Tarpon 160i

• I've had my WS Tarpon 160i for nearly 17 years. The river will claim it before I sell it and buy another. I'm still complemented on it every time I take it out. I will agree that the seat stays soggy, but after all, it's a water sport craft. It's nothing some wet gear or rain pants can't resolve. I can haul everything needed for a week long expedition. If capsized, I can roll it back over and re-mount without shoring. If WS was still making these, I might have purchased another. There is nothing better than the WS Tarpon 160i. Bring it back Wilderness Systems!

I have paddled the WS tarpon 160i for 4 years now and love it more than ever. It is comfortable for long trips and is very fast for a SOT. I tried several SINK kayaks and didn't like being confined into kayak. It is much cooler to paddle in summer as I can hang my feet in water and still be stable.

Good but not fantastic

Have enjoyed my Tarpon 160i for the past year. Lots of trips to the local lakes in the Detroit area. Great trips in Lake Erie and Lake Superior Pictured Rocks. Look forward to the 2010 season!

This past weekend I took my tarpon 160i out in the Chesapeake Bay and it handled some pretty rough conditions. The waves from large boats were coming from many directions, and the wind was blowing around 15-20 mph, yet the boat was stable in all of the confused waves. Additionally, the boat tracked REALLY well and I did not even use the rudder. My biggest concern was that cockpit would fill up with water if I opened up the drains, since I weigh 220 lbs and the boat sits pretty low. But to my surprise the boat drained out even when I took multiple waves over the side.

This is probably one of the most stable boats I have paddled. One thing that I don't like about the boat is that it is not as fast as my touring kayak. The boat is 28" wide and it is a lot slower that my sit in kayak. I really had to tug on the paddle to keep the boat moving in the rough conditions. The other thing I don't like about the boat is that it is really heavy and very difficult to put on top of the car by myself. I am 6'4" 220 lbs so typically it is not too tough to lift a kayak overhead to put on the car. But the Tarpon really gives you a workout probably because there is no good place to grab the boat to lift it overhead.

I just bought 2 Tarpon 160i's '08 model w/ Comfort Seating Systems from Sierra Trading Post for $632 each a couple of weeks ago. They were seconds but they look new to me. These are the first boats I have ever had or paddled and I love em. NO COMPLAINTS PERIOD! Finally took the plunge after reading review after review on all kinds of kayaks for 9 months.

I got to say these yaks are nice. No leaks, no shavings, no damage, no problem turning either and I am a beginner. I am 5'10" 170 and ran her without scuppers and didn't notice hardly any water at all. Track great and can't wait to put in again.

After long hesitations I decided to move from my beautiful orange Prowler 15 to an even better looking bright orange T160i. Although I've paddled this kayak before, I was concerned about it's (too) strong tracking but since talked a lot to other paddlers using this yak an repaddling it a few more times i really fell in love with it.

This is definitely not the yak a novice will feel right at home for the first time. Its turning characteristics are really poor, but I've found ways to improve them: first, leaning forward while making the turn (not only sideways). the other, using a longer than usual paddle. A low angle straight shaft of 240 cm works great for me.

This kayak works great for fishing it's faster than most out there it has more stability than the prowler 15. It's still a wet ride, not much more than the P15 but a lot more than the 'desert' Trident 15. The new '09 model is totally redone hope they only improved it not ruining whats already one of the greatest fast-fishing yaks on the planet.

I've been in the market for a fishing yak lately and as a result have been doing some pretty extensive research.
This weekend I had the opportunity to test out all of the yaks I've been considering at Florida Bay Outfitters in Key Largo, FL. They had an open demo this weekend and were allowing visitors to test out all the latest yaks on the market. I tried out the WS Tarpon 160i, the Tarpon 140 and the OK Trident.

I would have to say that the 160i was my favorite by far. The Trident was just a barge. It felt like I was riding a giant baked potato! The WS 140 was nice, but it didn't track as well as I would have liked and it lacked a little bit in the speed department. The 160i however was a dream!

I tried the 160i, both with a rudder, and without. While it still tracked well without, you can definitely notice the difference the rudder makes. There was a moderate wind and I was very close to shore and I noticed the difference so I can only imagine the difference it makes for those really windy days.

Besides for the handling, I also thought that all the WS yaks were superior in finish to all the other yaks that were there. The finish on these boats looks a lot more expensive than the boat actually is. Also, the attention to detail is just superb. I really liked the hatch lids "tupperware" style closure over other manufacturers complicated clips and straps.

It's also designed quite ergonomically. I'm not a tall guy by any stretch of the imagination and this is a long boat. However, I could easily reach everything on the boat from a seated position in the cockpit. I especially like the height adjustable seat which is new for 2008.

