Swell Scupper 14 Kayak Review

When you hear the term Sit-On-Top Kayak, you might think of a big, wide, heavy, low-performing boat. Don't get me wrong, there are advantages to this type of profile, like comfort and stability. The sit-on-top connotations aren't always appealing to everyone. What Swell Watercraft has done with the Swell Scupper 14 Kayak is an attempt to flip that script.

When I saw this new model, I was excited to test it out. It looked different from other sit-on-tops that I've tried. This kayak is geared towards higher performance. It still maintains the usual advantages of the open-cockpit concept. The only way to find out for sure is to get it out on the water for a thorough paddle. I tested the Scupper kayak in high water-levels and a range of conditions, not just flat water. Here's what I can tell you.

ABOUT THE SCUPPER 14 KAYAK

Price: $1,249 (USD)

Length: 14′ 1″

Width: 25.5″

Weight: 64 LBS (29 KG)

Capacity: 390 LBS (177 KG)

The Scupper 14 has a padded, adjustable seat, a paddle-holder, 4 grab-handles (one at each end and side). The kayak has a large tank well in the back with a recess for a scuba tank, scupper valves, YakAttack MightyMount gear tracks in both the stern and bow for attaching accessories, a water bottle holder, an oval day-hatch, adjustable foot pegs, and a large bow hatch. 

Quick Safety Shout-out!

Maybe heard me talk about the free online safety course offered by the American Canoe Association and the U.S. Coast Guard? If you like to canoe, kayak or rock a SUP, then I highly recommend you set aside a bit of time to brush up on these valuable safety tips (how about right after this review!?). Paddling is generally a very safe activity, but that might leave you feeling a bit overconfident. Things can still go wrong, and on open-water, that means a potentially disastrous situation. Often, a bit of knowledge can be the difference maker. So don't pass on this class. 

How portable is the Swell Scupper 14?

The Scupper 14 kayak is over 14-feet-long. It's important to realize that the longer a boat is, the less portable it becomes. This is true of any type of kayak, except, of course, for portable kayaks (i.e. ones that inflate or assemble). 14-feet is a lot of boat to put on your vehicle and to carry around. It is possible to carry this thing by yourself, but I would generally consider this a two-person job. There is a replaceable skid pad on the stern so that you can drag it. I wouldn't recommend dragging it for long distances or over any kind of rough terrain. There are those side-handles on the Scupper kayak, which can theoretically be used to carry it suitcase-style, but I found those to be sub-optimal and a bit “pinchy”. This is an end-carry boat. 

Even though this is a 14-foot, sit-on-top kayak, the Scupper 14 is only 64 pounds. Relatively speaking, 64 pounds is pretty awesome for this category of craft. These days, it's not uncommon to see sit-on-tops in excess of 100 pounds. Swell Watercraft was able to achieve a nice balance by utilizing lightweight, yet strong, rotomolded technology for the frame. The Scupper 14 kayak is built with a polyethylene outer layer and a layer of foam on the inside for stiffness and to reduce the weight. So even though the nature of this boat makes it trickier to handle, high marks for portability nonetheless. 

Is the Swell Scupper 14 kayak safe?

I think when people ask about a kayak's safety they're mostly referring to its stability. In the case of inflatables, perhaps the durability. In terms of stability, one of the ways in which Swell Watercraft was able to enhance the Scupper 14's performance was to strategically detract from its stability.

For instance, the Scupper 14 isn't nearly as wide as many other sit-on-top kayaks. It's 25.5 inches, and exactly as stable as a boat of that width should be. The primary stability (i.e. how it feels when you're sitting flat), is perfectly adequate. It's not a floating dock but I also didn't feel wobbly. The same thing goes for its stability while on edge (secondary stability). It didn't lock in as well as some other kayaks. It was still easy enough to edge when I wanted to. Overall, I would say the Scupper 14 had comparable stability to 25-inch-wide touring kayaks that I've paddled. 

Is the Scupper 14 kayak fast or slow?

Speaking of 25-inch-wide touring kayaks, not only is the Scupper 14's stability comparable, but so is its performance. It is surprisingly fast, it tracks really well, cuts through the water, and accelerates beautifully. I liked how the big bow made water shed right off as I was boogying at higher speeds and through choppy waters. This boat only turns moderately well, but that is what I expected from a 14-foot kayak. A little detail that I loved was the cut-aways on the front half of both sides of the kayak. This allowed me to paddle in a tighter, more performance-oriented style without clipping the frame. 

