Patented Design

Santa Cruz Kayaks News

Kayak Angler Magazine Raptor Review
Written by Rickey Mitchell

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Texas Kayak Fisherman Raptor Review

Written by Tom Stubblefield

Click here to see the article.

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Kayak Fishing Magazine Raptor Review
Written by Rickey Mitchell

It’s been over ten years since I cast a line from my first kayak and longer still that I fell in love with the art of paddling. As an author, writer and photographer I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to try out and review kayaks and canoes for magazines and other medias. Now this blessing has been a mixed blessing. Because my last count of kayaks that I’ve rigged up for my own personal use now numbers 25. I should mention along with as well as everything else, I’m fly- fishing guide, a fact that has weighed heavily on my personal requirements for a kayak. My search for the perfect for the perfect combination of stability and speed in a kayak has been filled with many different with frustrating, humorous and humbling experiences. Allow me to share them with you.

Sea kayaks were the first craft I tried to cast a line from. I loved the way they handled and their sensitivity to a paddle stroke, I could cover water quickly and the spray skirt that you wear seals you in and water out of your yak makes an excellent stripping apron for the fly line. Sitting in my sea kayak I really felt as one with the water until I tried my first back cast in it, then I became one in the water. I eventually developed techniques that prevented this from happening.

Another event that happen around the same time was on a fishing trip to South Padre Island, Texas, I saw people fly-fishing from sit on top kayaks, however they weren’t sitting they were standing and fly fishing and they were poling to get to the next spot. I never got a chance to talk to those kayak fishermen but I did find out from the owner of the fly shop in Port Isabel Texas what kayak they were using. When I returned home to California I bought my first sit on top kayak (which I still have to this day.) At first I didn’t miss the speed and the lack of paddle sensitivity that I’d had in the Sea Kayaks because of the stability the sot provided I could pole (another art form), stand and cast, I was in Heaven and it was the perfect yak for my clients. As long as we didn’t paddle a long distance, I’ve had to tow clients back at the end of the day a few times.

A year later the 30” sot was still a perfect yak…for my clients but I was wanting as well as needing to move faster for the sake of my clients and my sanity. The savior of my sanity at least for a while, came in the form of the a 16 ft sit on top kayak, with a hull similar to a sea kayak at the time it was one of the fastest sit on top kayaks on the water. However this time I’d sacrificed stability for speed.

My experiences in this new sot inspired one of my favorite quotes “When in doubt straddle” a quote I’ve repeated many times since then, at seminars and demos up and down the West Coast. It was a technique that came about the first time I tried casting a flyrod from the 28” wide sot. When I made my first back cast, it felt like the kayak was going to capsize. I immediately straddled the yak and my extended feet provided instant stability. It had got to the point where I had to have two kayaks to fish all waters, one for fresh water and another for salt water.

By this particular time in my life, the kayak fishing revolution had begun, as well as the industry that it inspired, and now… some 10 years later where there were once only a few choices of kayaks to fish from, now there are many. As I mentioned before I’ve rigged and reviewed many different kayaks and to be honest I’d given up on the ideal of a kayak with the perfect blend of stability and speed, until about a month ago.

That was I got an email from Jim Martin,owner of Santa Cruz Kayaks and creator of the Raptor.I checked his creation the Raptor at www.santacruzkayaks.com. I had never seen a kayak design such as the Raptor. The first image you see when you go to the web site is an aerial shop of the Raptor.

Now I figured if somebody ever did cook up the perfect recipe of stability and speed, normal looking wasn’t going to be in the mix. So far I was right. The first thing I notice about this craft is its triangle shape. From the bow to stern the raptors Length is : 13' Width: 34" Weight: 62 lbs. Weight Capacity: 310 lbs.

The last few feet split into what looks like outriggers. This was without doubt the most unique looking craft I’d ever seen. After I checked out some footage in the videos section. I called Jim and we made arrangements to meet so he could provide me with a Raptor for review.

The following weekend I took the Raptor down to the San Joaquin River. The first big plus I discovered about the raptor. There’s a handle on each pontoon, which make it perfect for steering. Once I slid my paddleboy dolly over the bow and it worked like a charm and track like a wheelbarrow. Working exceptionally well when I took it down the hill to the river and when I brought it back up.

