Seals Odyssey 1.4 on a Scorpio LV
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: [www.the-river-connection.com]
Store: [www.the-river-connection.us]
Email: marshall@the-river-connection.com
Facebook: [fb.me/theriverconnection]
Instagram: Instagram.com/marshall.seddon
Yupā¦ Those ābombproofā skirts have their downside. 
I started my kayak surfing with a RIOT Boogie (RM) surf kayak. At the (defunct) annual Rhode Island Surf Kayak (RISK) winter get-together, I got caught inside the curl of a head-high breaking wave (saw the āgreen roomā) and got blown out of my kayak, precipitating a very cold swim back to shore, accompanied/monitored by a fellow surf kayaker (yes, you are essentially alone to deal in some conditions).
(I donāt know if Kenās arse got kickedā¦ I know mine was seriously spanked at that session.)
Anyway, I immediately moved to a Mountain Surf skirt. Yes, pretty implosion proof, but it was a bear to get onto the coaming. In the winter, I could not do with my neo mitts on. So, I had to struggle/fight with it with my bare hands. Usually, by the time I was done, my hands were totally numb from exposure to cold water and to sub 30 degree air temps. After getting the skirt on, I had to sit a bit and wiggle my fingers to get feeling back.
After moving on several more surf kayak models and through multiple winter surf sessions, I simply gave up on surf kayaks altogether in favor of waveskis. No messing with skirts, and the lap belt approach on a waveski has proven implosion proof in over 15 years of winter surf paddling.
In my Delphin, I use the normal touring skirt (size large deck) from SnapDragon. I can get this skirt on with my mitts. And, I havenāt been blow out of this kayak yet in 3-4ā surf (I have not attempted bigger surf with the Delphin).
Snap Dragon: https://www.snapdragondesign.com/touring-and-rec-fit-list/
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We have the Odyssey 1.4 sprayskirts and use them with our Cetus MVs. Marshall recommended them. They are a nice tight fit on the coaming. Very nice skirts for what we do, mostly exploring around tidal rivers in the Chesapeake Bay region. We are very happy with them.
I have never found them mentioned on Sealās web site, curiously. But I did find this video about them that may be helpful:
Seals Spray Skirts Odyssey | Endurance Stretch Nylon & Hydrophobic Fabric | Gear Preview - YouTube
Marshallās video was also very helpful when we were deciding.
Kenās a good friend of mine - he was the head instructor at the Kayak Centre when I worked there. Great paddler and all around great guy too!
I am leaning toward Marshallās suggestion, too, but canāt find the video (Iām not on FB). How easy or difficult are they to get on and off your boats? I have some hand issues and have decided I need something super easy to put on and take off, at least until someone figures out how to grow younger.
Quickie review of the Scorpio LV after a beautiful day on the water:
1 - this boat is heavy AF. Itās supposed to be the same weight at my Rockpool was but it feels twice as heavy. Iām already thinking about upgrading to a carbon/kevlar Cetus LV.
2 - it handles really well! Itās very stable yet responsive. I think it would be a great boat for a beginner. Iāve only had one other sea kayak but this boat feels like it could be much more playful. This might also be because it is actually sized well for my body.
3 - I do not care for the seat. Itās nicely shaped on the bottom, but I canāt sit all the way back. It has a severe scoop that hits me right in my bony tailbone. I think Iāll move the seat back a bit so being as far forward as I found myself wanting to sit will give me a bit more space. That said, when I stopped and lounged, itās very comfortable to lean way back on. The cockpit has plenty of room for me to stretch out.
4 - as I mentioned, itās quite stable. VERY stable, in fact, until I tried to sit on the back deck to use my FUD. My drysuit might be in the wash right now for related reasons.
5 - I do not like paddling without a spray skirt.
I have the same feelings about the P&H seat - hits me right in the tailbone too! I enjoyed the Scorpio the few times I have paddled one, Iām glad it fits you, my feet were a little too big for the front deck height but besides that and the seat I really liked the boat.
And yes, it weighs a ton. I would verify the weight of a Carbon/Kevlar Cetus before you order one; I have yet to see a British built kayak that is as light as they advertise it to be!
Congrats on the new kayak!
That seat is really strange, right? I wonder if their upgraded seat is more comfortable? Thanks for the tip about the weight of the Cetus.
Well, on our Cetus, it takes a good strong push to get the front over the edge of the coaming, then it is easy to get the sides over the coaming. I use my thumbs and lean forward, so my body is doing most of the work, and my hands and arms just hold their position. I would say it is no harder than getting our neo cockpit covers on, if that helps.
Seals Shocker on a Delphin 150: Initially a difficult stretch but became easier after 2 - 3 on/off cycles. It needs a positive but not extreme pull to release the standard way. It actually may be easier to release at the hips and then the back. I do test this while upside down.
Pretty much every boat Iāve ever owned: replace or greatly modify the seating arrangement
I think this seat would be comfortable for a great many bodies, because when I lean back, it really is lush. But I sit aggressively when Iām actively paddling and the ridge on that sucker hits me right in the tailbone. I absolutely love the hip pads. I feel locked in but I can still move well. What a joy to have a boat that fits!
Iām considering that perhaps a different cart will help me carry this on land more easily. Mine only lifts the end so have to carry much of the weight of the boat to move it. Iām going to have a look around at cart options. Getting the kayak on and off the car is no picnic but itās doable. At least if I drop it it will probably bounce rather than crack. I hope!
It does. Thank you! And than you, too @rival51, and everyone. The folks on this forum are so helpful. I wish Iād found yāall 15 years ago.
Seat - Itās not the seat, itās your tailbone. Time to modify the seat to fit you. Insert a 1/4"-1/2" x 2" shim of self adhesive mini cell foam from along the back of the seat pad close to the rise of the seat pan rear this will create a pocket as well as moving you slightly forward in the seat, creating a pocket where your tailbone is otherwise being pressed. Once you have it set where you like it, peel the paper off the mini cell and adhere.
New lightweight carbon/kevlar Ceti arrive beginning in December.
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Email: marshall@the-river-connection.com
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
Instagram: Login ā¢ Instagram
Tell me more please. Iām shopping and the P&H boats are on the short list bast on my cockpit size needs. When I see ā known problemā I wonder what that means and how it should impact my selection.
āThis boatā meaning your particular pre-owned boat, or that model generally?
Thanks, I will try that with the seat. I previously broke my tail bone so that doesnāt help matters.
The Scorpio has a known issue with the day hatch (hatch behind the seat) leaking. To be fair, I donāt think any RM boat is going to have 100% waterproof hatches, but that specific hatch is problematic on that model. I will find a way to make it stop leaking, if it is in fact leaking. If you read reviews, youāll find that not everyone has that problem. It may have finally been corrected by P&H. I donāt know. I donāt have a skirt so I didnāt test the hatches. The bulkhead leak is another matter entirely and a PITA. Itās not typical. I only know itās leaking because water that dripped from my paddle into the cockpit flowed into the day hatch - a surprising amount.
I donāt know whether itās the issue with the P&H, but Iāve seen RM boats where the bottom lip of the hatch rim is molded unevenly. You may not be able to see it, but run your fingers along the bottom and you may be able to feel the irregularities. A fine file and/or sanding paper can help to even it out.
Iāll check that. My LiquidLogic XP9 had a rear hatch. There were a great many reviews of that boat complaining about it being very leaky. Mine was always completely dry. Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear pees in your kayak.
