I want to start this review off with a caveat - I'm literally over a year late in making this review. Why, you might ask? Well, on its maiden voyage, we learned in the first mile of the float that the bladder had a leak. That wouldn't be the end of the world, except that we both forgot the K-Pump in the truck. So I got to really practice my technique on inflating a raft the old fashioned way: With my mouth.
Truth be told, the experience left me feeling like I couldn't write a totally objective review fresh off that experience. It IS important and worth noting, however. This was a boat fresh out of the new packaging, freshly assembled and deployed.
This story does have a happy ending, though! Outcast, living up to their reputation for outstanding customer service, had a replacement bladder sent within the week. Given how well these guys have taken care of me over the last decade+ of using their boats, I feel the need to express how grateful I am for them and any other company who stands by a product like this. Additionally, the replacement bladder has been flawless and no additional leaks or other faults have been found.
Why would you consider such a boat?
Now with that important bit out of the way, it's time to get into the meat and potatoes here. I've long been intrigued by these smaller rafts. Having owned a 13' Outcast raft as recently as 2019/2020, I had longed for something more "portable" and less dependent on the need to trailer it. Truth is, the main reason I no longer have my 13' framed raft is because I felt just as limited to where I could put in and take out as I was with my drift boat I had replaced. The need to stick to boat launches and slides meant that I was putting in and taking out with the rest of the crowds.
One of my favorite aspects of my one person frameless boats is the ability to be a bit more creative with my put ins and take outs. I've carried my boats as far as a mile to float a stretch of river far above everyone, or far enough below the main launch that I could sneak in to the best water before the flotillas show up. At 9'5" and 102lb, the Striker may not be something I ever haul in a mile somewhere, but it's certainly not limited to the same drift boat slides and ramps that your average 3 person framed raft would. My 13'3" Outcast Drifter I previously owned weighed over twice as much as the Striker at 242lb. Granted, the larger boat could have a 3rd person to help carry it, but anyone who's ever tried to carry one of those beasts knows it's a lot harder and more awkward than you'd expect. The Striker, however, is a VERY portable boat for being a 2 person craft.
The boat's design
The Striker has a very unique design with its minimalist frame. Really, the "frames" it has are there for seat support. The oar locks are not connected to the frame in any way. That said, like many of these modern (mostly) frameless designs, the rigidity of the bladder and pvc outer layer provide more than enough structural integrity for all but technical whitewater. In the water most of us float and fish, the design of these types of boats is more than enough.
The front seat is set up with an inflatable lean bar as a lightweight, easy to break down and pack alternative to a metal pipe front brace. I did not find this pad to provide quite the same level of support to give me confidence in fully relying on it, but, it's certainly better than nothing. I think for the size and overall design philosophy of this boat, it's a unique solution that provides enough lean support and stability without the added downsides of something more permanent and rigid.
As is clearly one of the main motivators for this design: the 60" width is juuuuuuuust right for putting in the bed of a full size truck. With the tailgate down, I was able to get the whole boat in and to the river, no problem. I did need to keep it a bit underinflated to not get stuck in there, but the size is absolutely perfect for portability. I can't say enough about how nice it is to not have to deal with a trailer for so many reasons; top of the list likely being the ease of shuttling with only 2 people and not having to leave the boat unattended while you run to the trailer vehicle. In a pinch, you could fully deflate it and stick it in the trunk of a sedan if need be. If that's not a selling point, then I don't know what is.
The framed seats allow for some storage space for coolers and bags. That said, it's less than you'd probably expect. If you are able to find a cooler that fits under the seat, that leaves just your floor space for keeping your bag of tackle/fishing supplies/other accessories. So my top suggestion is to invest in some cargo pockets (as seen near the lean pad) - that way you can keep supplies up and out of the way. I'd also suggest a Seat Caddy for keeping your beverages, and any flies/lures you need on-hand right there at your fingertips and not getting lost in the bottom of the boat.... not that I've lost countless flies, lures, and tools to this very problem in the past (I have).
The floor is plenty stable to stand and fish - which was a concern of mine going in. I didn't expect such sturdy footing. I did expect I would need or want to add some kind of mat, but I really don't think it's necessary. There are three D rings along the outer sides, but to be honest I'm not entirely sure what their use would be unless you wanted to completely remove the seat frames and add a full 2 or 1 person custom frame... which is a bit of an intriguing idea now that I think about it. Both the bow and stern have handles for dragging or carrying, making it much easier to transport to and from the water. And like all Outcast boats, there are multiple spots to add accessories like anchor mounts, rod holders, cargo bags, and more.
Enough details - how is it on the water?
