The P&H Scorpio is a very popular sea kayak that has been around for a long time. There is a lot to love about the P&H Scorpio. So, having recently tested this kayak thoroughly, both inland and at sea in Ireland, I am here with my unbiased and in-depth P&H Scorpio review to help you decide if this kayak is the right kayak for you.
P&H Scorpio Sea Kayak Review: Specifications
The Scorpio is one of P&H’s original kayaks and has been one of the mainstays of the P&H line. In 2015 it was updated fully. The Scorpio was designed for open water conditions but is equally suited for use on day trips. The Scorpio is available in three sizes: Low Volume (LV), Mid Volume (MV), and High Volume (HV), which is the size I used.
Price: $2600 (USD)
Width: 24”
Length: 17’ 7”
Weight: 68 LBS (31 Kg)
Capacity: 300 LBS (135 Kg)
The P&H Scorpio has:
- Full deck lines and bungees around the boat,
- It comes with a skeg or a skudder,
- It has four hatches: a bow hatch, a stern hatch, a mini hatch in front of the cockpit, and a day hatch behind the cockpit,
- It has grab loops at each end,
- It uses P&H outfitting, something they are well known for. In the Scorpio, this includes:
A padded seat,
Hip pads,
A fully adjustable backband,
Foot braces that are quick and easy to adjust.
The kayak comes in two different types of construction. I have the Core Lite X construction which is a little lighter and stiffer.
Portability
The P&H Scorpio is a 17-foot and 7-inch-long sea kayak, so it would be an overstretch to say that it is easy to get around or highly portable. Any long boat is a bit of a pain to get around. Despite that, the Core Lite X construction of the Scorpio is 68 pounds, which is not heavy for a long, rotamolded kayak. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the Scorpio is not an easy boat to get around.
It is a kayak that I can get around by carrying it on my shoulder. I would not want to do so for long distances, but I can at least move it around without help. I can load the Scorpio onto my truck by myself, however, for some people, lifting it onto a car might be a two-person job. The reality of owning a rotamolded and plastic sea kayak of any length is that it will not be very portable.
If weight is a real issue for you, then you probably should be looking into purchasing a kayak produced differently. For example, a thermoformed kayak (a plastic kayak that is lighter but less durable) or a composite kayak (such as a carbon kevlar kayak) might suit you better. The Scorpio does not come in a composite form. If you want a composite sea kayak kayak, P&H have many other composite kayaks available. An example of a P&H composite kayak is the P&H Volan 160.
Performance
The Scorpio is a 24-inch wide and 17-foot 7-inch long sea kayak designed for speed. The narrower a kayak is, the faster it is. So, while narrower sea kayaks are available, the Scorpio does perform very well.
The other factor that affects speed is the amount of rocker a kayak has. Rocker is the curvature of the kayak when you look at it from the side. The Scorpio looks quite straight but does have a decent amount of rocker. The rocker allows it to turn quite efficiently despite its length. In fact, the Scorpio turns surprisingly well. It gives the kayak more maneuverability, which is great for kayaking in rougher conditions. Increased maneuverability makes the Scorpio a great expedition kayak for all conditions.
The P&H Scorpio does a great job at balancing speed and maneuverability.
Stability
At 24 inches wide, the P&H Scorpio is not a very wide kayak. It is, however, a very reasonable width to maintain good stability. It does not feel as rock-solid as a 30-inch recreational kayak would. However, as soon as you take the kayak on edge, it almost feels as if you are denied from tipping it over.
The Scorpio has excellent secondary stability – the stability you have while sitting on an edge. Secondary stability is important for more experienced kayakers paddling in rougher waters. It allows you to hold the kayak on edge while dealing with the waves or turning.
The Scorpio holds an edge beautifully but also gives a beginner kayak the feeling of confidence that the kayak doesn’t want to flip over. It has a wonderful combination of stability and performance.
Comfort
I am six foot two and 195 pounds in peak paddling season, but the high-volume version of the kayak still gives me plenty of space in the cockpit. It is unreasonable to expect all paddlers to jump into the same kayak and feel comfortable in it, which is why I love that the P&H Scorpio sea kayak comes in three sizes. Having three different sizes is a great way to make the kayak more accessible to a range of people.
The high-volume kayak is the right size kayak for me. There is plenty of space in the cockpit but I do not feel like I am swimming around in it. I could spend a whole day in this touring kayak and would be fine.
The Seat
Although not super padded, the padded seat adds a higher level of comfort that goes beyond the typical plastic seat found in a sea kayak. The hip pads give you great control for edging the kayak and are very easy to adjust. The back band is not too low. It does not impede you from putting the paddling skirt on the cockpit, but it is high enough to give your back real support. The thigh hooks are aggressive enough that the kayak is incredibly easy to control without making you feel confined.
