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Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165 Kayak with Rudder - 2011/2012

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With added volume in the cockpit, Wilderness Systems® Tsunami™ 165 kayak accommodates paddlers that may not fit properly in smaller models.

Novice and seasoned paddlers alike will enjoy the responsive performance of the Tsunami's hybrid hull shape
Paddle comfortably all day thanks to the adjustable seat, thigh and hip support, and Wilderness System's ratcheting Butterfly Backband
Phase3® XP seat can be adjusted on the fly to relieve fatigue on long paddles; adjustable thigh braces help lock-in for carved turns
Slidelock™ footrail system is easily adjustable, comfortable and rugged
Controls in cockpit deploy foot-pedal-controlled rudder; rudder assists with tight maneuvering and tracking in rough conditions
High-density Gen2™ polyethylene construction offers performance, rugged durability and affordability
Equipped with plenty of deck rigging and 3 hatches for ample storage of food and gear
Retractable comfort carry toggles allow easy portaging to and from the water
Perimeter deck lines for safety and easier re-entry into kayak

Made in USA.

Item 750647

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Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165 Kayak with Rudder - 2011/2012 Customer Reviews

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by PowerReviews

Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165 Kayak with Rudder - 2011/2012

4.5

(based on 2 reviews)

Reviewed by 2 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-2

May

2012

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

A Great Boat

By Gliderboy

from Santa Clara, CA

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy Entry & Exit
Easy to Paddle
Good Maneuverability
Punches through chop
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Day Trips
Flat Waters
Kayak Camping
Ocean Swells

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165 Kayak with Rudder - 2011/2012:

I am 5' 11" 240 lbs. This matters because kayak fit is very personal. I was looking for a slightly faster, longer range boat than my Tsunami 145. I bought a Tsunami 165.

The Tsunami 165 is a really good boat. It is not quite as stable as a Tsunami 145, but it is much more stable than a Wilderness Systems Zephyr 160 or the Tempest series, which are for more advanced paddlers. It is sized for big guys. It is faster than my Tsunami 145.

I was in my Tsunami 165 when I got caught out in conditions that were over my head. I am a beginner, but this day we went about 9 miles and when we cam back to the mouth of the slough it was blowing a steady 22 knots and gusting to (I am not making this up--confirmed with wind buoy) 44 knots. There was a swell coming in at about 45 degrees, and whitecaps blowing on top of the swells at a different angle. I would never have gone out in these conditions knowingly. I was scared. But my Tsunami 165 punched through the chop and rode over the swells with no trouble. Several people had to be towed in, and the kayak rental shop had sent people out on patrol to check on us since we were the only ones on the water at that point. I really wondered if I would have the strength to make it back. It sounds silly, but when I pass the 165 in my garage I give a silent thank you.

The Tsunami 165 has the very comfortable seat bottom of the other Tsunamis, and a backband instead of a seat back--like its bretheren the Tsunami 160, Tsunami 175, Zephyrs, and Tempests. I do not find the back band as comfortable as the seat back that is in the Tsunami 120, 125, 135, 140, and 145; however it allows much better trunk rotation for proper paddling, and it makes getting back into the kayak after a wet exit a breeze. You can just slide right over the back band as you corkscrew into the cockpit.

Wilderness Systems does a great job of designing the boat--the deck perimeter lines, the bungees, and the hatches are right where they should be. Even the toggles retract out of the way so they are not flopping around as you paddle--a nice touch. The toggles are comfortable for long carries, too. My hatches don't leak in my T145 or my T165. I cannot swivel while I am in the kayak to reach the day hatch so it is of no use to me. This may just be my lack of flexibility.

Some complain about Wilderness Systems quality, but my experience is just the opposite. There are three WS boats in my garage (counting my partner's Tsunami 135 Pro) and they are all excellent quality. I've looked at a lot of other boats in showrooms and I just don't see higher build quality than Wilderness Systems. Both places I took kayak rescue classes from used Tsunami 145s, and one place treated them horribly with people sitting in them on rough asphalt and actually dragging them over the asphalt! But a light went off in my head--if they buy these boats for rentals, they must be tough.

The Tsunami 165's Achille's heel is its lack of manueverability, something that plagues the entire Tsunami line to one extent or another (I have paddled the 145, 165, and 175; my dimunitive partner the 125 and 135). If you are not paddling into wind, no problem. If the wind is on your nose, no problem. But if you are paddling in a good crosswind you can end up paddling only on one side for miles trying to keep the boat straight! This is where the rudder becomes very useful (and will keep the boat straight in any condition I have encountered, even the 44-knot gusts). The rudder works great for dealing with crosswind or a following or quartering sea. Personally, I would not take my Tsunamis through surf higher than about a foot for just this reason. My guess is that the designers made the more entry-level Tsunamis to hold a line while paddling on calm water. And they do. To me, the Tsunami 165 is a bit more manueverable, and edges better, than the Tsunami 145 and is a logical growth choice for the paddler ready for a more advanced kayak than the Tsunami 145.

If you unload the boat yourself from the top of a car, you will notice that at any kind of an angle, when you put the tail of the boat down the entire weight of the boat will be on the rudder shaft. This is a universal rudder used for several boats, and has a longer shaft than is needed for the Tsunamis. I carefully cut off the excess rudder shaft and probably instantly voided the warranty. But the boat rests on the hull at a 45-degree angle now.

I have not paddled my Tsunami 165 as much as my 145, but it seems like a great second boat for us big guys, and offers more performance. Its increased length affords a more gentle bow entry, and its lower deck height and back band makes re-entry after a wet exit easier. it is just .75" narrower than the 145, but the chines are at slightly different angles, giving it a more streamlined shape.

Comment on this review

Apr

2010

(10 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Super Kayak!

By bkc1

from The Great Lakes State of Michigan

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy Entry & Exit
Easy to Paddle
Good Maneuverability
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Day Trips
Flat Waters
Kayak Camping
Rivers

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165 Kayak with Rudder - 2011/2012:

I purchased this kayak in 2008 and since that time I have paddled lakes, rivers and large ponds, all without any problem at all. This is my first and perhaps only kayak I will own and I love it. It does all I ask of it, it tracks, turns, and flip with ease. Very happy, good choice and I got it at a great price from REI. Thanks.