Being as it's the first 2 person boat like this that I've ever rowed, it's tough to do much comparison, and comparison is probably the best way to articulate everything as far as performance goes. This boat lands squarely between the OSG Clearwater and the OSG Drifter (which is the 13' boat I previously owned). Let's do some size comparisons here:
First, let this be a testament to how impressive the overall weight is for the Clearwater. Despite the similar dimensions to the Striker, its nearly 1/3 the total weight even before adding a second person to the mix. All three boats, in my times rowing them, performed exactly as I wanted and needed them to. But the added weight of the boat plus angler in the Striker, having a very similar "footprint" on the water, does make a very noticeable difference in maneuverability and does draft more water. Of the three boats, I'd rate it is probably the most difficult to row. The Drifter may be bigger, but with the added surface area on the water, and drafting less water, it's an easier boat to slow down and maneuver through boulder gardens or other obstacles.
Does all this mean I find the Striker to be a poorly rowing boat? Not by any means. But of the three boats compared here, which isn't exactly apples to apples admittedly, it's the one I'd be least comfortable in going in to some of my more technical water. Personally, I think this is a boat best kept to milder floats and slower drifts. For that purpose, it's an outstanding watercraft.
One thing of note: In my opinion, this is a two person boat, not a one person boat. Due to the positioning of the rowers seat, the boat is very out of balance if nobody is up front to even it out. Still totally usable, but the front end will be high and dry while the back is sunk down. On calm water, no biggy. You'll just look funny. If needing to get technical, it may be a disadvantage to be that out of balance. Admittedly, I have not tested it in this type of situation, so this is purely speculative as far as the handling in technical water goes.
Pros
Conclusion:
Given its unique design and the benefits that come with it, I can confidently say this is a boat worthy of consideration for anyone looking for a lightweight option for two anglers. Being fairly portable and stable enough to fish out of on the go, it can and will open up some interesting possibilities for many anglers willing to do the extra legwork to get it into some harder to reach locations. Overall, its "cons" are things that would likely be issues with any 2 person boat in this size - tradeoffs for having a trailer-less 2 person boat. Once we get in to reviewing more boats in this class, then the differences and real pros/cons lists can be worked out.
Truth be told, the experience left me feeling like I couldn't write a totally objective review fresh off that experience. It IS important and worth noting, however. This was a boat fresh out of the new packaging, freshly assembled and deployed.
This story does have a happy ending, though! Outcast, living up to their reputation for outstanding customer service, had a replacement bladder sent within the week. Given how well these guys have taken care of me over the last decade+ of using their boats, I feel the need to express how grateful I am for them and any other company who stands by a product like this. Additionally, the replacement bladder has been flawless and no additional leaks or other faults have been found.
Why would you consider such a boat?
Now with that important bit out of the way, it's time to get into the meat and potatoes here. I've long been intrigued by these smaller rafts. Having owned a 13' Outcast raft as recently as 2019/2020, I had longed for something more "portable" and less dependent on the need to trailer it. Truth is, the main reason I no longer have my 13' framed raft is because I felt just as limited to where I could put in and take out as I was with my drift boat I had replaced. The need to stick to boat launches and slides meant that I was putting in and taking out with the rest of the crowds.
One of my favorite aspects of my one person frameless boats is the ability to be a bit more creative with my put ins and take outs. I've carried my boats as far as a mile to float a stretch of river far above everyone, or far enough below the main launch that I could sneak in to the best water before the flotillas show up. At 9'5" and 102lb, the Striker may not be something I ever haul in a mile somewhere, but it's certainly not limited to the same drift boat slides and ramps that your average 3 person framed raft would. My 13'3" Outcast Drifter I previously owned weighed over twice as much as the Striker at 242lb. Granted, the larger boat could have a 3rd person to help carry it, but anyone who's ever tried to carry one of those beasts knows it's a lot harder and more awkward than you'd expect. The Striker, however, is a VERY portable boat for being a 2 person craft.
The boat's design
The Striker has a very unique design with its minimalist frame. Really, the "frames" it has are there for seat support. The oar locks are not connected to the frame in any way. That said, like many of these modern (mostly) frameless designs, the rigidity of the bladder and pvc outer layer provide more than enough structural integrity for all but technical whitewater. In the water most of us float and fish, the design of these types of boats is more than enough.
The front seat is set up with an inflatable lean bar as a lightweight, easy to break down and pack alternative to a metal pipe front brace. I did not find this pad to provide quite the same level of support to give me confidence in fully relying on it, but, it's certainly better than nothing. I think for the size and overall design philosophy of this boat, it's a unique solution that provides enough lean support and stability without the added downsides of something more permanent and rigid.
As is clearly one of the main motivators for this design: the 60" width is juuuuuuuust right for putting in the bed of a full size truck. With the tailgate down, I was able to get the whole boat in and to the river, no problem. I did need to keep it a bit underinflated to not get stuck in there, but the size is absolutely perfect for portability. I can't say enough about how nice it is to not have to deal with a trailer for so many reasons; top of the list likely being the ease of shuttling with only 2 people and not having to leave the boat unattended while you run to the trailer vehicle. In a pinch, you could fully deflate it and stick it in the trunk of a sedan if need be. If that's not a selling point, then I don't know what is.
