Scorpio 170

64
Weight (lb)
$1,999
MSRP

Scorpio 170 Description

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Scorpio 170 Reviews

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5

I've been using my Scorpio…

Submitted by: Fox on 6/27/2018

I've been using my Scorpio for about two years. I do mostly day trips on the North East Coast (UK). Conditions up to force 4 and swell/ waves 4-5 feet. I am BCU 3* Sea - so paddling at intermediate standard.

I got on well with this boat from the start. Soft chines and the flattish area under the cockpit give reasonable primary stability. Secondary stability is really good; it's a boat which likes to edge, and when you give it a moderate angle it becomes nimble and agile. This makes rock-hopping great fun, and with a range of draw and bow strokes you'd never think the boat was 16' 11".

There is enough keel and a reasonably narrow beam to ensure good tracking and speed. I can cruise at 4.5-5 knots and experience no difficulty keeping pace with friends in composites.

In rougher water it is a confidence-inspiring boat. Paddling with biggish flows around Penryn Mawr it was rock solid - and great fun. Surfing in flows (waves 3-4 feet) - no problem! It broaches when landing in breaking-surf with 3-4 foot waves - but then most kayaks would.

What I like most about it is that it's quick enough for the company I paddle in (I like to be out in front), it's got great maneuverability, and it looks after me in rough water.

Cons - I am 65 kgs which puts me right at the bottom end of the weight range for the boat. I'm also 5' 10" and can't get my size 8 boots properly into the LV version. If i don't load extra ballast into the boat I float too high and start to weathercock in even a moderate breeze. The skeg is effective, but I find I'm using it much of the time and it's always all or nothing - if I need skeg I need it all.

P & H have introduced an MV version in the new Mk 2 Scorpio - I tried this recently and found it better for me. I'm nearer the middle of the weight range for an MV so there was less windage and I could actually trim the skeg to the wind conditions. I just can't afford a brand new boat.

I think the Scorpio Mk 1 is a great all-round boat and the perfect platform if you are looking for something on which to test and improve your handling and rough water skills.

Check out Ebay or Gumtree and you'll see they are popular on the second-hand market which means when you come to sell it on it will hold its value well.

5

I've had my Scorpio for a…

Submitted by: paddler236967 on 7/25/2016

I've had my Scorpio for a little over 5 years now. Purchased it as my next step up from a recreational kayak. It was a close out of the previous year's model and on sale and I fell in love with it the first time I demoed it. In that 5 years I have mostly paddled freshwater lakes, but live in a very windy region that can get choppy. Long story short, the boat loves waves. It just loves them. It surfs downwind gracefully and paddles upwind like a beast. I actually think it might go faster against the wind and waves. It's a heavier plastic boat and can get a little boring on long, calm days, but I absolutely love to take this boat out when there's choppy water to be found.

Pros: The boat surfs very well and paddles upwind extremely well. It has plenty of room, handles heavier paddlers well (I'm 200#). It's plastic so there are fewer worries about damage around rocks. Very decent primary stability, it was my first narrower boat and I've never had an issue. Plenty of cargo space for long trips and handles weight well. I am impressed with the ruggedness of the material. I've used and abused mine in all seasons for half a decade and although it shows it's age, it performs just as it did the first summer.

Cons: It's heavy for a plastic boat. The hull is thick (I believe it is a composite of several plastics but don't quote me on that) and with the length that adds to the weight. It's not terrible to carry but might be tricky for a smaller paddler to do solo after a long day. Tracking straight really requires a little skeg. The boat turns on a dime without it, but when you've got a ways to go you'll want it. No problem, that's why it's there. It's not a huge problem though, I've certainly gone without it just using corrective strokes.

Personal opinions: I don't get along with the seat. Some people like it, I'm not one of them. I've added a little closed cell foam to mine to address this. The cord to lower and raise the skeg comes loose sometimes and I'd tighten that. When it does the skeg simply stays down, so you aren't left spinning.

I love my Scorpio and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good sea kayak. The boat really is at its best when in the waves.

4

I paddled a Scorpio for the…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 12/22/2014
I paddled a Scorpio for the better part of a year. The majority of the paddling was on the Atlantic west coast of Ireland. Conditions ranged from benign to force 6 with full on swell. From the minute I sat into the boat I loved it.

It's extremely comfortable, extremely responsive and loves rough water. It's not without it's flaws though. It's heavy. Very heavy. The good side of that is that it is very still plastic without too much flex. None the less your back will not thank you for lifting it on your own.