Stability: First thing I notice when I adjusted the foot braces was that they were SEA-LECT Designs Kayak Adjustable Footbrace, my all time favorites. Without further a due I launched the Raptor. I simply stepped in the kayak, and stood on to the floor (designed for just that purpose) right in front of the seat bracing my legs against the sides of the cockpit, making a strong stroke with my paddle propelled my self out on to opened water.
no problem at all due to the pontoon like stability incorporated into the design of the craft.
Still standing I paddled all the way over to the other side of the pond where it flowed into the river. Anybody with the remotest of balance and just a little bit of practice could have done the same. Usually when I’m standing and paddling I’m looking for fish, now I see why the paddle-boards are so popular. This yak gets a 10 from me for stability.

Handling: I honestly thought because of the design of this yak it wouldn’t turn sharply, I was pleasantly mistaken. Once I reached the other side of the pond I sat down put my paddle against the outside of one of the pontoons, braced, made a strong stroke to the bow, one more stroke and I was headed back the way I’d came.

Then…because the Raptor is a sit in side kayak (as I’m sure you’ve noticed) I braced my knees against the top and lock my self in (something I had to have thigh braces for in a sit on top,) and started paddling, cutting just a little deeper in the water with each stroke. Maybe a dozen strokes later I as moving at very enjoyable clip. I got to tell you this yak was a smooth paddle it just cut through the water and because of the sharp narrow bow it did so without hull slap.

Finally I paddled back to the bank where my wife for her turn to try the Raptor out, she did and she loved it, who by the way is far more pickier, than I am if you can believe that. She’s somewhat on the short side so her only gripe was that the sides were a too little high, a cushion solved that problem. For a utilitarian craft that angler, photographer or simply someone who just wants to enjoy good paddling the Raptor gets a 10 for Handling.

Fish ability: Like the folks at Santa Cruz Kayaks said “The Raptor was created especially for fishing the coastal and off-shore waters of California.” That’s the honest truth, however living in the center of California I spend most of my fishing time in fresh waters such as lakes, rivers and the San Joaquin Delta, It paddles just as well there too. Yes you can stand… but because this yak is a sit in side it’s a whole lot easier to stand up. I’ve told audiences at seminars many times, casting a fly line from a reasonably stable kayak is one thing, hooking and fighting the fish is a whole different matter. You simply put your hand on the side and support your self to stand up or sit down. Something you can do with a rod in hand even while fighting a fish.

This yak is the quietest paddling kayak I’ve ever paddled, a feature ridiculously important for stalking bass of any kind or trout, This feature along makes the Raptor worth its price. The 13’ length is perfect for moving in and out of tules in the Delta or dodging boulders in middle of a river.
Not only does the sharp narrow bow provide quiet paddling, it also cuts through waves going in and out of the surf.

Comfort: The only seat I’ve ever bought, the Surf to Summit Tall Back Fishing Molded Foam Kayak Seat is included in the price of the Raptor. I’ve spent many, many hours in that seat and I can sit in it for a day of fishing.

Layout/Rigging: It’s optional but it’s and option I strongly recommend you take advantage of and that is the spray skirt, it can be used as a stripping apron or work surface to tie on your lures or flies. This spray skirt can also do its regular job, which is keeping water out of your yak, shielding you from hot and cold weather. You can wrap the Raptor skirt around you or roll it up and out of your way. As a fly fisherman I think it’s the best stripping skirt I ever used in a kayak.

The Raptor design along with the small flat area located on top in front of the cock pit for mount a fish finder, along with the nice large storage well, straps provided lends it self to any rigging set up you might wan to use.

Also included in the price is SEA-LECT Designs TRUCOURSE™ RUDDER made by the same folks that make the foot braces. There are a couple of more options. First the rudder drive can be converted for an electric motor. You’ll find the motor on the accessories page. It’s not available yet but it is there is more than one prototype being tested and that is a sail for the Raptor. I’ll let you know how it works as soon as I do.

The Raptor is a kayak I believe any one could enjoy paddling, angler or not.
The Raptor gets a complete over all 10 from me.

