One of the best and cheapest fishing kayaks on the market is Riot Kayaks Escape 12 Angler Fishing Kayak. The kayak is specially designed for experienced fishermen and professional anglers. Riot Escape 12 is well known for its superior craftsmanship and some of the best features that a kayak can possess. As the boat is targeted at fishermans, it offers a higher degree of stability which perfectly blends with the performance of the kayak. Escape 12 also offers its users a lot of storage space for storing the fishing equipment, the bait and of course, the fish.
Another important feature that this kayak offers is its design implementation which lets users relax and happily enjoy the quiet time spent on the water. Nothing is more relaxing than having a comfortable kayak while you peacefully wait for the fish to bite the lure. But the kayak has to offer many more important features which we will discover together.
Riot Escape 12 Angler Frame
Many fishing kayaks out there have some of the most rigid designs you can possibly find, but this is not the case with our kayak. Riot Escape 12 Angler has a sleek polyethylene exterior and interior which allows the kayak to be very maneuverable in every water even with all the heavy fishing gear. How much does the kayak weigh? At only a shy over 68 pounds, the kayak’s weight is distributed equally throughout the whole body which means that even on sudden movements the kayak will stay afloat. Which is the kayak’s max load? Although we don’t have any info about a max load limit, it is confirmed that the kayak can carry around 300 pounds, which is enough space even for those of you of a bigger stature.
When it comes to length, the boat measures a little over 12 feet with a width that measures 30.7 inches or 2.55 feet. That’s being said, even if the kayak might feel very sturdy and safe it is still not recommended to stand on it. If you do so you might test the waters a little. And you don’t even have to stand as the seat is very comfortable, at least for short periods of time. If we are talking about long day trips then the seat might not be so comfortable. And thus, it is highly recommended to get another sear or extra padding. Does the kayak come with a paddle? Take in consideration that the Riot Escape 12 Angler Kayak does not come with a paddle at purchase, although the package has a seat and a trolley anchor system.
Other Riot Escape 12 Angler Features
Although the kayak is fairly lightweight it has a vast set of equipment and functions. One of those features is a safe sit on top that features 4 attached points which have adjustable straps that allow the user to adjust them however they want. The feature is so taught so that it offers the utmost comfort.
As it was mentioned before, the seat can be comfortable at times but the main problem with it is that it stays in the exact same position in which it is adjusted. Although this offers a lot of protection even in the roughest of the waters and provides excellent security. The seat even has a higher back for support. It is recommended to add more paddles for those of you who have back problems.
Another feature, and probably the most important one that the Riot Escape 12 Angler kayak has is the pilot rudder system. Everyone wants a smooth and safe ride and thus it is essential to be able to maneuver the kayak however you want. The pilot rudder is made entirely out of plastic which is reinforced with glass, making it very strong and at the same time lightweight. The pilot rudder is also very easy to operate.
The boat also has a low windage open work design included that reduces the friction caused by the wind at a considerable amount. The rubberized V blocks absorb vibrations making the kayak literally fly smoothly over the waves. The kayak also has 5 rod holders, 4 rod holders being stationary and one being a movable swivel as the fisherman prefers. A mountable rod holder that is adjustable is another feature of the Riot Escape 12 Angler Kayak and allows users to rotate it at a full 360 degree turn. The rod holder can be adjusted vertically or horizontally very easily. It also has an attached rear saddle which is suitable for any kind of rod combin
ations. Finally, the last important feature is a large swivel that locks the ring which prevents rod loss and allows for easy rod placement.
Storage
As it was talked about before in this article, the storage can go up to 300 pounds which is a decent weight carried for any kayak. Most of the storage room is placed on the rear deck. Strong straps are overlapping it to prevent the loss of storage material or equipment. The storage place is perfectly suited to hold down a cooler in the back for fish or drinks.
On the front hatch you can deposit only smaller equipment and lighter materials. In the cockpit users will find a cup holder which can prove very useful. The design and shape of the kayak allows, as it was mentioned before, the weight to be equally distributed throughout the body, which results in a higher stability.
Pros:
- Has great features and easy to access storage
- Very stable due to the width ratio and the length
- Has 5 rod holders, 1 of them being adjustable
- Anglers said that they love the sit on top design
- Good storage capacity, both in the rear and front
- Purchasable alongside a pilot rudder, installed anchoring system, scupper plugs and drain plug
- Check the best price offer on amazon.com
Cons:
- Doesn’t track too well. Some buyers mentioned that the rudder should be down all the times
- The kayak is stable but the bottom part is uneven which can cause a problem at paddling
- The seat is not design for longer trips and can cause back pains after some hours
- The storage compartments are not entirely waterproof
Conclusion
Although the kayak seems to have some pretty serious flaws, Riot Escape 12 Angler is a very popular boat that is highly recommended and rated. The advantages that this kayak offers are overshadowing the disadvantages. Another good point is that it offers more features that most of the average kayaks do and at the same amount of money.
Overall, Riot Escape 12 Angler Kayak is easy to use, has enough storage space and the most important thing is that it does not compromise when we talk about safety and quality. Come on board and spend great times on the waters with this beautifully designed kayak.