Some people have said that this boat doesn't track well without the Skeg. They're right, it doesn't. The trade off for this is manoeuvreability. This boat turns! It excels at rockhopping and you don't need to worry too much about bouncing it off things. Plus, if you want to go in a straight line then a little Skeg goes a long way. The main thing that frustrated me with the Scorpio was it's performance in a following sea - slow and difficult to control. That's only one aspect of it though. With the wind and waves at any point off its bow the Scorpio was in its element.

3

I have previously submitted a review of the Scorpio. Here is an…

Submitted by: Leehackney on 7/27/2014
I have previously submitted a review of the Scorpio.
Here is an update:
It would be great boat if not for the skeg. Stiff for a plastic boat the hatches and bulkheads are watertight, no leaks. The skeg has been a constant source of problems. I wouldn't consider buying another P&H boat, we've had 5, with their present skeg system.
4

My wife and I started…

Submitted by: Leehackney on 9/14/2013
My wife and I started paddling P&H sea kayaks in 1989. We have taken three classes from Derek Hutchinson and one from Nigel Foster, all thru Southern Exposure Sea Kayaks when they were in business. My wife has had a Baidarka Explorer and a Vela. I have had two Ice Floes and a Capella 173. We wanted plastic boats to take off and on a sailboat so I bought a Scorpio.

I like the way the boat paddles and it is very rigid for a plastic boat. The problem is the skeg. It is very poorly designed, a constant source of trouble, and ineffective if the sea builds. I was so unhappy with the skeg that I went out and bought a Valley Aquanaut HV RM (the bulkheads leak). I loved my P&H glass boats, wish I could say the same about the Scorpio.

4

I started paddling the…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/6/2013
I started paddling the Scorpio after switching from the Venture Easky 15. Where the Easky is designed for initial stability and confidence building, the Scorpio is built for edging and bracing. My skills have come so far in one year and I owe it to this kayak and Paddle Canada. If you are looking for a performance expedition kayak look no further.

I give it a 9 out of 10 because the front day hatch isn't water tight P&H places a note in the hatch warning folks that it isn't designed as such.

4

I love the look, shape, and…

Submitted by: WingsOverEden on 7/25/2013
I love the look, shape, and feel of this boat. It comes in some great colors. Mine is Emerald, which is really neon green, and I love it. The boat is 16' 11". I am a large guy (6ft. 240lbs.) and never thought a kayak could be too big but I found them. The Scorpio was perfect. There is no seat discomfort after 2+ hours of paddling. For such a long plastic boat the flex is controlled and not excessive.
Cons: 65lbs is a lot heavier than I thought.
Not a boat for small people or people who don't like small cockpits.
4

I've had a scorpio for a…

Submitted by: paddler234677 on 7/24/2012
I've had a scorpio for a couple of years now as a contrast to my composite Nordkapp. There is some pleasure to be had with the primary stability of the Scorpio and it is a far more pleasant boat for photography and rock hopping. Main paddling area is NW Scotland. On the other hand, it does not have the same speed or bomb proof performance of the Nordkapp in extremis. It seems to depend on the skeg to a much greater extent, and this is probably the weakest feature of the boat. Nice idea, but it is a lot more trouble than the 10 year old wire system on my valley boat. Having knocked a few holes in the composite boat over the years I do often default to the Scorpio. If the skeg fin was more laterally rigid (in extreme conditions I think it bends over ) and the mechanism more reliable this would be a superb boat. I weigh 95kg and it needs a fair weight, otherwise go for an LV. The backrest can also get in the way when doing re entry and roll or other rescues. Deck hatch is not waterproof from the cockpit side but a nice size. Cockpit coaming not the most defined for spraydeck security (especially if using a Reed aquatherm deck - get double elastic). Would be a 9 if the skeg was reliable. Apparently karitek can cut the skeg box off and fit another for £200. Slightly concerned about having a new bonded box rather than integrated moulded one so will wait another year or two before cracking and changing this (plus annoying to have to spend the ££s).
4

This is a very good touring…

Submitted by: paddler234563 on 6/3/2012
This is a very good touring boat. Exceptional initial stability and pretty good secondary stability. Fast for a heavy, rotomolded boat, tough as nails. And it packs A LOT of gear. Not a 10 as it is: (1) heavy and (2) does not track well without the skeg. On flat water with little wind the boat would drift. The skeg solves the problem.
4

I bought my Scorpio in summer…

Submitted by: dr_penner on 9/21/2010
I bought my Scorpio in summer 2009 to replace my trusty Perception Eclipse Airalite model. After a few years paddling as a novice I felt I needed a better boat to upgrade my skills. Particularly, the Eclipse really did not lend itself to performance edging; its wide flat hull really needed a rudder to turn.