About the Author:
Rickey is a freelance photographer and writer, Rickey Noel Mitchell, AKA Paddle and Flies is the author of The Orvis Guide To Personal Fishing Craft published by Lyons Press writes for Fly-fishing and Paddling magazines.

He is the owner of the website www.paddleandflies.com was a kayak fly-fishing guide, and professional fly tier. Being a pro tier also meant being a production tier and tying a dozen flies a day for over nine years. While being a guide had its rewards it also meant watching other people fish. These days he spends his time on the water looking for Images and material for the next article, DVD or book. He still designs a few flies a month and guides a few times a year.

Projects in progress:2 DVDs Titled- Recipes for Mr. Bucket Mouth and Friends. About warm water fly tying and fishing.

The second is titled Paddle and Flies and is about Fly fishing in different waters and different places from a kayak.

Click here to see the complete article with pictures.

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Kayak Angler Magazine took a spin on Santa Cruz Kayak's intriguing new hybrid fishing craft, a bird of prey known as the Raptor. 

The mailman's got nothing on us. Rain or not, when we get a chance to 'kick the plastic' on a fresh new fishing kayak design, there's only one answer - Yes! That explains the monochrome look of the photos, but don't be fooled. The boat's unique personality shined through. 

This craft is like nothing we've laid eyes on. The Raptor is another in the welcome wave of genre-benders flowing onto the kayak fishing market. If there's a niche, there's a ride to fit.

So what is this wicked-looking wedge? It's a  sit-inside, but forget about cockpit confinement. We crawled all over this baby, stood up, kicked our legs over the side, and sat perched on the back deck to scan the water for unsuspecting fish.

Basic stats such as length (13 feet) and width (26 inches mid-cockpit)  don't tell the whole tale when describing the Raptor. This ride has a sharp beak that appears like it would shred waves and chop. Alas, we cruised a local bay so we really couldn't say. It was an ideal setting to test the boat's 'standability,' of which it has plenty. That's due to the to Raptor's split tail, an accommodating 34 inches at its widest.

The ride was nice, showing off a pleasant compromise between agility and course-holding tracking, ably aided by the standard foot-controlled rudder. It was quiet too, without the noisy chatter common to some tunnel hull or catamaran style kayaks (this one is pronounced, see the photo below), although again, the conditions aside from the spray of rain were far from challenging.

What about the deck, the place where kayak anglers transact their most important business? There's a large, self-draining tank well aft, flanked by a pair of flush-mount rod holders (more standard equipment). The bow is fairly clean and highly curved, although there's a prominent flat space just forward of the cockpit lip that'll take a single rod holder or anchor an accessory bar. Below decks storage space is ample behind the cockpit. 

The front of the cockpit lip looks like it could handle a fish finder, although mounting one there would rule out using the optional flap skirt. That's right, designer and Santa Cruz Kayaks head honcho Jim Martin feels his boat would be right at home out beyond the surf.  

The Raptor is rotomolded polyethylene that feels lighter than the indicated 60 pounds. The cockpit deck is a single piece of thermoformed ABS with an acrylic cap sheet. The latter provides a sculpted cockpit pan for improved comfort and a higher sitting position.

Santa Cruz Kayaks is just about to gear up for full production. Currently, they're taking preorders. The Raptor retails for $1,150. Options include a Torqeedo motor mount (the Raptor lends itself to motorization), float bags, and cockpit skirts.

Click here to see the article.

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Kayak Fishing and Paddling Events

April 16th, 2011 (1pm - 4pm)
Open water Demo Paddle at Santa Cruz Harbor boat ramp on Saturday the 16th of April. If you would like the opportunity to come out and paddle the Raptor Fishing Kayak, we would love to see you. This event will be hosted by The Kayak Connection.

Swap Meet in Lodi at Headwaters Kayak Shop on March 5th.

We will be at the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach, Ca on March 9th - 13th

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Kayak Fishing Links

http://swfkaa.com/

http://www.kayakanglermag.com  

http://www.kayakfishermanmag.com/web%20directory.html 

http://backwaterpaddles.com

http://www.paddleandflies.com/
http://www.nckfa.com/
http://capitolaboatandbait.com/