Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

I have both the Tarpon 100 and Tarpon 120, so this review includes both. I purchased the T100 first and really enjoyed learning how to paddle, getting used to kayaking and fishing. The T100 was very easy to learn with, along with the REI Youtube videos on kayaking, I felt comfortable and fairly confident after a summer's paddling.

The T100 tracks OK but tends to veer easily. Course correction is easy enough. The length makes it easy to turn. The T120 tracks a little better, but as another reviewer said probably not worth the extra cost. Turning is slower with the longer boat and the extra 15 lbs makes the T120 sluggish after paddling the T100.

Fishing from either boat is so simple - I can't imagine trying to fish out of a sit-inside. Plenty of room for my gear and easily accessible. I tend to fish off the bow and troll slowly backwards. Since I wear sandals I keep the line between my toes so I can feel bites. Hey, it works! I can turn sideways and put my feet in the water on hot days. Try that with a sit-inside!

Both the T100 and T120 are very stable. They have very wide beams. I haven't ended up in the water yet, though I've come close a few times. The width makes them slower than a sit-inside kayak, as a number of sit-insiders have shown me :-) But we all have fun on the water!

The T100 is definitely easier to haul and get on top of the car. The T120 weighs 65 ibs (15 lbs more) and the length makes the boat unwieldy, especially after hours on the water. So I take the T100 when I go alone. I can load the T100 quickly alone but I like having another person to help load the T120.

I bought the T120 (the T120 is called the most popular size, one reason I got it) so I could bring along a friend/son/daughter and . They all took right to the T100 and had lots of fun. I usually take the T120 since I'm usually the bigger person. In retrospect, I would have gone with two T100s. The T120 is a fine boat and I have no real problem with it, but the T100 is just as good for my purposes and the T100 costs and weighs less.

The T120 may be better on fast rivers than the T100. Can't say for sure as I haven't tried it. Because of the extra length the T120 draws a little less water and I can sneak into places the T100 grounds out. There is more cargo space on the T120 so if you're taking supplies it would do a better job. I've never gotten any water into the hull, the hatches do a great job of keeping it dry, or maybe I'm just not trying hard enough!

I down graded the T120 to 4 stars because of the weight and slow turning. The T100 I gave 5 stars mostly because of the way it compares to the longer boat and I can load it so much easier.

I love the sit-on-top style for quieter waters in warm weather, paddling with inexperienced friends, fishing. It's great to be out in the sun, stretching out, being able to swing myself around in the cockpit to follow the fish. After 5 hours on the water, it takes a while to get my land legs back so a sit-on-top is much easier to tumble out of! At sit-inside is much better for cooler weather, rougher waters, touring over longer distances, paddling with experienced friends who like to go at a faster pace