After much research, I settled on the Scorpio. It has mostly met my requirements. Certainly getting it on edge is easy, and I can now practice turns without the need of a rudder. The tracking is somewhat light, with a tendency to wander, but that is the price of a quicker handling boat. A touch of skeg and it tracks straight and true.

Speaking of the skeg, I have mixed feelings about it. Having a skeg instead of a rudder has been an interesting educational process, adjusting the weathercocking with the adjustment slider. The design of the skeg (a rope skeg) is clever, and does eliminate jamming or kinking in the alternative wire cable skegs. And running aground with the skeg down is no worry.

However, the execution of this design leaves something to be desired. I got one of the original models where the skeg rope was actually a length of shock cord. When wet, this cord would lengthen, altering the adjustment of the skeg, and it would swell in diameter greatly increasing the friction of the adjuster. This became so bad that the device was almost useless when wet, only to correct when dry.

I was rather impressed with the solution P&H came up with. Any owners with the old cord can email P&H and request the skeg upgrade kit, which consists primarily of a thin, non-absorbent, ultra-low friction dyneema cord, and installation instructions. A tip for installation given by the MEC store was to use a section of fishing line to tie the new cord to, and feed it through the cord housing.

Tying the knot to secure the skeg adjuster is trickier than I hoped; I actually got it so tightly jammed that I couldn't undo it. However, once that was in place the skeg works exactly as intended, with no troubles.

Incidentally, Dyneema cord can be sourced in North America from arborist stores under the brand name "Fling-it". I tried this product as a substitute and it works well; knot positioning and untying is easier. Not quite as friction-free, but miles better than the original shock cord.

Another frustration is the knee/thigh braces. Although very comfortable, I found the bolts and brackets almost impossible to adjust. Fortunately, I like the stock position; excellent contact points.

The hatches are essentially dry, with the exception of the fourth hatch over the thighs. It leaks from the inside when water enters the cockpit during wet exits. Rolling the boat is easy.

Despite these hardware problems, I still love the performance of the boat. It handles much better than my old boat, and has allowed my skills to move forward. I wish P&H had got the skeg right from the beginning, but now I'm satisfied. I believe I'll be paddling the boat for the next five years before I go looking again for the next big thing.

4

My wife and I have now had…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 7/21/2010
My wife and I have now had our Scorpios for a year and I thought an update of my review from 8/4/2009 is in order. Since buying the kayak, I have paddled some 400 miles on Narragansett and Buzzards Bays in diverse conditions from calm marshes to ocean swells, chop, and surf. It handles all very well, as expected. As other reviewers and I have already noted, the Scorpio is a nimble kayak with excellent primary and secondary stability. Everyone who has tried either my wife's or my Scorpio has remarked on how easily and quickly it turns. It is also a very comfortable boat, and once you've adjusted the seat, backband, and pegs optimally, you can paddle the boat for hours without feeling any discomfort. In sum, the boats have served us well during the past year.

Although it may not seem as fast as a lighter, longer composite boat, I wouldn't describe the Scorpio as slow or even sluggish for a plastic kayak. If I fall behind other paddlers on a longer paddle, it's because I'm tiring and my technique is off, but I won't blame the boat.

However, two things I still don't like are the leaky forward day/knee hatch and the skeg. Despite efforts to caulk the hatch housing, it still leaks when practicing wet exits and rescues.

The so-called "revolutionary" skeg system needs improvement. The skeg itself is flimsy, with more lateral play than I'd prefer, but fortunately you don't need much skeg to track well in conditions where you want to use it. As delivered, the original bungee cord used to lower or raise the skeg would swell over time, so that you could lower the skeg, but not always raise it. Other Scorpio and Cetus owners I know also noticed this soon after they bought their boats and paddled them for a spell. The remedy included substituting a thinner and different type of cord. So far, it has worked well on my wife's boat, but she hasn't paddled nearly as much as I have. On two recent paddles, I noticed that the boat was not handling well at all when I paddled in a strong outgoing tide and in cross currents and wind. Moreover, there was no difference in how it tracked whether the skeg was deployed or not.

