Tarpon 140
May 11, 2007 22:02:17 GMT -1
Post by stargaizer on May 11, 2007 22:02:17 GMT -1
Sorry about the size of the picture, i've been racking my brains trying to downsize with no success.
I have now had my boat for a few months and feel i know enough about it to give a good reveiw although it must be said a reveiw with no experience of being on any other kayak to compare against.
Day 1, and i couldn't beleive how unstable the thing was. I was at a local pond in quite windy weather and i was off it as much as i was on it. I managed out another couple of times in calm weather before heading down south to the Easter weekend with the lads, a bit more confident and thinking that my first days experience criticism on it was a bit unfair as the waves on a pond in those conditions would put any beginner off any boat.
Day 5' the second day of the Easter weekend and i couldn't have been more confident on it. Although much to the anoiance of Hatter ( Kev ) i found the speed boats and the odd cabin cruiser going past not 50ft from us a good indication of what the boat could handle in a big swell. No problem at all, the 2 to 3ft high waves just rolled right underneath. I have since been out in really choppy conditions ( no fishing gear ) to push it a bit and still havn't came off.
Comfort, 10/10. I'm 6ft 17st and it fits like a glove. I have a very dodgy back and the stiff back rest can be adjusted to give me a sitting position that i can sit in all day. I like the flat area in front of the seating position which gives me the choice to put what i want there although what goes there must be waterproof as there is constantly water in the whole area. Some might say that you can put scupper bungs in to solve this but i would disagree. When heading into any wave at all the hull cuts through them with a lot of water coming over and in short, if you are looking for a dry boat then you are looking at the wrong one with this. Reading any reveiw on this boat before i spent, i new this was the case and didn't have a problem with it and still don't.
Speed, the boat is flying machine and i would be willing to give anybody a race. Just keep your distance from my side as i will be liable to broadside you, it doesn't track well. When going at any kind of speed i am constantly correcting my stroke which has got to be the boats biggest annoyance. It's not one sidded paddling, more just wider stroking but an annoyance all the same. Like before, reading any reveiw before i spent, i knew this and being the kind of gadget guy that i am, i'm surprised i didn't buy the rudder to begin with. Not a neccessity as much as a luxury but will get one sooner or later. With that in mind knowing that with most boats there is a trade off with speed and manouverability, the Tarpon 140 manouvers very well form a stand still and has got me thinking maybe i will have my cake as well as the eating once i get the rudder.
Can't see where there would be any argument on the boats finnish, fittings or overall looks. One thing i did notice when down at Angelsey was how tough Zebra's boat ( x Factor ) was in comparsin to mine. His looked to be indestructabe where the plastic on mine seemmed quite the opposite. Ok if you watch what your doing but a difference to be noted. In fact, the Tarpon 140 that i had a sit on at Brookbanks in Perth wasn't as sturdy as the one that i eventually bought?
?Overall, i wouldn't have any other boat.
