Sinking Raptor

I use the drain plugs when SOMEONE (shark_bait) leaves bait in the hull.  After hosing the interior, I want ALL the water out and the bilge pump doesn't quite get it all.  I do not love the smell of squid juice in the morning.

  I do not love the smell of squid juice in the morning.

Who let this guy join NCKA!? 

I use it once in awhile on my SOT's but I can see me washing the fish blood out on my Raptor every time if I lucky enough to catch some fish that day 

Ya but did he catch anything?

Ya but did he catch anything?

Glad someone finally got to the important part!!!

Hey, Jim.  I think your Raptor is a cool craft, and you sound like a good guy.  WTG.   

   All good stuff to ponder.      It is what it is.  Craig summed it up perfectly.

Not all kayaks have to be bulkheaded Adam. Put foam in the front and rear and call it good. You start bulkheading it and then what? You lose space. Plus the fact that the boat has to be long enough to warrant it. Adding production cost. This is a new craft. You cant spend spend spend until you know it s going to make money. Then do upgrades.

   Bulkheads vs Foatation Bags  If you put bulkheads in then you'd also need a hatch to get in behind the sealed area,  otherwise, condensation occurs.    The design of this boat prohibits it.    I do use a chunk of polyfoam in the bow to fit the battery box  on top,  the two provide ample floatation combined with the rear bags, should the need ever arise.  A 3 pcs set of floatation bags are 45 dollars.  Highly recommended for the peace of mind when paddling in deep water.
 
  The back end of the boat is deliberately low to the water in an effort to reduce windage.    Higher above the waterline doesn't provide any floatation, it just adds weight. Plugs are located there at the end to provide easy drainage / cleaning.    They work perfectly well there if screwed in.   

Much to do about nothing IMO. Some good pics of the underwater Raptor though. 
 If you're going to use a raptor on the ocean or bay you should carry a skirt for when it gets snotty.....just like any other SIK should. jim

    Use of  a skirt;   You just can't use a Skirt with this.  The more I  test it out, the more I realize it isn't needed.   I've been outside of Emeryville harbor entrance .. well past the breakwater, in rolling whitecaps, 20knot wind that day and had no more water come in than  a few drops...     This isn't your typical , low to the water type SIS .   The coaming comes up plenty high enough , even when sitting broadside to the waves.     I've yet to have a wave flood the cockpit, or even come close for that matter.
    About a month ago at the ARW,   Wind was blowing hard early that day.  Nudling launched about the same time I did around 5:30 am..   About 7:30- 8 that morning, another 6-8 NCKA'ers  showed up , along with ChuckE.    With the exception of the two Hobie sailors,  we all paddled back in by 8:30.  It was just too windy and rough to fish comfortably.   I wore jeans that morning, with exception of the spray coming off my paddle I would have been dry.   BTW,  that was much  milder conditions than the test outside Emeryville.     

  Yes, there are limitations on where to take this.    There's a lot of great boats out there, and they all have strengths and weaknesses.      I wouldn't advise attempts at launching this , or any kayak through big surf,, unless you are well prepared.    For serious surf launches,  the best boat is a SOT,  hands down.         
     Way back in a  thread  about testing the Trident /  Raptor,   the discussion came up about a bilge pump.   I listed a half dozen incidents of SOT  sinkings then.    A bilge pump should be  standard equipment when paddling on the ocean,  whether you paddle a SIS  or  a SOT.  Could probably try rigging up an Electric bilge pump for quickly evacuating water if you wanted to use this for a surf launch.   

         

    I was thinking about what Flounder Pounder said, about beiing out 45 minutes before he noticed the plugs loose on his Raptor.   Just seems like you would notice you were sitting in some water long before it was up to your navel.     I wasn't there,  TD seems like a straight shooter, I give him the benefit of the doubt.   However,  I still think there was something fishy going on there.


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Yeah, but if it is bulkheaded you can get most of the water out of a swamped kayak without a pump.

I guess it would be alright if the raptor is stable enough to board without spilling and re-swamping when it is 3/4 full of water.  If it isn't you are talking about much more time outside of the kayak likely in cold water.  I'm sure it would be much better with bags installed, but how many people do you think will buy and install bags?  Has Sonny done it with his?  I don't like the idea of SIKs in the ocean without a skirt, especially one that if swamped will take substantially more time to right and re-board. 
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    The Raptor is  in a different category all to itself.   It's a cross between a SOT a SIS and a SUP board..   
     Watch the self rescue video again..     Did that look like it took a long time to right and reboard ?   About 5 seconds total...
 most of the water was spilled out before I climbed back in.   Only a few gallons left in the boat, and all below the seat, down in the keels.     
   Floatation bags have been around a very long time.  It takes about the amount of time to tie your shoes to put them in.  Then  you leave them in.    The option to put floatation in is up to the paddler... just like the option to wear a PFD, or Drysuit..etc.    People choose to NOT take proper precautions. ..    some from inexperience, some get over confident and forget that "accidents" happen.  That's why they call them accidents...        We learn out limits I think. 
 
 I'm just very glad that didn't result in a drowning or injury.   One positive side to this thread. Hopefully it will make us all a little more safety conscious.         
     Whistle, VHF, PFD  and Bilge pump ...   make a list ,  be safe.    We don't want a "Memorial Paddle"   

       Did I hear a fishing Challenge ???       You're on Dude.      Capitola  Sunday morning ! Bring that Scupper Pro

       
   

    Use of  a skirt;   You just can't use a Skirt with this.  The more I  test it out, the more I realize it isn't needed.   

No skirt on the ocean=dressing for immersion IMHO. Hopefully you make this clear during a sale.

  I do not love the smell of squid juice in the morning.

Who let this guy join NCKA!? 

 

No skirt huh? Hey if you say so. I have been out in conditions where wind waves were continuously dumping into the yak and I was wishing for larger scuppers to more quickly let the water drain out. And that was while I was, foolishly, still attempting to fish. The paddle back was even wetter. I realize the raptor's cockpit is more protected still.....it certainly couldn't hurt to have a skirt aboard for worst case scenarios. It's too easy to launch, paddle away, and have conditions change before you can react and return. You can't paddle and pump at the same time. jim

You can't paddle and pump at the same time. jim

Amen to that.

I will say that I think the Raptor is pretty cool and if I was fly fishing on freshwater, it would be in my top 3 yaks. I was impressed with the design at PIF. My main concern on the ocean isn't with swamping, it is in the surf zone. In a SIK, if you roll in the surf you recover using an Eskimo roll. If you bury the nose on a steep shore break things could get ugly which is why I prefer a SOT where you can quickly eject from your yak.

Heres an idea! Why dont you two critics worry more about gas money than trashing the raptor. Everything has its downside. You two knuckleheads havent even paddled a raptor yet..................

Heres an idea! Why dont you two critics worry more about gas money than trashing the raptor. Everything has its downside. You two knuckleheads havent even paddled a raptor yet..................

Nuts!

No spray skirt? come on man. WTF