2009 Tarpon 140 1st Impression

[jsuber]

Georgia called me today from the Wilderness Way to let me know my new Tarpon 140 with angler package and rudder had arrived. lcallaghan and myself stopped by and picked it up. He hauled it over to my house on the van and we unpacked it in the driveway. We both noticed how much lighter it was than my Search 15. The next thing I noticed was the seat.

I could not believe it.


I had never noticed this before, but the seat is designed to keep you from getting swamp butt.





The second thing I noticed about the seat was the extra lumbar support. You pull this handle that is located between your legs, and pull causing the seat to rise to the location you get the best support. Now that is comfortable.

I took it our and paddled around in a pretty stiff wind, fished for about two hours and came home completely dry. No wet butt. Amazing.

The Tarpon 140 also comes with 6 scupper plugs. I put two in the back scuppers and 4 in the console scuppers. I paddled around with them in then I pulled them out to see how much water would be in the console with my 275 lb frame in the cockpit. Not much. Wow. Here is a view of the console area and the locking hand hole and two pockets to put gear in like your scupper plugs. And yes it has a drink holder.




On the back is a rail system. I like the idea that I can move those padeyes around and I plan on using those to secure my milkcrate in the back. Today I just looped the bungee cord over it til I rig this out properly.



On the front is a sharp nose that cuts through the waves that I hit today pretty well. Like the Search 15 the nose plows into the waves.


Here is a view with the hatch open.


So far so good, and as I get her rigged out I'll follow up on my impressions of the new 2009 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140.

[bk]

nice new ride, jeff. congratulations.

[cueball]

Man, I like that seat and the rails in the back.

The water in the cockpit was the main complaint that I had with the earlier models. Glad to see that they fixed that. Also the design of the seat on the earlier models is like a bowl without a drain and just holds any water that gets in and causes swamp-butt. I like how Wilderness Systems listens to feedback and fixes the stuff that users mention. They seem to me to be going in the right direction.

For next year........ Beef up the hatches and rails.

[mr. kotter]

That looks great. I have been looking for detailed information about why people like the boats they do.

[Tallypacker]

It looks pretty sweet. I like it!!

[soccerdad]

It came with a F*CKA sticker. How cool is that??

[LCallaghan]

Great pics and good looking yak!

[WannaDoDat]

SCHWEEEEET!!! one of these days......
(wish I had thought of "SwampButt" for my user name)

[gggeorge]

I was wandering if you could post an update on your Tarpon 14 as that is the kayak that is on the top of a very short list.
thanks
Glenn

[jsuber]

I would recommend it to folks under 240 lbs. Its a great yak, any larger and your better off in a 160. I use the 160.

[gggeorge]

Thanks, I should be fine then at 6-3 and 180. Was there any thing you dont like about the Tarpons?

[jsuber]

I've always owned a Tarpon. Whether it was a 120 140 or 160. I'm on the Wilderness Systems Pro Staff, so I am pretty locked in on loving the Tarpons. Its just the 160 is more appropriate for my style of fishing.

[nubby]

suber; I would like to hear all that you have to say about the 140. I amlooking at getting a tarpon this summer and I was not sure if I wanted the 102 or the 140. If you could post the pros and cons I sure would appricate it. I am 5'10" and weight od 225 lbs.

[Shorewalker]

I'll give you the short version and then Jeff can follow up. My comments are more general to any series of kayaks that have a 12, 14 and 16 foot models with roughly the same weight capacity.

Longer is faster / easier to paddle (because it is narrower). Shorter is less "tippy" feeling (wider). Another thing to consider mainly for freshwater is that shorter turns around in confined areas easier. In other words shorter is .. well shorter.

The next thing to do is try as many as you can. If you have narrowed the list of yaks down to two choices rent each for a full day and try to fish out of them. If you talk to the rental shops, they will probably deduct one of the rental days from the final price.

If you are really cheap, will mainly fish salt and only wonder about longer and shorter of same yak, rent the longer one. If you are comfortable enough in it - chances are that you will end up buying it because it is easier to paddle. If on the other hand it scares the crap out of you every time a wave heads toward you .....

Also consider a rudder especially in the salt so that you don't have to paddle on the same side of the yak for two miles when heading back to the ramp in quartering wind.

[YakGroupie]

I'll weigh in with my opinion ...

I have the 140 and LOVE it. Love the seat but after 8 hours I think a lazy boy would make your butt hurt. I've never had swamp ass (I just had to say it! ) I use a camp pillow if I'm staying out all day with just enough air in it to make it cushy but not enough to make me feel tipsy. I feel very stable in my 140 and I love the ease of paddling. Sharp corners are tricky but I never find it impossible. Plenty of dry storage for me. I carry a crate in the back and a tackle system in dry storage. The thing I love most is the rail system and the shelf that is made for the rail system. I have 2 Scotty mounts on it along with a dry storage box for my phone that is within easy reach. I'm only 5'6" so I still have plenty of room beyond my feet to throw my fish bag.

What I don't love is that the kayak is too heavy for me to lift by myself. That means when my hubby won't take me fishing I'm landlocked. Imagine that!

My hubby is about 5'9" and 190 and he has the 120. He's designed his own shelf and looks like a spider out there with all the lines out. We both love our Tarpons!!

Good luck on your purchase! (FYI - Bulldog not included!)