Scrambler 11 Ocean Kayak

This is my first kayak. I have used it twice, once in a small cove and once near a breach way. The boat is light and easy to carry, which is one of the only pluses. It does maneuver and track well in calm water, but becomes very sluggish against the current or with waves. The bow sits up high and you can hear the waves slapping against it…definitely slows you down. The seat that comes with it is less than comfortable, but I have been ok for short treks (2-3 hours). On the plus side, it’s easy to get in and out of and is stable. Will definitely look for something longer and sleeker, but this is ok for beginners or in really calm water.

My cousin gave me this kayak because it had a two foot crack on the bottom. He found it adrift about two hundred miles off shore in the gulf of mexico, (He is a boat captain and was towing cargo from Galveston to Jamaica). Ocean Kayak sent me a coil of their polyethylene, (for free), and I had no problem making the repair. I’ve had it for several years. It is great for the beach. It goes right through the waves. Is is very stable as long as you keep your butt in the seat. It is easy to get back on if you fall off. I did add a back support for the seat. I have caught hundreds of fish from this kayak and recommend it to anyone.

Beginner level – love the Ocean Scrambler. Stable, easy entry/exit, with the padded seat/back rest very comfortable. I added a towel in the back rest for extra padding. The molded foot rests allow for height variations. Best for lakes and calm rivers. I have used the Scrambler in the ocean and had dolphins jumping nearby. Would highly recommend.

The Ocean Kayak Scrambler is a very easy paddling boat. It tracks well and is very stable. The downside is that you will get wet in this boat and it lacks the storage cubbyholes of the more expensive Ocean kayaks, but it is affordable and a decent kayak for first time paddlers or for the surf.

I purchased 2 in August of 2013. I bought them to fish out of and surf in the ocean. I owned the Frenzy before this. The Scrambler tracks well. It paddles easy. It is light weight. The ride is a bit slow and wet but compared to the Frenzy it is a rocket ship. I really like fishing out of it in the bay and the ocean. I had flush mounted rod holders installed behind the seat.

The Scrambler 11 ia a great all-around boat for almost anyone. I’m 240 and enjoy paddling it and my average sized 9 year old nephew also handles it very well. It’s not fast by any means, but it tracks good for the type of boat it is and it’s very stable. It has provisions for a Scotty mount between your feet, and also two flat circular areas behind the seat for mounting rod holders. Mine came with a 6″ center hatch and it also has provisions for a bow hatch. I’ve owned this boat since about 2009 and have since upgraded to a Trident 13, but I still use the Scrambler 11 sometimes and have no intention of ever getting rid of it.

I bought my Ocean Scrambler 11 kayak Sit on top 6 years ago. It has traveled with me from Florida to Vermont and back. I use the kayak in the flats, marsh and estuaries of North East and SW Florida. Very stable and durable. Is a bit heavy, but still lifts easy overhead. Plenty of storage. A great kayak for the beginner.

I bought a pair of Scramblers from a pilot who was selling his excess gear (he said homeland Swecurity was trying to shut down the airlines so he was building a nest egg for when he was out-of-work).Basically I got bare boats.
I think the problems people have with the Scrambler is that they don’t accept the boat for what it is! It is a dive platform. Scramblers do not race, they are a stable platform for scuba divers that transforms very well into a fishing platform. They are the choice of rentals because they are stable, easy to get into, and very forgiving.

BUT, this stability is because the seat well is so low, you are below water level and so sitting in water. Adding scupper plugs simply traps the water in the well. Since I paddle Arizona or San Diego, I find the water pool under my tush to be acceptable when compared to the assets.

Although I HAVE raced these boats, always loosing, I realize that they are not fast! I have not camped in them but I hear it is possible if you think like a back-packer and accept that you will need to drybag everything! And my kids enjoyed tying them to a drowned tree and using them as a play-dock for diving and swimming.

Bottom line… If you want a fast boat that carries a lot of gear. go elsewhere. If you want a stable boat for exploring and fishing, this is the one to get!