Pulling the trigger

Hard to say anything about a 1st production model until it has been tested.
I looked at the kayak on the internet and there were a few things I didn't like. I do not like the rubber hatches. Never have, never will. I didn't like the fact that I cannot see the hull of the boat on any of the ads. How is the secondary stability?
I didn't like the rear handle attached starboard to port instead of bow to stern. Seems it would make for some awkward carrying.
At 31'' wide it seems it would be a bit sluggish to paddle.
I did like the layout of the deck.
I would like to hear from someone who had paddled this kayak.

I do own one and have been very happy with it, I have the 12' it paddles quite easy and track good, I was told the 14' tracks better then the 12'. My wife an I went to San Pablo when I got my kayak we rented a Hobie for her, she was having trouble keeping up so we swapped boat an it was like a night and day differences, that's  all I have to compair it with. I have taken some waves over the bow and not a drop in side the storage area so the rubber hatch goes work very well. as far as comfort goes I have spent 9 hours one day and 7 the next day with no problems with the seat comfort and I am not that young. Leg room my son is 6'2 and has plenty of room with more to spar. I know there will be something that some one wont like about the boat but is there a boat out there that is perfect, I wish there was.

Pat R

I had a Manta ray 14 for about a month for the purpose of doing a review. it will be in an upcoming issue of paddler.

Not to give the review away but what did you think about it over all.

Pat R

Hi Bluekayak,

All I can say about the T160 is that I love it.  It's quick, relatively stable, and very roomy for my 6-6 frame.  I wish I weighed about 200 instead of 245... it'd be a little easier, not sitting quite so low in the water, to keep the thing above 5.5 mph... finally GPS'd it this weekend... WOW!

I'm a natural born stower

Me too.  I never intended to keep anything above decks through the surf... the rear hatch makes mucho sense.  I ended up going with RAM Mount hardware for the electronics and rod holders... mounted two balls up front in the recessed part of the foot wells (totally out of the way), and two balls (for Ram Tubes) right behind the seat (those aren't 100% out of the way, but I figured the seat strap was there anyway).  Everything comes off or gets installed quick, fast, and in a hurry.

having the aft hatch open and loading stuff in behind you in rough water gets dicey, you have to do things fast Or you can spin around and straddle

I haven't gotten comfortable NOT spinning around and straddling the yak to access the rear hatch.  Will this be a dangerous practice out on the big blue? (Newb)

I've loaded big fish front and back

Soon... very soon...

Backslider

I didn't immediately discover any glaring defects or deficiencies... duh, probably wouldn't have bought the thing.  I will say that I'm not terribly blown away with the construction of the foot brace assembly.  It's kind of crappy plastic that looks like it'll break the first time I get it in rough water (I'm sure I'm being too harsh).  I work with a couple of guys that are aluminum wizards... probably have them whip out an improved version. Backslider

I have a WS Tempest 170 SIK. The very first time that I practiced surf landings, I snapped off one of the foot pedals. I haven't done surf landings since then, so I don't know if it was a fluke or not. I weigh around 180.

I love my Tarpon 160 with two hatches.  The tank well is good but that makes you top heavy.  I have had one guy wanting to know if I would sell mine.  He ride a OK Prowler 15.  I hate the molded foot wells on the Prowler and the Prowler is slower because of the shape of the bow.  The extra foot does does seem like much.  But, when you get into 7 to 9 foot seas you notice it.  Been out in 9 to 11 footers and just paddle home and cried under my pillow.

Also noticed the Prowler flexes more.  I think the Tarpon has more plastic in the right places.

Ken kickfish