The only critique I had was in regards to the lack of hip pads and thigh braces. You will typically see these in a comparable touring-kayak. I felt like I was being held back a bit without them because I couldn't dig in. My weight was shifting about more than I'd like when I tried to put the Scupper 14 on edge. So these features would be a wonderful upgrade to see in future iterations. This kayak was clearly designed with performance in mind, and that showed in most regards. I was impressed with the Scupper 14 kayak. 

Is the Swell Scupper 14 comfortable? 

Comfort has become the most important for me when I review a kayak. A kayak can have all the gadgets and performance in the world, but if it isn't comfortable then I'm won't use it. So is the Scupper 14 a comfortable kayak? Simply put, yes. It doesn't take the crown, but it is very comfortable. For starters, I loved how my feet rested below the waterline. My feet were below my hips, which is naturally a much more comfortable and sustainable paddling position.

Sit-on-top kayaks

Typically in a sit-on-top kayak, everything is above the waterline, but Swell Watercraft cut the cockpit down super low. The Scupper 14 is like a sit-inside kayak, except your legs aren't covered. You get the comfort, low center-of-gravity, and performance profile of a classic kayak, but with more freedom to move around. 

The Scupper kayak seat has good padding, but my butt was still starting to get sore by the end of the test/video shoot. I'm a sucker for a framed-seat with a mesh suspension because it contours to whoever plunks down in it. But in terms of a generic padded seat, Swell Watercraft did a nice job working within those limitations. I should also note that the high-back seat offered solid support. I should have worn a lifejacket with a high flotation to match the seat better. The foam on foam created a bit of a disconnect and probably contributed to some of my later stage discomfort. That's on me. 

Good for taller people

I'm 6-foot-2, long in the legs, and was comfortable with the foot pegs. The foot pegs were set to their furthest limit. So anyone of similar or smaller dimensions will be right at home in the Scupper 14. If you're taller, you'll probably want to scout some more options. 

How are features in the Scupper 14 kayak?

There are lots of great features to talk about when it comes to the Scupper 14. For starters, I thought the scupper plugs, or rather scupper valves, were really innovative. The inside of the cockpit is below the waterline, and would cause the water to rush into the kayak, rather than flow out as intended.

Valve System on the Scupper 14 kayak

Instead, Swell Watercraft came up with a valve system that seals closed when they are pulled up. It works the usual charm when pushed down (but only when the kayak is going at a decent speed). This system didn't drain as fast as a standard sit-on-top kayak with a bunch of scupper plugs, but it worked pretty darn well. The idea is to provide relief when a random wave swamps the boat. Rather than acting in an on-going fashion throughout your journey. Two thumbs up for this tech. 

Big hatch and big cover get a thumbs up

The next bomber feature of the Scupper 14 kayak was the big hatch at the front of the boat AND an equally big cover to boot. I can't stand it when a kayak offers a hatch that is technically big enough for an overnight trip, but then the opening is way too small. This ruins the practicality. It's not everyday you see a sit-on-top kayak with this kind of storage. The Scupper 14 kayak hatch/cover combo is a thing of beauty. Speaking of kayak storage, once you max out the bow hatch, there's still a ton of space in the rear tank well for strapping down dry bags. Finally, the small day-hatch between your legs is exactly what you need for small, quick-access items.

Gear tracks for mounting accessories

The gear tracks are also worth mentioning. I thought the front track was perfect for mounting an action camera. There is another the track in the back to mount another camera and some extra rod-holders (in addition to the ones that are already built in). 

Is the Scupper 14 kayak worth the price?

Any high-end kayak is a significant investment for most people. And in the case of the Scupper 14, $1,249 (USD) is a solid chunk of change. But in terms of value, for such a high-performance, feature-rich, sit-on-top kayak, this thing is exceptional. If I had gone in blind for this test, I would have guessed a higher price point. Swell Watercraft does offer additional upgrades for this kayak. It can certainly take things to the next level, but as is, this is a great base price/model. 

Who is the Scupper 14 kayak for?

Swell Watercraft has done an excellent job making a kayak for just about anyone. The Scupper 14 kayak is stable enough for beginners (provided they have a flexible mindset). Experts can still have a lot of fun because of the performance capabilities. This kayak can handle lakes, rivers, oceans, and as long as you're comfortable with your re-entry technique, open-water, far from shore. This is a self-bailing boat but it isn't flip-proof. The right considerations need to be made before approaching less forgiving conditions. And finally, the Scupper 14 is nice to zip around on for an afternoon, for fishing, or to load up for a full-blown camping trip. 

So there you have it, the Swell Watercraft Scupper 14 is swell indeed! I hope this breakdown struck a chord for any of you. Perhaps you may not have given the sit-on-top class enough consideration. This one is a game-changer, for sure. If you enjoyed this article then head on over to PaddleTV for more reviews, tips, and the latest paddling adventures.