The Scupper was my first design after I carved foot wells and dive hatch into an old tandem 12’ surfboard.
It has been an evolution since then. The first Scuppers were hollow fiberglass and could store more gear for diving or even 20 mile trips to Catalina Island. I built about 1500 of them. The hatches changed and the bottom got a bulge that made the first cathedral or “California form” hull shape that is now the norm for most kayaks. This kayak would do anything and weighed only 35 pounds.
It was also the world’s first fishing kayak.
Then the shape went into Polyethylene when I started roto molding the kayaks in 1986. This Scupper had the first supper holes in the seat and foot wells to ad strength and drain the kayak and was thus named the “Scupper”. These kayaks sold by the tens of thousands. They only weighed 45 pounds. They would surf and go on long paddles while being light for a plastic kayak.
We tried to replace the 14’ Scupper “Classic” with the Scupper Pro which was about 15.5 feet long and could carry more. People still demand the old 14’ classic. The Scupper Pro held more gear and vastly outperforms todays pudgy fishing kayaks that are slow, not very seaworthy and can’t go through the surf. After I sold Ocean Kayak in 1997 they discontinued both the classic and the pro. I asked myself how would I bring this Scupper type kayak up to date?
I paddle fast surf skis and took some of what makes them great and applied that to a new Scupper type kayak I call the Scuppro. I took the slicing bow and the powerful ergonomic paddling position from the Surf Ski and moved the seat forward about 5 inches. I made the length 14’ like the original Scupper but it went way faster and easier than the Scupper Pro even though it is shorter. It also goes really well in rough water and waves. It hauls more and is lighter @ about 59 lb for roto. Our composite will be about 38 lbs!
This isn’t a price point kayak yet it is a great value. Features include a bigger front hatch, a hatch cover over the rear well. Lower foot wells with one way valves which gives much more power and for added stability I am adding optional stabilizers in the rear to make it MORE stable than most wide fishing kayaks that can’t handle rough water and are very slow. We don’t want to be like another Ford Fiesta but like a BMW. We want to let you go easier for weaker paddlers and further no matter who you are. Check out my blog on why 14 feet long goes easier than a longer kayak. So there it is my 40+ love affair with a 14’ x 36” wide kayak design. I can go as fast now at 66 than I could with the old Scupper at 33. I hope I am getting older and wiser.