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

When I decided to trade my tandem Ocean Kayak "Cabo" on [@] for a second single sit-on-top boat, I got a lot of requests to purchase it instead of trade and finally agreed to sell it for $500, a price I thought might be hard to get, even though the Ocean Kayak boats are great and the old Cabo, while big and heavy, is a great boat.After selling it, I started researching the new sit-on-tops and was immediately struck by the lines and features on the Tarpon series from Wilderness Systems. The Tarpon 100 was my first choice, since the price was very close to what I got for my tandem, which was the whole point of the trade. I went to REI to make the purchase because, among other things, REI has the world's best satisfaction guarantee and, in the case of the kayaks, their prices are easily competitive across the board with other sellers, which isn't the case with much of their stuff.As usual, the sales staff was helpful, but I already knew much about the boats and what I liked about the Tarpon 100, so I just bought it. REI's return policy (Don't like it? Bring it back! Forever!) made it really easy to make the quick decision on getting the boat, knowing that I could return it if it didn't fit the bill. I took it out and paddled it immediately and, after putting it through its paces on a short run, I saw the limitations of the 10 footer (Tarpon 100 is 10', Tarpon 120 is 12' 3") and decided to step up to the 120. The limitations were:1) The length makes the 100 a bit more squat and less streamlined than the 120, making it a tiny bit less likely to track well (the shorter boats don't really track that well anyway) and not quite as fast in my opinion. The offset is that the 100 turns on a dime, while the 120 turns on a nickel: really good turning, just not as really good as the 100!2) The extra room on the 120 is remarkable. It has lots of space for items on deck behind the seat and has an 8 inch hatch in front of the seat and a huge oval hatch on the bow, where the 100 has just another 8 incher. Lots of room for taking camping gear along for kayak camping, fish, etc.3) A big benefit to this boat is the ability to add a rudder if you want one. The 100 doesn't have that ability.Now, the Tarpon series attracted me because of the design and well thought out aspects of the boats. Wilderness Systems has done a great job giving this boat some very nice extras. There are a number of spots ready for mounting extra gear mounts like GPS holders and fish finders, as well as their proprietary Slide-Trax system of rails that allow for adjustable attachments for things like fishing pole holders, gear holders and work areas, mostly aimed at the kayak angler, and pretty well designed for usefulness. They also hold the rear bay's bungees and make them adjustable, which is a nice option when that cooler or tank doesn't correspond just right with the bungees. A touch of adjustment and it's just right! Nice job, WS!I actually drilled into my 8 inch hatch lid to mount my GPS because I preferred the mount over the ones that would fit in the spot provided, and I wanted the GPS a little closer to me, and the only problem I had with that was that the hatch lid is so well built that it has structural elements underneath to add strength and they made it a little harder to drill for the mount. However, a little Shoe Goo for waterproofing and some perseverance and it was done and waterproof. The hatches are really nice also, and I like the addition of the cord loops underneath the rim so you can hook items put in the hatch so they don't travel around inside the boat. I use a dry bag to carry stuff I want with me and hook the rolled belt through the loops and the bag's always right there when I want something out of it. Both hatches lock with slide levers, making access a matter of a quick twist instead of un-clicking belt couplers and then having to re-click them. A nice seal and easy in/out for gear. All these little things combine to make an overall boat that is just SO well done!The other thing I love about this boat, and in my view one of it's soaring achievements, is the seating system. I have bought very expensive seats for my old kayaks because you get what you pay for and, man, a good seat is priceless! I was disappointed that the Tarpon didn't have deck loops to hook my favorite seat to if the stock one didn't perform. Not a problem. The seat on this boat is extremely supportive and comfortable, and adjusts at the thighs (rise and fall) as well as the back (reclining AND rising and falling) for important variability of support from the lower to upper-lower back! This is huge for long paddling days where a change in back support can become necessary during the day. With this great design, one seat can become many with the pull of a handle here or there. Love this! If you look closely at the overhead pictures of the boat (you can find a big one by following the link I put in the comment area below), you can see the seat back height adjustment handle protruding from under the seat, dead center. Pull it, the back raises. So cool! It also has an excellent bungee system for securing the seat for transporting the boat. The back bungees up into place for paddling and down into place for hauling or carrying, which is nice when moving the boat from the yard or garage to the vehicle under trees or garage doors so you don't catch the seat back of things and it's not catching the wind while you drive. Just another very well thought out little perk.The slots under the thighs are given rubber nets to hold items you want to be able to get to (I put my Pelican box that holds my cell phone in one so I can take photos with it) and I think most people will appreciate having them there for a variety of reasons. The "cup holder" is the exact size of my CamelBak water bottle, holding it snugly enough to probably keep it in position if the boat flips while not making it hard to put in or take out. The adjustable foot pedals seem strong and will fit anyone of normal size from very small to pretty big (I am 6'1" with very long legs and it is very comfortable for me with my legs fully extended).When you want to do something that requires the use of both hands, the nice paddle holder system lets you run one blade of your paddle under the rubber wheel on the front bungee by the tip of the bow (right in front of the big hatch) and hook the handle in one of the side bungees by the side handles, securing the paddle well and letting you do what you need without worrying about losing the paddle overboard. No real need for a paddle leash.The side handles are always nice on a kayak because you don't always have help to carry the boat from the other end and sometimes even when you have help, you want to carry it from the side, and I can carry it by the side handle alone with just a bit of effort. Smaller folks may have trouble, but you can just shoulder it if that's the case. All boats should have these! Aside from the bolt-on mounts for fishing poles, there are also two spots behind the seat area where a couple extra pole holders can be installed.Stability of the 120 is very good, speed is great, quality is unsurpassed, extras are everywhere, the boats are all comfortable (even the 100 was roomy for my 6'1", 250 pound body) and the options make any future improvements you deem necessary simple to do. These are just awesome boats! Highly recommended!

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

This is a great open top kayak! When i first started looking for a new kayak i was blown away by all the accesories and storage abilities. I have taken this kayak camping out on the water many times with more comfort than i would ever think of while backpacking. The only down side to this boat is that it's heavy.... but to me thats not too big of a deal. There is also a ultra lite version of it.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

My wife and I bought a pair of these to do river paddling and maybe some overnight trips. These kayaks are very comfortable,I have had no problems after sitting in for over 3 hours. They are very flexible to different size people,I am 6'3" and my wife is 4'10". The dry wells will leak some but not horribly bad. Everywhere we go people compliment us on them and wanna know where we got them. Overall I recommend this model to any one. We are newbies and these kayaks have been excellent.The small stow slots are nice by the seat for holding sunscreen or other small items. The one complaint i may have is that the cup holder is completely useless. It is positioned way to forward on the kayak. i have long arms and i still have to move forward in the seat to reach it. Overall a great all around kayak that can handle flat water,rocky rivers and moderate size rapids.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

This is a great Kayak! Extremely stable, yet tracks and turns well. Good for 3-4 day camping trips and fishing. No problem getting it on my 4runner (yakima racks and rollers). You will be happy with this yak!

