I have tested... / Raiatea 360 fishing kayak, a stable and spacious pedal kayak

© Antonin Perrotte-Duclos

To choose a fishing kayak, it's best to try it. Embark with me on the Raiatea 360 to discover its propulsion, its comfort and its stability. A pedal kayak that offers great advantages.

After testing the Bora 350 the year before during my annual trip to Corsica, I was able to test the Raiatea 360 fishing kayak this year. This model is slightly longer, but the shape of its hull and its propulsion are much more efficient.

Another means of propulsion

Deux pales en plastique souple
Two soft plastic blades

On my previous kayak, the propulsion was done thanks to a propeller which was activated in the same way as the pedals of a bicycle. This time, the pedal system is a push-button system that operates two soft plastic blades. The latter are more difficult to operate, but the power/speed ratio is much better.

On my first tests, I was able to reach 4.5 knots without any problems and my cruising speed is between 2.6 and 3 knots. This important speed is also accentuated thanks to the streamlined shape of the front of the Raiatea's hull which easily splits the waves. Such a cruising speed allows me to cover long distances and to easily troll for pelagic fish.

Une vitesse accrue
Increased speed

Comfort and stability

As far as stability is concerned, just like on the Bora 350, I can easily stand on the kayak when the sea is calm. This is not very important for sea fishing, but in fresh water, it is almost essential for efficient fishing of edges or for pulling and jerking animations. Non-slip patches are very useful when the plastic of the kayak is wet and may become slippery, especially if a fish has left some of its slime on it.

In terms of comfort, the Raiatea's seat is very similar to the Bora's and therefore very comfortable. Note that the center of gravity on a Raiatea is lower than on a Bora, which can make it easier to keep the boat stable when the sea rises or for people who are new to kayaking.

Un kayak stable et confortable
A stable and comfortable kayak

Space on board

The position of the Raiatea's seat depends on your size, being small, I adjust it to the maximum forward position to be able to pedal comfortably.

This allows me to carry two large bakkans with me, one on the back deck and one behind my seat in which I store my battery, my important lure boxes, my phone and my small tools (pliers, knife, scissors). In the second one, further back, I mainly put things I wouldn't need several times a day like food and some boxes of equipment.

I can carry up to four rods (two in the front and two in the back) without adding an extra rod holder, but I chose to add three more in the back so that my other rods would not get in the way if I were fighting a fish in the front. I also used the rails on the sides to attach my depth finder and my sounding arm.

Des rails pour fixer le sondeur
Rails to fix the sounder

Kayak Raiatea 360

  • Length : 3m60
  • Width : 87 cm
  • Height : 31 cm
  • Weight: 32 kg shell + 7 kg crankset
  • Load capacity: 180 kg
  • Colors: light blue and dark blue
  • Recommended price: 1 529 euros
  • Distribution: Kayak Attitude
More articles on the theme