Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Eddyline Raven


Got my hands on the new Eddyline Raven last week. When you drive around the country with a quiver of kayaks you tend to use the right boat for each conditions. The Samba for a quick tour, the 
Fathoms for distance and gear hauling, the Caribbean for sport/fish/swim and the Skylark/Sky 10 for a quick recreational dip. However, in my travels and sales, the reality is that most people are looking for just one boat to do open coast, touring, day-play, social, workout, suntan, etc. The Raven is it. It is the Queen on the chess board. Loose and dry on a wave and yet easy to control direction in a wind.

There are a multitude of brit styled boats on the market and as many opinions on what is best to match. The Raven doesn't just join the pack, it stands alone as the first US made, fully featured, heavy duty thermo-formed rough water design on the market. Slick on the water like a composite boat with the bounce-ability of a plastic kayak. Homerun. And believe me, I was a skeptic when this project began.

Did I need to fill the trailer with another long boat? Shorter boats are selling these days and the rough water paddlers are gravitating to transitional WW and surf play boats. If I was going to add a boat to the trailer I wanted it to appeal to everyone and sell in every shop. Another long boat?! And then I paddled it. The boyish fun of playfulness took over. Been a long time since that has happened for me and I paddle 'em all. I've also met so many paddlers that started with and love Eddyline but needed a boat to match their skills and open-water aspirations. Raven--Check. They would tell me they needed a lower back deck that for the arsenal of rolls they had learned. Raven-Check. Surf? Raven-Check. Light and strong? Raven-Check (they use a thicker lay-up for this model but still easy to shoulder).

This front deck hatch is so useful and totally out of the way.




Eddyline offers two seat shapes (low profile and performance) on the Raven. Both can be adjusted for trim and fit. Easily removable for maintenance or custom seat installation for those that have their own favorite post market seat.


Features
Eddyline Fall 2012 Eddyline Raven
16'6", 22" beam
Cockpit depth forward: 12.5"
Cockpit depth aft: 8.5"

4 Hatches: 2 10" bow/stern hatch, 8" day hatch, 5" forward day hatch w/ waterproof compartment.
Skeg controls on left side which make for easy control by RH paddler.
Sea Dog footbraces
2 seat options w/ low profile backband: Low profile and performance seat (more canting under thighs)

F.I.T (For? Intended Purpose? Type of water)

For: An all conditions sea kayaker, someone who needs a boat that will surf and invite them to improve rough water skills, rolls and edging. We tested with paddlers in the 6'2" range with size 14 shoes that had a nice fit. I'm 6', 175lbs and it fit great with both seat options. I would actually elevate myself slightly in the low-profile seat using a seat pad or foam.

Intended Purpose: With all the performance packed into this boat you really can tackle any conditions from lake to coast. It excels where other models might not: open water paddling, skills training, surf, current. Smaller hatches will have to be packed with small packets of gear (trend these days). The forward day hatch makes this boat convenient for those who need a camera/gps/phone in quick reach.

Type of Water: Anywhere this boat can go. Open water, Sea Kayaking, River/Tide current play. Especially excels in rough water, surf and high winds.