The framed seats allow for some storage space for coolers and bags. That said, it's less than you'd probably expect. If you are able to find a cooler that fits under the seat, that leaves just your floor space for keeping your bag of tackle/fishing supplies/other accessories. So my top suggestion is to invest in some cargo pockets (as seen near the lean pad) - that way you can keep supplies up and out of the way. I'd also suggest a Seat Caddy for keeping your beverages, and any flies/lures you need on-hand right there at your fingertips and not getting lost in the bottom of the boat.... not that I've lost countless flies, lures, and tools to this very problem in the past (I have).
The floor is plenty stable to stand and fish - which was a concern of mine going in. I didn't expect such sturdy footing. I did expect I would need or want to add some kind of mat, but I really don't think it's necessary. There are three D rings along the outer sides, but to be honest I'm not entirely sure what their use would be unless you wanted to completely remove the seat frames and add a full 2 or 1 person custom frame... which is a bit of an intriguing idea now that I think about it. Both the bow and stern have handles for dragging or carrying, making it much easier to transport to and from the water. And like all Outcast boats, there are multiple spots to add accessories like anchor mounts, rod holders, cargo bags, and more.
Enough details - how is it on the water?
Being as it's the first 2 person boat like this that I've ever rowed, it's tough to do much comparison, and comparison is probably the best way to articulate everything as far as performance goes. This boat lands squarely between the OSG Clearwater and the OSG Drifter (which is the 13' boat I previously owned). Let's do some size comparisons here:
Model | Length | Width | Weight | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSG Clearwater | 9'4" | 4'6" | 35lb | 1 |
| OSG Striker | 9'5" | 5' | 102lb | 2 |
| OSG Drifter | 13'3" | 6'6" | 242lb | 3 |
First, let this be a testament to how impressive the overall weight is for the Clearwater. Despite the similar dimensions to the Striker, its nearly 1/3 the total weight even before adding a second person to the mix. All three boats, in my times rowing them, performed exactly as I wanted and needed them to. But the added weight of the boat plus angler in the Striker, having a very similar "footprint" on the water, does make a very noticeable difference in maneuverability and does draft more water. Of the three boats, I'd rate it is probably the most difficult to row. The Drifter may be bigger, but with the added surface area on the water, and drafting less water, it's an easier boat to slow down and maneuver through boulder gardens or other obstacles.
Does all this mean I find the Striker to be a poorly rowing boat? Not by any means. But of the three boats compared here, which isn't exactly apples to apples admittedly, it's the one I'd be least comfortable in going in to some of my more technical water. Personally, I think this is a boat best kept to milder floats and slower drifts. For that purpose, it's an outstanding watercraft.
One thing of note: In my opinion, this is a two person boat, not a one person boat. Due to the positioning of the rowers seat, the boat is very out of balance if nobody is up front to even it out. Still totally usable, but the front end will be high and dry while the back is sunk down. On calm water, no biggy. You'll just look funny. If needing to get technical, it may be a disadvantage to be that out of balance. Admittedly, I have not tested it in this type of situation, so this is purely speculative as far as the handling in technical water goes.
Pros
- Good balance of small enough for portability (and portage-ability) while being big enough for 2 anglers
- Can fit in the bed of a truck inflated
- Can fit in the trunk of a sedan deflated
- Minimalist frame has ample support for the seats
- Layout can quickly become cluttered with gear without meticulous planning and additional accessories
- Very limited on cooler models that fit under the seat - can also be difficult to open the cooler because you have to pull it out from under the seat to access
- The small surface area on the water coupled with the weight of the boat and two on board can make for a difficult row in more technical water
- While it can ride in the bed of most trucks, it will need to be deflated a bit
Does not balance well with just a single rower and nobody in frontPer the owners manual, to use as a single rower boat, flip the boat around and use the seat that was originally for the front passenger. This will balance the boat for one-person use.
- Lean pad is adequate but not enough for some situations (speculative). Overall, the boat is better with it than without it.
- Oar towers are sturdy, but without frame support, could lack strength for harder rowing
Conclusion:
Given its unique design and the benefits that come with it, I can confidently say this is a boat worthy of consideration for anyone looking for a lightweight option for two anglers. Being fairly portable and stable enough to fish out of on the go, it can and will open up some interesting possibilities for many anglers willing to do the extra legwork to get it into some harder to reach locations. Overall, its "cons" are things that would likely be issues with any 2 person boat in this size - tradeoffs for having a trailer-less 2 person boat. Once we get in to reviewing more boats in this class, then the differences and real pros/cons lists can be worked out.