Foot Pegs
Of course, the Scorpio also has foot pegs that are easy to adjust from in the kayak, making them very convenient. I hate foot pegs that require you to get out and reach into the kayak to adjust them. Even though I am fairly tall, there was plenty of space for my feet. With my setup, the foot pegs were not even close to being set at the full length, meaning the boat could be comfortable for somebody up to about six foot six or seven. There is not just plenty of leg space, but there is also plenty of room for my feet. They did not feel squashed at all.
Features
Thoughts about the features of a kayak always come down to personal preference, but here are my thoughts.
Skegs
The Scorpio has a drop-down skeg on it. The main difference between a rudder and a skeg is that skegs drop right down to help the kayak track forward, while rudders turn right and left to help you steer.
P&H makes something called a skudder. The skudder works like both a rudder and skeg. It drops down and can be used to steer. The skudder, however, is not an option on the P&H Scorpio. I am not a big fan of a rudder, so I have not yet found a skudder to test.
What I can say about the P&H skeg is that it is a very slick and easy system to use. The skeg is very easy to deploy and lift back up. Of course, like with any skeg, it can get rocks jammed inside the skeg and skeg box. However, the P&H skeg system is much better than the rope and cleat system that several other kayaks use.
Hatches
The Scorpio has rubber hatch covers. Some people hate these covers, while others love them. I find that it takes a bit more effort to use them compared to using a more traditional latched system. The covers are a little more finicky to put back on.
That said, you quickly learn how to put them on, and, more importantly, they provide a tight seal on the hatch. In fact, they are very comparable to paddling skirts. Some people complain that some skirts are too hard to put on, but typically, the harder the skirt is to put on, the better the seal it provides. If you are going into rougher waters or on a long expedition, a tighter seal provides extra security, which can be essential. I will say that this type of hatch cover has grown on me.
The Mini Hatch
The P&H Scorpio has four hatches, including a mini hatch in front of the seat. I like the mini hatch because it is the right size to fit snacks, phones, and even suncream. It is a good place to store things if you don’t like it when all the pockets in your life jacket are full.
The Day Hatch
The hatch that I have never been a fan of but is an option on many different kayaks is the day hatch right behind the seat. For me, it is a small hole that takes a good chunk of space but has limited things that can go into it. I prefer having one big hatch that takes up all the space at the back of the kayak. A bigger stern hatch gives me more space for the big items necessary on multi-day trips. I am not typically a minimalist on multi-day kayak trips and I like to have plenty of extra pieces of gear. A bigger stern hatch helps me fit more gear into the kayak.
The Bow Hatch
Many sea kayaks feature a bow hatch that is not as big as the stern hatch. I am sure there is some reason why the hatch is smaller, perhaps because the bow is narrower, however, this small hatch means that you have to pack smaller dry bags. Some items simply won’t fit in the bow hatch. In an ideal world, I would love to have a slightly bigger bow hatch just to make it easier to get my bigger camping gear in the bow.
Who is the P&H Scorpio sea kayak for?
I agree with P&H Kayaks that the Scorpio is an expedition machine. The Scorpio has so many plus points; it is 17 feet 7 inches long with lots of space for camping gear (even if the gear needs to be packed strategically) and sitting comfortably in the kayak. It also has a brilliant combination of speed and maneuverability, perfect to tackle any conditions. In general, a plastic boat such as the Scorpio is durable, so you do not need to worry about it banging on rocks. It can really take a kicking.
The P&H Scorpio is a great kayak to have, especially if you are limited to having only one kayak. It can do it all.
The price tag of $2600 (USD) is not cheap. However, this is the amount you would expect to pay for a high-quality sea kayak. Is it the cheapest sea kayak of this nature that you can find on the market? No, it is not. You might even pay a small premium for the little features, such as the Core Lite X editions and the skeg system. But this is because the Scorpio is a well-built boat.
I have been a fan of P&H kayaks since I first tested the Virgo three years ago because I realized that P&H kayaks are well-built. They are top-of-the-class sea kayaks. So you might pay a little premium. However, given that $2600 (USD) is about the ballpark figure for a top-quality sea kayak, it is not much of a premium. The only thing I can say about value is that although you can find cheaper sea kayaks if the P&H Scorpio is in your budget, you should certainly choose this kayak.
Kayak: P&H Scorpio
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray
PFD: NRS Zen PFD
Clothing: NRS Axiom Dry Suit