The problem, I discovered, is that the skeg did not lower when I slid the mechanism back. Yet it raised fine when I slid it forward again. Meanwhile, until I'm able to fix or replace the system, I now lower and adjust the skeg by manually reaching under the stern and pulling it down after I put the boat into the water.

Since the Scorpio is among the highest priced plastic kayaks on the market, I think P&H needs to do a better job to address and remedy hatch and skeg issues that I've described. Otherwise, it's a great, dependable, and versatile kayak.

4

I tested this boat for an…

Submitted by: paddler233663 on 6/24/2010
I tested this boat for an hour the other day. Very good initial and secondary stability. Very nimble. Extremely comfortable for me at 185lb. I loved this boat except that it is very sluggish to get going and not that fast once it does get some momentum.
4

Didn't intend to leave a…

Submitted by: Smithfield_Paddler on 2/22/2010
Didn't intend to leave a review of this boat, but I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this boat!! Had her for a little over a year a now. Coming from a Pungo 140, then a CD Sirocco and finally my Scorpio. Bottom line. I love this boat!! As maneuverable as my Sirocco but with a good bit more initial stability. A good amount of storage space and great outfitting. Particularly on the thigh braces. The back band is average and could tolerate an after market upgrade. A great day boat with enough speed to take on a multi-day trip if you wanted. Not a speed demon but quicker than my old sirocco. For me, the jury is still out on the skeg deployment design. I don't hate it but honestly think I prefer a standard cable set up. The plastic skeg with the bungee tensioner seems to be a little wiggly in the side to side area, never the less able to hold her on course in a cross breeze. I do however find it comforting to know that I won't damage the skeg in an accidental beaching. Can't speak to it's surfing ability but it does handle confused 2 foot chop very well ( I didn't even have to lay out a low brace). But give her a some edge and she'll turn where you want. Yeh, I really like this boat. I did have a minor manufacturing defect which was repaired to my satisfaction by the dealer near the rudder dowel at the stern of the boat. I do admit that it was a surprise coming from P&H but it was a fairly minor defect (albeit, one that was letting water into my aft storage compartment.)

I'm about 6 foot tall, with a 31" inseam and weigh in at 205lbs. A smaller person (175lbs or less) might find the LV version of the Scorpio a better fit.

All in all, I would recommend this boat to anyone in my size range +- 20 lbs. Love this boat!!

4

Although I have paddled…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/4/2009
Although I have paddled actively for some 5+ years, I don't consider myself an advanced paddler, but I've paddled in a variety of conditions with my former kayak, a Wilderness Systems Cape Horn 150, which served me very well while I owned it.

Before my wife and I decided to buy P&H Scorpios (she has the LV version), we had demoed a variety of touring kayaks and were leaning toward the Wilderness Tempest, until we tried the Scorpio. After renting and paddling Scorpios for some two hours, we knew that these were the boats for us because we were both impressed not only by how they handled, but also because they seemed much better made than the other plastic kayaks we had tried.

Since I bought my Scorpio a month ago, I have paddled it on various parts of Narragansett and Buzzards Bays. but have not yet paddled on the ocean or tried the boat in the surf. The kayak is very nimble for it's length and responds quickly to edging and turns. It is stable in choppy seas and not phased by large boat wakes. Like other kayaks, it tends to weathercock when tides, currents, and wind are not in your favor, but using a little skeg puts the kayak right on track.

As I already stated, the P&H is a well-made kayak, but I don't believe that anything made by human hands is fully perfect, so the "9" rating is as good as you can expect from me. P&H's Corelite construction provides a plastic boat that is much stiffer that other plastic boats that I've paddled. It is also lighter: my full-sized Scorpio weighs just 55 lbs.

That said, the Scorpio is not without a few quirks. For example, it's "kink-free" skeg system seems to need further tweaking by the manufacturer. I have not yet experienced any problems with mine, but I know of both Scorpio and Cetus owners who have experienced difficulty with their skegs getting stuck while partially or fully deployed, and then they are unable to retract back into the hull. Fortunately, there is a fix to this problem..