I also found that it felt quite stable when standing up for those that like to stand in their yaks. I'm not sure if I'd stand while fishing the gator and shark filled waters of Flamingo but that's just me ;-)

So all in all, I would have to say that I highly recommend the Tarpon 160i above the other WS Tarpons and definitely over anything produced by Ocean Kayaks.

Oh, and the only reason I didn't give it a 10 was because I wasn't crazy about how it turned. But I guess it didn't do too bad for being 16ft long.

I love this boat. It's fast, tracks well in crosswinds and following seas. The cockpit is pretty dry, although you can be sitting in a puddle all day. I feel secure in rough water. I've had it in 25 knot winds without problems. I can get back into it from deep water without a problem. It's my first kayak, but it's a keeper.

After 5 days paddling a variety of conditions on Maryland's Eastern Shore we easily rate our Tarpon 160i's a 9. They track well in any condition, and we've seen both wind and light chop the last few days. We've used them on winding creeks, large rivers and the more open waters of Chincoteaque Bay. The ease of entry and exit, the comfortable seating position and the large storage capacity if needed are all pluses. They act more like a touring kayak then ever expected. As noted in several other reviews the finish work leaves a little something to be desired.(That's the 9 instead of a 10). There are large amounts of shavings in both the compartments and one of the foot braces immediatly popped off because a screw was loose. Drain plugs underneath the seat would also be a plus. Dripped water tends to puddle there and the seat soaks it up. But they are SOT, if you dress right you'll never notice. Put the scupper plugs in the holes just in front of the seat instead of the foot well and you will collect much less water.The paddle holders are a nice touch which get very handy. We paddled a variety of sit in kayaks and had almost chosen the ones we considered appropriate for us for day trips on the rivers and protected bays. Then we tried the Tarpon 160i SOT and realized they were a solution we had never considered. With the addition of thigh straps they'll be almost perfect. My husband is 6 ft. 2 and I'm 5 ft 2 and these work great for both of us. If you want a little more freedom than a sit in side give these a try.

I have owned 2 T160; the current one is the "i" model. It is my go anywhere boat. I've paddled it in 3-4' confused waves(beat me to death, but the boat was great), mild rapids, rocky rivers, serious wind and it did very well in all conditions. I like the "i" because I can put my coler in the tankwell. The 8 is for the weight. A prince on the water, but a beast to handle off.

I got my WS T160i in June of this year. And have fished any and every kind of waters from rivers to off shore. It has met my expectations in all areas but one. That being I sit in water most of the time, no matter the conditions .6'3" 225 lb w/ less than 30 lbs of gear. Speed 10, tracking 10, stability 9, wet ride 7, lay out 10, seat 10,(I think the factory seat is great) I will add some kind of keeper to the front hatch. Came off while going out through the surf. That was the only problem I had going beyond the breakers. Oh, by the way it can be tipped over if your turned around in your seat trying take pictures to show how far out you are and you get hit by a six foot roller! But it was easy to turn over and re-enter. I am pleased w/ this yak and would say it's the best 16' SOT out there. I tried four other of the top brands, before I bought mine. Paddle as many kayaks as you can so you can make the right decision. Let's go fishing!

I purchased 2 T160i's w/o rudder plus accessories from a dealer in Myrtle Beach SC a few months ago. Our intended use is fishing and touring. My wife and I are both beginners and have found our 160's to track and turn well (glad we did not spend the extra money for the rudder), paddle easy enough even into the wind (gloves protect the hands from the handles), and to be very stable. We use our 160's on the intracoastal waterway so are subjected to some fairly large wake and at times some decent sized windblown waves but stability has not been a issue even when we do not have the time or space to turn to better handle wake. Even though we have little to compare with, we have no problem giving the T160's a 10 rating for performance. Quality control however is a different matter. The finishing work left a bit to be desired. Not knowing the technical term for the mold line running from bow to stern, I found that to be quite unfinished in places (that is not sanded smooth) on one unit and that unit still contained much manufacturing waste material (small item but for that kind of money you should be able to expect a cleaned unit). The other unit did not have the drain plug drilled or installed and some rough spots. As usually happens, we did not notice these things prior to bringing the units home. In this area I give the units a 7. I recommend a very close inspection of the unit prior to accepting delivery to save yourself some time and inconvenience. Overall I rate the 160i a 9.

I have owned my Tarpon 160i for two months and use it in my West Florida area in the coastal marshes and out in the Gulf for day-long key-hopping.

Impressions? Wow, I LOVE this kayak!! I like the new deck design because it incorporates the features, like a small hatch between my legs for my wallet, cell phone, etc. The larger fore and aft hatches are excellent for storage. The large open well for dive fins and snorkel, dive tank, etc is simply perfect for my particular needs. This deck design suits my needs.

