Zet Raptor C1 conversion
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:44 am
I have just paddled my new Raptor which arived as a C1. I am very happy with the boat and the factory outfiting, will attempt to add pictures but may not manage.
The Raptor is a creeker made in the Czech republic and like all there boats Zet will outfit as a C1, after having seen how well the boat was set up as a kayak I did not fancy trying to do a conversion myself, that and the fact I am over doing conversions.
I chose the Raptor 'cos the kayakers in Europe I met liked the boat, the plastic sounded good with factory quality controle, it is a light boat, had the reputation of being a fast boat and most of all I liked the lines and shape of the boat.
OK. The factory outfiting, GREAT!!! The spine is welded to the hull and the saddle attatched with glue (I think they have some prety good glues) , I just cut down the saddle and attatched the foam to the back piece to move the position forward. The hip pad retainers were welded in place in place so extended them forward and glued on more padding to tighten up the fit. I moved the Thigh strap ends forward so I can wriggle out if raquired, installed knee straps of my own and installed the knee spreaders, knee pads and ancle pads that were supplied.
Took an afternoon to get the boat the way I wanted it instead of days from scratch.
On the water the most pleasing thing besides the acceleration ( faster than my previous boats Magnum 72, Magnum80, Burn M, Mystic) was that it did not feel like a big boat, at 80 gal or 303 ltr it is.
The primary stability was good but the secondry was incredible, I could realy lay it over and the transition between the edges is very smoth (something the Burn lacked)
It has a large cockpit so the ease of getting in and out was a plus over the Riot boats
Roaling was the easies of the boats i'v paddled, I thought the Magnum 72 was easy but this was better and considering its a big wider boat was pleasing to say the least and heeps better than the Burn which is not a great boat to roal in difficult conditions.
I found it held the line well and especialy well in the ofside strokes, but could really snap into eddies with the bow rails which are brought into play on a forward lean, they could be a problem if not used properly or neglected in pushie water.
It was nice to have a bit of edge in the front half of the boat (though not as much as the Burn) for a change after the Riot boats.
This is a boat that the Zet people say should be paddled activly and is not for learners, it has a slalom boater for a designer. I thought the boat suited my style and came off the river thinking "hasn't boat design come a long way".
The Raptor is a creeker made in the Czech republic and like all there boats Zet will outfit as a C1, after having seen how well the boat was set up as a kayak I did not fancy trying to do a conversion myself, that and the fact I am over doing conversions.
I chose the Raptor 'cos the kayakers in Europe I met liked the boat, the plastic sounded good with factory quality controle, it is a light boat, had the reputation of being a fast boat and most of all I liked the lines and shape of the boat.
OK. The factory outfiting, GREAT!!! The spine is welded to the hull and the saddle attatched with glue (I think they have some prety good glues) , I just cut down the saddle and attatched the foam to the back piece to move the position forward. The hip pad retainers were welded in place in place so extended them forward and glued on more padding to tighten up the fit. I moved the Thigh strap ends forward so I can wriggle out if raquired, installed knee straps of my own and installed the knee spreaders, knee pads and ancle pads that were supplied.
Took an afternoon to get the boat the way I wanted it instead of days from scratch.
On the water the most pleasing thing besides the acceleration ( faster than my previous boats Magnum 72, Magnum80, Burn M, Mystic) was that it did not feel like a big boat, at 80 gal or 303 ltr it is.
The primary stability was good but the secondry was incredible, I could realy lay it over and the transition between the edges is very smoth (something the Burn lacked)
It has a large cockpit so the ease of getting in and out was a plus over the Riot boats
Roaling was the easies of the boats i'v paddled, I thought the Magnum 72 was easy but this was better and considering its a big wider boat was pleasing to say the least and heeps better than the Burn which is not a great boat to roal in difficult conditions.
I found it held the line well and especialy well in the ofside strokes, but could really snap into eddies with the bow rails which are brought into play on a forward lean, they could be a problem if not used properly or neglected in pushie water.
It was nice to have a bit of edge in the front half of the boat (though not as much as the Burn) for a change after the Riot boats.
This is a boat that the Zet people say should be paddled activly and is not for learners, it has a slalom boater for a designer. I thought the boat suited my style and came off the river thinking "hasn't boat design come a long way".