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Prof. Salt

I made my way to the rigs Tuesday as a part of the Tupperware Flotilla. Mayhem ensued...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFIWdXNHUSI&list=UUUlA7t_RQ4wSkWHmfOsoXFg

kweber · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 5:27 pm Post subject:

Tupperware Flotilla... Laughing

izat the same as the Tortilla Warmer Navy? Mr. Green

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Prof. Salt · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:08 pm Post subject:

Plastic navy, polypropylene prophylactics, ...wait, maybe not that one. As long as the fish are biting, you can call it just about whatever you want!

Baffinboy · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:21 pm Post subject:

Cool video, that snapper looked tastey
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ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

Great video Prof, I loved the music. How long is that raptor?
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Prof. Salt · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:28 pm Post subject:

It's 13 feet long and in the rear it's 34 inches wide. It punches through waves like a knife through hot butter, and the coolest thing about it? You can actually surf the waves when you're coming ashore!

ceejkay · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:33 pm Post subject:

too cool! i have to as though, where do you put your fish in that thing?
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Prof. Salt · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:07 pm Post subject:

I'm almost done building a trampoline for the back. It will hold a big bag, but for now my full sized bag fits inside the front hatch. I had two kings, two smacks and a snapper up there.

TomP · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 433

Cool, Video thanks for sharing glad to see you didn't get bitten by those little sharks.
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Prof. Salt · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:22 am Post subject:

That little dude hit my thigh with his mouth, but his mouth was closed at just the right time. He had hooks in his mouth, above his head, and in his dorsal. My only hold was farther back, which leaves a lot of wiggle rom. I won't make that mistake again, but then again I don't like to release those little guys with hooks still in them.

ratherbefishing · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:34 am Post subject:

Good report Prof. The video told many more words than you could have written. Keep it up!
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Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Great report! Looks like your kayak is da bomb for BTB at least for someone your size and weight Very Happy

( your size and mileage handling etc may vary...full disclosure details etc.)
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ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

So Prof, do you find that you turtle less in the raptor than in your old yak? The times where I flip during re-entry, its because the wave catches the tail of the kayak and turns me sideways. The raptor isn't any shorter than other kayaks, so I'm wondering if it tracks straighter when surfing a wave.

The other question I had, how does it handle the waves when you are launching. My tarpon has a tendency to punch through rather than ride over the waves (the rocker is smaller on the WS kayaks compared to some of the Ocean Kayaks). The results is that I'm often taking half of wave to the chest, instead of cresting over it.
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Prof. Salt · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:03 am Post subject:

Luke, so far I am very impressed with how the Raptor handles in the surf, both launching and during the dreaded re-entry. It has a small keel in the nose and two in the tail, so it tracks better than any boat I've ever used. During launch it does pierce waves, but the nose is shaped like a diamond and the water just rolls off. Water will come into your lap on larger waves, but it drains quickly and the boat doesn't start feeling sluggish like my Extreme did. To this point I have not turtled in the kayak. I went out during a 3-4 day at the tail end of last year just to test it in heavy surf, and ran to the 4th bar and back four different times. Each time I started getting faster, and by the last trip I was surfing on the wave faces, and not feeling like I was about to roll it. Very Happy

The rear of the boat had me worried at the beginning, only because I expected the waves to grab it like a chew toy and toss me sideways heading for the turtle. It doesn't happen. The kayak feels like it grips the wave and prevents it slipping sideways. I understand physics better than many, but I'm still surprised that the design does so well in the surf. I'm also impressed with its speed. I can't pass up the long tarpons, but the boat is 34 inches wide and faster than my Extreme.

The downside, if you can call it that, is the lower weight capacity. I can't pack all my earthly belongings like I could on the Extreme, but now that I am forced to think about what I pack, I end up being more logical about what I have with me. BTW, they claim a 350lb capacity. I have come back through the surf with nearly that much weight on the yak and it wasn't in danger of swamping. ...I weigh 225, so it doesn't take a huge load of gear with a full fishbag to push the claimed weight limit.

If you ever see me on the beach and want to give the boat a spin, just let me know.

kayakattack · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for the video prof!
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