I am not a fisherman and do not really care for the deck design criteria built into the older 160 models. Others do, of course, and more power to them.

This kayak is EXTREMELY stable in both initial and secondary areas. It is very roomy and comfortable. I did remove the factory plastic backrest because I found it uncomfortable. A Wilderness Systems accessory low seat assembly with the stock plastic seat back removed has worked much better. Not really a criticism, just my particular body build worked better with the other seat arrangement.

Paddling effort efficient and comfortable. It is reasonably fast by SIT standards. This boat seems little effected by straight-on currents, although higher winds will cause it to 'cock'. As should be obvious by its length, it is not a quick turner, but very manageable, none-the-less.

All in all, I don't think I could have purchased a better kayak for my particular needs. Believe me, I looked at a lot.

I wish it were lighter, but after drilling a 3" hole in the upper deck to fit a compass, it's obvious the hull thickness is substantial. I guess all things considered, I can live with a bit of extra weight for the security of a thick, strong hull.

No complaints here. An excellent well-made product. My thanks to Wilderness Systems for a wildly enjoyable ride! Every paddle experience with my 160i is wonderful.

To sum up, I am very pleased with this kayak and recommend the 160i with no hesitation. It is well built, performs VERY well and is nothing but a Joy to spend time on.

This is my second 160, since I paddled the I's daddy for 3 years. I took the I for the first paddle today and the features WS added are great! I parked my cooler in the tankwell and my drinks were cold for the whole 10 mile paddle.That was very good today since it was 93 when we took out and little breeze. This boat paddles just like the other - fast for a SOT , great stability. I love the paddle keepers, and the seat back is much better than the original. The foot pedals have a better foot-holding shape, and I think it has more room for my long legs. The 9 is for the weight, which has not improved. It is still a tank.

Got my new Wildy Tarpon 160i June 30 at Mountain Sports in Arlington. Mango ! It is a thing of beauty.

Spent most of Friday night, Saturday and Sunday reading articles, and making runs to Academy, Wal Mart, Home Depot, Lowes and Bass Pro getting "stuff" to rig it for fishing. The bride allowed me to do this in the living room since it was about 100 degrees outside, day and night. And did it fill up the living room!

Loaded it on the truck Sunday night, got up at 0500 July 4 and headed for Lake Grapevine to find a launch site. What a beautiful morning! North wind 10 to 15, COOL, and cloudy. Clear water. Hardly any boats about. Could not have been better.

Unloaded it by myself, attached the essentials, and launched directly into the wind, northbound. Had to use my 230 four-piece back-up paddle because my 240 Werner Camano hasn't come in yet.

What wind? She tracked and handled beautifully in light-to-moderate chop. Very responsive to the rudder. Moved head-on into the wind and slightly quartering into it with the greatest of ease. A very stable and enjoyable ride.

Paddled a half mile or so, stopped to check for leaks. There were none. The hatches fit very snugly. And adjusted the Surf to Summit "GTX Elite" seat, which is another matter of joy and pure comfort. Paddled another mile to a beach with a picnic shelter above. Got out for a breakfast snack and delighted in the sight of the mango on the beach below. It started getting darker behind me.

Got back in, and heard several booms as skies to the north turned blue- black. Wasn't ready to quit, but turned around and headed back south where I had come from. Wind kicked up to at least 40 and waves started whitecapping and thunder increased. Discretion being the better part of valor, beached again and sought shelter behind a shrub thicket as it began to rain.

The lightening and rain blew over, but not the wind. By now the waves were about 3-4' and whitecapping as the wind increased and began to gust. Decided to run for it as the wind was behind my back, and it looked like more T-boomers might be coming.

It turned out to be a fun run all the way back to the truck, waves coming from the rear. Had to use more rudder than when going into the wind. I assume the rear end was getting tossed around a little. Otherwise, the T-160i rode very nicely through crest and trough. I was impressed.

Back at the truck I learned the hard way that it is not a good idea to solo- load a 16-foot yak on a roof rack while parked perpendicular to the wind. Could not believe how much wind it caught. My major mistake of the day. A gust blew her off the roof rack and gave my truck's deck lid a major rash. But the yak seems OK.

All in all, a good learning experience in varied wind and water conditions. Love the yak. I think it was a good choice. Can't wait to hit the salt and do some fishing!

I've had my new T160i for about a month now and love this yak. It is fast, smooth and quiet, haven't found another yak that glides through the water as well. Initial stability is good, secondary is excellent. The tankwell on this is the same size as the T120 (some were expecting bigger) and the front hatch is now the same size as the T140 and T120 (wish they could have kept the bigger one as on the old 160). This is the only drawback I've found. It is a great kayak. I still give it a 10 because I haven't found any others that compare.