P&H installs Kajaksport hatch covers on its kayaks, but the aft (i.e. the large rear hatch) hatch cover is difficult to fasten on the plastic boats because it appears to be a tad too tight. The cover "loosens" somewhat over time, I've been told, but until then, applying an appropriate lubricant and some dexterity seems to be the best way to ensure that the hatch cover goes on and stays on properly. Another hatch problem is with the small special hatch in front of the cockpit. It is a great idea and a great place to store a camera, sunscreen, or even a snack, but, as delivered, the hatch will leak if you plan to roll or practice wet exits, rescues, etc. P&H apparently used to caulk the seam, but now they've installed a gasket, which doesn't do the job, so someone will have to caulk the seam if you want to keep that hatch dry.

Despite these issues, my wife and I are very satisfied with our Scorpios. In addition to our satisfaction to the overall performance of the kayaks and the quality of the construction, we are most grateful for the advice and service of Samantha and Carl Ladd, proprietors of Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures in Westport, MA, where we purchased our Scorpios. On a very busy Saturday morning when the shop was full of customers, Carl took the time to lubricate the large rear hatches, caulk the small special front hatches on both our kayaks, as well as give us helpful pointers.

A great boat with great service--it doesn't get much better than that!

5

I paddled a P&H Scorpio and…

Submitted by: tarwheel on 9/8/2008
I paddled a P&H Scorpio and Capella RM 166 at a demo sponsored by a local paddling store. My intention actually was to test the Capella, which I liked a lot. However, the Scorpio really blew me away because it seemed so much quicker and maneuverable without sacrificing any stability. I tested about 5 boats that day -- in addition to the P&H models, a Necky Manitou 14, Hurricane Tracer 165 and Hurricane Santee Expedition. The Scorpio really blew me away compared to the other kayaks, although it was also the longest and most expensive. It also has 4 hatches including a small day hatch right in front of the cockpit.

I was initially considering the Capella for my next step up in a sea kayak (currently paddle a Necky Manitou 13), but I might have to save a little longer and get a Scorpio. The Capella was my clear second choice among the kayaks I paddled, but the Scorpio was tops. Oh yeah, both of the P&H kayaks were poly models not composite or fiberglass.

5

I have had the new P&H…

Submitted by: Marshall on 7/25/2008
I have had the new P&H Scoprio for about 10 days and have had it out in enough conditions to report a bit on it’s performance.
First off, I am biased towards P&H, Venture and Impex kayaks as I thoroughly enjoy paddling most all the models they make and consequentially is why I carry them in my Showroom and use them on in my Instructional Fleet.

My Specs:
I am 6’, 200lbs, size 11 shoe, 33” inseam and 34 waist. I paddle with a very high angle style and usually use a Mitchell Black Magic 215cm, Nigel Foster Hi-Pro 210cm or a Werner Cyprus 215cm paddle.

Mfg. Information
Length 16’11”
Max. Width 22” (behind the cockpit)
Max Deck Height 13.75” (at front of coaming)
Volume 80.5gal.
Cockpit 31”x16.5” Inside Opening (I get 31.5” on the model in front of me)
Weight 55lbs (Feels right although I haven’t put it on a scale)
Material 3 ply Corelite
Skeg spring released Foil P&H blade.
Price: $2000

Outfitting and Ergonomics
The kayak comes with the classic P&H seat/backband. The backband is adjustable via strap secured with locking D-Rings. Thigh braces are modular and can be moved fore/aft under the coaming by loosening the set screws and sliding on their tracks about 3” total travel. Foot pegs are the standard P&H equipment on control rods that can be adjusted from the seated position. Upon sitting in the Scorpio my initial impression was that I found it very comfy. Thought I would need to pad out the sides a bit for rolling and that was borne out by my Day 1 observations. Higher deck than I am used to in my Impex Force 4 but scalloped front deck looks like it should allow for a close high angle stroke without impediment. Very easy entry and exit for my legs without striking the front coaming. Front Day Hatch is dry, easily reached and is sealed off from the cockpit area by a separate bulkhead that forms and follows the upper underside of the deck. The rivets attaching the deck box are recessed into the front deck keeping the surface clean. Deck box was thoughtfully placed and curved so as to not prove to be an impediment for my feet sliding in and out from their position of the foot pegs. Rear deck height is a bit tall at 10.5” (9” off the base of the seat)

Day 1 Paddle = Flat calm Hudson River. 2 mph flooding tidal current.
Getting into the kayak on flat water at the Hyde Park Landing the entry was simple with a straddle. The long cockpit opening made for a simple affair of swinging my legs over and in. Once in I noticed that the primary stability gave a very pleasant reassuring feel. With no forward speed heeling the kayak over to find the tipping points it came up on it’s side more easily than it’s cousin the Cetus but still had the feeling of increasing resistance nearing the breakover point at the end of secondary stability. For me this was at about a 65 degree heel to the boat. Moving out the kayak quickly accelerates and immediately made me wish I brought my GPS widget. This kayak feels fast! It seems to maintain a fast cruising speed near ¾ of it top end speed or at least as fast as I could push it. The deck scalloping seems to prevent whacking the sides of the boat with the paddle blade The kayak is narrower in front of the cockpit so it seemed to mesh well with my stroke. I’ll have to get more details next time out in flat conditions with the gps so as to get some more accurate numbers, but so far I like it.

