Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 Review
Bottom Line:
The Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 is a feature-rich fishing kayak that’s stable, predictable, and offers a nice experience on calm to slightly choppy waters (though it won’t be a racing champion any time in the future).
This is a boat that benefits from an abundance of different storage options and rod holders, and its seat scores highly for lack of fatigue over time. However, some experts feel this isn’t the easiest kayak to handle or move, given the boat weight and slightly pointed design.
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Price Comparison:
Specs:
Brand | Wilderness Systems |
Size (length x width) | 14' x 28" |
Weight | 64 lbs |
Capacity | 375 lbs |
Comparison to Similar Kayaks:
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 | Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5 | Eddyline Caribbean 14FS | Perception Hi-Life | Feelfree Nomad | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expert Rating | 7.4 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
Size | 14' x 28" | 9'5" x 33" | 14' x 29" | 11' x 34" | 9'6 x 29.25" |
Weight | 64 lbs | 54 lbs | 50 lbs | 55 lbs | 46.2 lbs |
Handling | |||||
Stability | |||||
Comfort | |||||
Onboard Storage | |||||
Portability | |||||
Durability | n/a | n/a |
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 Review
- Lots of scupper holes for a dry boat
- Very comfy seat with lots of air flow
- Super stable on choppy waters
- Tons of storage
- Nice and secure
- Very heavy to carry alone
- Fairly low top speed
Performance of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140
The Tarpon 140 scores highly on stability and predictability. Experts state it’s easy to move on the water and is responsive for its size. It can handle some light touring. Users also claim it should keep you nice and balanced if you want to lay back and fish. It’s not the most portable kayak out there, despite handles receiving moderate praise, and there’s not much discussion regarding durability. That said, this Tarpon kayak still scores well on protection thanks to its innovative scupper system.
One of the highest praise points, however, is the comfort. The boat appears to benefit from the manufacturer’s celebrated seating technology, which allows air to flow freely, keeping paddlers cool and feeling sharp. That said, some experts feel it’s so laid-back, it’s hard to paddle sometimes!
Reviewers love this kayak for its storage options and gear capacity. It has some nice convenience features like gear storage pockets, sidetracks, and a cup holder. There’s also a removable dry box at the center and a rear tankwell that can fit camping equipment and larger items.
It does stumble a little on peak performance as it’s reportedly fairly slow to move on the water. However, this seems to be a trade-off for resilience in choppy waters and unpredictable weather.
While the weight of this boat doesn’t go down well with experts, it’s still a solid choice for those seeking a responsive kayak that’s both stable and predictable.