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

I do mostly river kayaking and a little in the lakes I like to fish, camp, geocache and just explore in general and this is a great boat for it. Its easier to manuever and lighter to carry than my ride 135 and you stay a lot drier, that is if you want to. If you geocache it is so much easier to get in and out of when you get to GZ. I would recomment this baby to anyone.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

I use my Tarpon mostly for fishing a creek that has lots of water too shallow to float any boat. The bottom of this stream is mostly gravel and limestone bedrock. I absolutely abuse the hull of my Tarpon on every trip and have done so many times since 2005. It looked battle-worn after the first use and I couldn't care less. It looks no worse five years later and its performance is unaffected. Unless Wilderness Systems has changed (for the worse)the plastic used to mold these boats since I got mine, I can't imagine that any kayak could be tougher that this one.

This toughness comes at a price and the price is weight. The hull of my Tarpon is tough and rigid because it is thick and, consequently, heavy. The weight is of little importance while you're on the water but loading this on top of my station wagon by myself is difficult and it was horrible when I used to drive a Suburban.

I also own an Ocean Kayak Caper which, compared to the Tarpon, is considerably more flexible (flimsy?) and I doubt it will last as long as the Tarpon. Still, it fishes well and weighs 15# less. It is hard to overstate how much easier it is to load the OK onto the top of my car. The OK has lots more interior storage: I can store 2 paddles, several 1-piece fishing rods, and 2 life jackets in it with room to spare. I can't even fit a spare paddle inside my Tarpon. I hope Wilderness Systems has made some changes in the redesigns since 2005 which remedy this shortcoming.

I have to say that the hard plastic seat gives me plenty of back support but becomes miserably painful to my back-side after a few hours. Be careful adding cushioning because raising your center of gravity a few inches can impact stability.

Several other people from my 75 pound daughter to friends pushing 300 pounds have paddled both my kayaks and all of them found them stable and easy to use. Some prefer the Tarpon for its sturdy yet maneuverable feel. I slightly prefer the OK for its light weight and storage. I love both my kayaks and I don't think anybody would ever regret buying a Tarpon.

A comment for fishermen: my Tarpon did not come outfitted for fishing. I added a milk crate for storage behind the seat and a rod holder mounted between my knees as recommended in fishing magazines and on websites. These alterations were a waste of my time and money. The best use of the rear tank well for a stream fisherman is holding a cooler and a dry bag. I removed the rod holder which was in my way more than it was in use. I keep a small tackle box or two and a rod or two within easy reach between my legs on the bottom of the boat. I don't need any electronics, a rudder, or an anchor. Keep your boat's deck from getting too cluttered and you will be able to quickly stop and get out to wade or bank fish the best spots.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

I haven't had a chance to go out much with it so far, but I'll gladly take it anyplace I have the nerve to go! It rides and steers well, if comfortable, and carries everything I need. It's a little wide but I'm getting used to it with the paddle. People have been amazed at how dry I stay even with modest white caps.

Service and delivery comments:

I had the product shipped to store and it came in ahead of schedule. I had an email notification with a USPS tracking number which didn't work and struck me as odd to imagine a mail carrier delivering a 12 foot kayak. Customer service informed me that it was being delivered by truck and was able to give me a better estimate on the delivery date.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

We bought this kayak this summer at the recommendation of the salesperson because we had never heard of a sit on top. I am older, not athletic and have a slight disability which makes getting out of a standard kayak increasingly difficult, but this made my trips pleasurable. We have to portage some on every trip we take and it was easy to get in, get out and carry. Very stable, scooted through shallow swamps and over sand bars easily. My nephew just returned from sea kayaking on NOLS Alaska and was skeptical at first, but really liked it after taking it out and putting it through it's paces. I will buy another next summer for the rest of the family to use.

Comments about Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2011/2012:

The Tarpon 120 is my third and best kayak. I bought from REI after renting one from their local store. Mainly used for fishing, I have equipped it with Scotty and RAM mounts for a variety of rod holders, camera, GPS, night navigation light, etc... Installed a fish finder, very easy due to three access points to the inside of hull. Makes a very comfortable platform for long hours of fishing. Great for overnite camping, holds lots of stuff, the inside of the hull stays absolutely dry. I can store my rod and reels inside the hull via the large hatch in the bow. My 45lb Dog rides comfortably sitting in the large rear compartment. Tracks and paddles great fully loaded or not. I have taken it on rivers and it can really take a pounding on the rocks, also handles saltwater swells as well. Stable, but still sleak enough to be a swift paddler. Only minor complaint is the flexible handles can pinch the fingers when loading/unloading the kayak into the truck. Definitely recommend this kayak, especially for fishing enthusiasts.