet of rental/demo equipment. Add a half dozen more demo boats in the store we already have about 90 boats that a person could paddle. After thinking about it for a bit my plan was hatched to try to do just that. – Paddle 100 boats in 100 days -- To add to the challenge I want to rule out any duplicate models of boats we have, meaning that I will be paddling 100 completely different boats (brand, model, material, etc.) during the 100 day challenge.

With so many boats in our fleet it’s a constant challenge to familiarize myself with the specs and performance of each boat. With experience one can predict what a boat will be like by looking at it but nothing compares to putting your butt in the seat and giving it a go. Throughout this endeavor I will be taking note of my experiences in each boat and sharing that info on this blog, kind of a mini review. Before anyone pays too much attention to my reviews they should remember that this is FAR from a scientific study. I won’t be paddling the same course in the same conditions to allow for a truly head to head comparison of each boat. More importantly, because not every boat is designed to fit me (height, weight, strength, experience, etc.) not every boat will perform as it might for a person that is the appropriate size and skill level. The truth remains that nothing, absolutely nothing, can take the place of paddling a boat for yourself. So, take my reviews for what they are (my personal experience and opinion) and use that to gain just a little more info about these boats, then get out on the water and give them a try for yourself. If you have tried out a boat I mention in this endeavor please feel free to share your experience with me via this blog.

100 Boats In 100 Days

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Day 34 - Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro TW'

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What's this all about

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