Out in the mooring field now, let’s see what it does around the buoys! Like it’s Cetus cousin a slight sweep stroke to initiate a skidding turn while at speed, heeling the kayak to the outside of the turn ripped a turn measuring 16’ in diameter. Ripped is the adjective I use for the sound of turbulence off the stern as it came whipping around wasn’t a sound effect I was expecting. Well that was fun! Let’s try to do that with an aggressive bow rudder and a cross bow rudder. Result = 13’ turn diameter = FUN! I didn’t try much with a carving turn so I’ll have to report on that later. Throughout these slalom like maneuvers what kept striking me was how well mannered the kayak was throughout and it seemed to be quite forgiving throughout all phases of the turn. Should prove to be interesting in rough water. Now to try with the skeg deployed. Mechanism is very smooth and adjustable by increments. The foil skeg had very little noticeable drag but made the kayak quite firm in it’s tracking. Not hard enough that the skeg had to be withdrawn to turn but definitely felt it’s presence. Forgot it was down and fell back into doing a skidding turn, wheeeeeee! Wait that was with the skeg down, what gives? Upon writing a note to P&H as to how that happened I received an email explaining that the foil skeg maintains a hard locked position by the forces of the water passing by on either side of the foil but when the kayak is heeled over and the stern is sliding to the side, there is flex in the system and the blade allows water to spill off more easily allowing the kayak to skid when heeled over even with the skeg deployed. Not the result I was expecting although I think I can visualize how it works.

Decided it was time to cool off and what curious to see if the higher back deck had any effect on a c to c roll or a sweep roll. Hanging upside down the outfitting allowed good firm contact as I moved into my set up. Trying a c to c roll first on my right side (I’m a righty) the kayak popped up with a crisp movement and didn’t take any undue effort. I did shift over in the seat a bit so my guess at needing a bit of padding on the sides for better fit/power transfer was correct. Same side sweep roll same effect and the higher back deck didn’t factor in either. I imagine that the Greenlandic crowd looking to do lay back rolls and other such underwater gymnastics might not be pleased but that’s not how this kayak was designed. Same style off-side rolls had the same performance but with the usual lesser coordination of my off-side made for a messy sweep roll.

Day 2 Paddle = 15-20mph sustained winds from the South on an ebbing tide resulting in 2-3’ waves and whitecaps. South facing beach at Plum Point, New Windsor, NY at the Adirondack Mountain Club Paddlefest.
Less than ideal conditions for a class and demo settings but made for a lot of fun in pushing the Scorpio. Quick and efficient seal launch out through the breaking waves. Bow rode up and over 2’ break with very little water over the front deck. I immediately noticed the very polite and reassuring primary stability even when turned abreast of the waves. I didn’t have to work at staying upright. Maneuverability was excellent but also with plenty of speed to catch onto waves to surf. While on the wave face the Scorpio reacted well to low brace turns to go cut across the wave face. Wish the waves were bigger to get more room to try to do a 180 and switch into a backsurf but I had limited time. Weather cocking didn’t seem to present itself but I was also playing within 50 yards of shore so I didn’t have time to paddle for distance abeam of the wind and waves. Neither did I deploy the skeg as I was horsing around in the chop and not traveling. Landing back at the beach on the back face of a wave the Scopio was a snap to quickly hop out of due to the long cockpit opening, before the next wave washed up behind me. Throughout all the splashing and goofing around in the chop all 4 hatches stayed absolutely dry. Kajaksport hatches do work and stay put.

Synopsis:
While I would like to put some distance on the kayak in mixed conditions, so far I find that the Scoprio fits into the top of the Sport Utility Kayak category allowing you to have speed, nimbleness, ruggedness and reliability in one very well thought out and put together package. This kayak should be on everyone’s Try Out list who’s thinking of a British Style sea kayak.

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