spider's T160

we have now tested the airey t160 in freshwater anyways. rigged very similar to team spiders.

the boat knifes through the water like the queen mary. the quickdraw holders behind the seat are fantastic for two trolling rods.

however nothing is perfect.

when we had a small human unit in the rear hatch operating the trolling gear, it didn't bother us to not have a tankwell, cause the hatch provided storage for the small human unit, but when operating the boat on our own, the lack of a convenient place to put our net/gaff and other gear was noticed. We have about 5 ghetto rod holders in a cooler strapped into the Scupper Pro Tank Well and there is never a gaff, net, rod or other thing that doesn't have a place on that boat.

also one really kind of sits on a t-160, not in it like a Scupper Pro TW. In rough seas this could be less comforting. It's going to be hard to beat the scupper pro TW for rockfishing in rougher waters I have to say.  but it is nice to not sit in a puddle while paddling. of course I was using waders for the first time, that might have had something to do with the dry feeling.

as for the pool noodles, that is a lot of noodles! you might consider those blocks of mini-cell foam sold by NRS, you could shape cup holders into them. thornely suggested these and I got two and used one for some seats which seems to have worked well, copying him on that use too.

John

we have now tested the airey t160 in freshwater anyways. rigged very similar to team spiders.

the boat knifes through the water like the queen mary. the quickdraw holders behind the seat are fantastic for two trolling rods.

however nothing is perfect.

when we had a small human unit in the rear hatch operating the trolling gear, it didn't bother us to not have a tankwell, cause the hatch provided storage for the small human unit, but when operating the boat on our own, the lack of a convenient place to put our net/gaff and other gear was noticed. We have about 5 ghetto rod holders in a cooler strapped into the Scupper Pro Tank Well and there is never a gaff, net, rod or other thing that doesn't have a place on that boat.

also one really kind of sits on a t-160, not in it like a Scupper Pro TW. In rough seas this could be less comforting. It's going to be hard to beat the scupper pro TW for rockfishing in rougher waters I have to say.  but it is nice to not sit in a puddle while paddling. of course I was using waders for the first time, that might have had something to do with the dry feeling.

as for the pool noodles, that is a lot of noodles! you might consider those blocks of mini-cell foam sold by NRS, you could shape cup holders into them. thornely suggested these and I got two and used one for some seats which seams to have worked well, copying him on that use too.

John

I've had my Tarpon 160 for a couple of years now. Definitely a rocket. In my experience, it doesn't handle rough seas like my Prowler 15, especially when standing still. There have been times when I could have been tossed off the boat, even though the boat itself wouldn't have overturned. I actually had to hold onto the boat with my hands in some choppy stuff a mile offshore. Since then, I have deployed knee braces for the rough days. They make up for the "sit-on" feeling of the T160 by keeping you attached to the boat. I know they can get in the way if you're not using them, so they can be stowed if not needed.

John
Nice job turning a legendary speedster into a kayak for the soccer mom. Great Idea.
Thanks for the mini cell tip. We are thinking of going that route when we waterproof the T140.
Got a box of old hipkit chunks that arent doing anything. Can I see pictures of the minicell carved seats? Thornely?
I found the picture I nabbed from some post here of the swamping test done by "longblades".


Ganoderma
The T160 does require additional awareness. Has kind of a odd CoG but the body will adapt.
We are going to get reaquainted this weekend.
Id like to see some pictures of the knee braces you are using.
Im a big believer in leg straps and ill be using them on this boat unless paddling flat water and not chasing boils, but id like to see an alternative.

Ganoderma
The T160 does require additional awareness. Has kind of a odd CoG but the body will adapt.
We are going to get reaquainted this weekend.
Id like to see some pictures of the knee braces you are using.
Im a big believer in leg straps and ill be using them on this boat unless paddling flat water and not chasing boils, but id like to see an alternative.

I don't actually find the T160 to be tippy or unstable. In normal conditions, even 10 foot swells, it's quite stable. What I was describing was actually being lifted off the kayak by choppy breaking waves. It has only happened twice, but my butt literally left the seat, and I'm no lightweight. I probably shouldn't have been out in those conditions, but with knee braces, it wouldn't have happened.

Can I see pictures of the minicell carved seats? Thornely?

Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pictures of the mincell seat that I carved out for my (now Mr. Airey's) Scupper Pro. But it wasn't rocket science. I picked up a suitably sized piece of 2" minicell, made a cardboard template, and away I went. I attached it semi permanently using some spray on contact cement.  While I did lose a bit of stability in going this route, it wasn't too bad. It kept my butt out of the water a bit more, and the higher position felt like it made my forward stroke more effective (ala surfskis)

Scott

Can I see pictures of the minicell carved seats? Thornely?

Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pictures of the mincell seat that I carved out for my (now Mr. Airey's) Scupper Pro. But it wasn't rocket science. I picked up a suitably sized piece of 2" minicell, made a cardboard template, and away I went. I attached it semi permanently using some spray on contact cement.  While I did lose a bit of stability in going this route, it wasn't too bad. It kept my butt out of the water a bit more, and the higher position felt like it made my forward stroke more effective (ala surfskis)

Scott

When I saw scott's original, I knew that was the way to go for me. Personally I don't really like the high back seats. They get in the way for me. I find I handle the rougher seas by swivelling the hips so the boat moves around a bit but the head stays more stationary. like riding a bucking bronco I imagine. you can't do this as well with your back up against a seat. also, you'll want to get to that back hatch.

but having important nerves go numb is not good either, and if you've seen a modern bicycle seat, it does not take a rocket scientist to realize the t160 hump in the seat area is not a good idea.

I use a back strap and hot pad seat in my yellow scupper pro, and that works well for me, but I don't like that hump on the t160, and the hot pad will not make it go away.

I eyeballed the seat area, cut a rectangular 1.5" thick slab from a 1' x 2' x 3" minicell slab from NRS with an old filet knife. then I carved out a channel to counteract the hump in the middle of the t160 seat that could play havoc with one's important nerves. then kind of rounded off the rest. then I ran a big ziptie through the edge of the minicell on each side and chained it to the stock t160 seat back straps on the sides. velcro might be good here, but mine stayed in place with plain old weight and friction.

basically carve, sit, carve, sit, carve, sit, carve, sit was the approach taken.

the flat uncarved side faces up. the carved side faces down. There is actually a slight depression in the center instead of a hump now. I'm sure you can do something prettier.

This was the one mcGyver-ism I allowed on this boat. my yellow scupper pro is all mcGyver except for the sonar unit which is installed well.

I'm too embarrassed to take a picture. I'm sure you can come up with something better.

The key is that you can essentially whittle the minicell into any shape you like. just order a few blocks and take out the fillet knife. if there's any spare you can use it for flotation.

When I was done I was happy enough that I made another for the grey scupper pro I got from thornely.

J

Wilderness Systems must have changed the seat when they designed the T160i.  It is pretty comfortable. No groove in the middle. Some Eddyline boats have that same feature in the seats. I don't know what they were thinking.

I'll drag this topic back up, due to some new work on outfitting my T160. Specifically the "sit on" vs "sit in" aspect.

As others note, you really aren't as solidly located in the T160 as you are in the somewhat sportier (deck, not hull) Scupper Pro. To alleviate this, I've gone to a simple OK back band type seat, and installed thigh braces. To say that I'm now well in control of the boat is perhaps a bit of an understatement, in that my first two of five attempts to Eskimo roll the boat were successful. During later attempts, I kept sliding out of the boat, most likely due to the nylon straps getting looser and "stretchier" as they became well wetted. I'm immensely disappointed in the quality of the AIRE thigh straps, and am looking for a better alternative.  The rolls were attempted in surf zone configuration, minus fishing rods. So a tackle box, the Fish Finder and 7 lb SLA battery were stowed below decks, and the RAM rod holders in the rear were flipped all the way down to the rear hatch.

My boat came with a neoprene butt pad of some sort, so I haven't fiddled with any supplemental padding. But from the time I've spent in it so far, I doubt that I'll need any additional work in this area...

My plan for tackle access is to stow a Pelican 1200 or 1300 box below decks for surf entry/exit, then either bungie it to the hatch when fishing, or leash it and let it float next to the boat. I've been using the most foreward of the three rear hatch straps to hold a 3600 or 3700 size Plano box while out bass fishing, and it stays put nicely.

Yes, I know. I'll get pix posted one of these days

Regards,
Scott

The thigh straps that I use on my T160i have a built-in bungee. They also can be adjusted for length. It makes them more comfortable, but I don't  know if you would like them any better than the ones you are using.

Are you using these Surf to Summit units?

Are you using these Surf to Summit units?

Yeah, those are the ones I use. I have found that they fit best when the foot pegs are closer to your body, so your knees are more bent. They definitely make me feel more secure in rough seas.

Today I took the "orange crush" out for its last glide under my command.
No fishing gear, just the pure enjoyment of paddling this legendary speedster on glassy water, and I let it ALL out. Ill definately be feeling it for a few days but it was well worth it.

Im selling it to make room in the lair for the arrival of another T160 but "O.C." will be staying in the NCKA family and is going to someone more than worthy.  The boat will suit their needs better than mine and it will see many more adventures.
Not for begginers but it is the sweetest glide of any of the SOTs (that can be used as a fishing platform) that Ive paddled and I have no doubt the fastest.
It will be missed.

i was the guy who originally looked at that boat up in fountaingrove. when i saw it didnt have the tank-well, i didnt buy it. i am a firm believer in the tank-well.

The guy that bought it is a freediver...they prefer the 2 hatch so he is happy.  It will have a full life killing fish if Justin is on it, he is a STUD.

The guy that bought it is a freediver...they prefer the 2 hatch so he is happy.  It will have a full life killing fish if Justin is on it, he is a STUD.

Freedivers LOVE the double hatch. You will see a lot of veteran freedivers still using the old Scupper Pros for that very reason.
I prefer to have a tank well.