the new Ride 135

Just purchased a new Ride 135 in Mango from the yak shop here in Sac.  $800 and $100 in free gear is a deal I can live with.  I haven't had it on the water yet except for some wet-entry practice at the pool, but it feels pretty slick.

Observations so far:
This boat does not move in response to hand strokes as well as the Pungo (DUH, its wider with a tri-hull)
This boat takes allot to roll, but once at the point of no return, its FAST to flip.  It is however easy to flip from the water by grabbing the keel and twisting.
The seat is very comfortable.
Wet entry is fairly easy and only takes about 10 seconds after a few practice runs
The tankwell is HUGE and has room a big milk-crate and then some right behind the seat.
The offset rear handle was a quick favorite of my wifes.
The boat is fairly heavy but very stiff and has an extra foam block behind the seat to increase rigidity.
There is lots of room for mounting hardware and gear.
The ride is a bit higher and much dryer for a big guy like me than the tarpon 140.

Overall, I think its going to be a real fun boat and I cant wait to get it in the surf.

More info to come as I play with the new yak.

Jim

I haven't had it on the water yet except for some wet-entry practice at the pool, but it feels pretty slick.

Good for you. I wish everybody would do that either in a pool or calm shallow lake before heading out into the Ocean for the first time.

I'm not familiar with the Ride.  Is it basically a wider Tarpon?

I haven't had it on the water yet except for some wet-entry practice at the pool, but it feels pretty slick.

Good for you. I wish everybody would do that either in a pool or calm shallow lake before heading out into the Ocean for the first time.

I'm not familiar with the Ride.  Is it basically a wider Tarpon?

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/ride-135-angler

Z

I'm surprised they don't have a pic of the bottom of the hull....this is what makes the Ride stand apart from the rest.

bsteves, it doesn't feel like the tarpon at all, its way more stable for a big guy like me, its also a bit more comfortable to me...

Mooch, the bottom is a bit strange, but I like how well it tracks


first on the water review:
as a caveat, I didn't have a change to paddle it very far, only about 1/2 mile each way up some moderate current and back....

This boat is SO stable, it feels like a barge at first and I was concerned about being able to turn rapidly.  but once I started paddling, I was rather surprised, it is almost as fast as the tarpon 140.  It might even be a better boat than my Pungo (which I dearly love), as it tracks arrow straight.  but when you want to turn, it doesn't take much of a sweep and back paddle to swing it around fast.  I think that the tri-hull is shallow enough that is just skims over the water when turning or something like that.

The paddle last night was nearly effortless and it was very easy to leg anchor on an old submerged branch.  this boat s much more comfortable for me to hang my leg out of than the tarpon, as it has rounded sides.

The cockpit is huge and there was more than enough room for tackle boxes, me, bags of thawing anchovies, and a small striper.  the tankwell is also HUGE, but I think I already mentioned that.

the one thing I done like about the boat thus far is its width...its a R-PIA to get in with the straddle method, I seem to have to get in it like a low chair, which is awkward...but minor compared to the other attributes of the boat.
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Fishing related items:

I really like the bungie at the bow for quick paddle storage, its very effective.

there are 2 little groves just forward of the cockpit.  I had no idea what these were for, but a rod fits very nicely in them with the but in your lap, so you can have the rod at hand without worry of it slipping overboard...WAY COOL     Its also great when fishing bait and you want to use only one hand for rod control. it keeps the rod from bouncing all over...

the scuppers nearest the seat are big enough for a rod but, so rigging is easy with the rod pointing straight up...also good

there is lots of room for mounting rod holders and other accessories...so much that I still don't know where to put everything....


there will be more to come as I get more time on the water.

so far I am very happy with it.

here it is in the pool before practicing my wet entry 

I considered the Ride when I bought my first SOTs about 8 years ago. I paddled one from the SC harbor up around seal rock, and it was one of the worst kayaks I have paddled. Not only did it feel like a barge, but I noticed lots of wave slap under the tri-hull. The plastic felt really thin and "oil-canned" at points during my rather strenuous test trip (there was noticeable afternoon wind and wind swell). I think it was just poor conditions for the kayak and I was a bit too light to handle it well . For a larger paddler it would be easier to deal with. I needed speed and agility first and foremost so I went with the T140 . Reason #156 why test paddling is everything.
 That said, I do like WS products and I thought the Ride would be perfect for fly casting or quiet water as I could actually stand up in it in flat water. From your review it sounds like WS has made some improvements over the years, especially in their plastic. Your yak looks really good in those pics. Congratulations!

I like the bunjee cord across the bow - great idea for a paddle keeper  I did the same with my P-15 

I considered the Ride when I bought my first SOTs about 8 years ago. I paddled one from the SC harbor up around seal rock, and it was one of the worst kayaks I have paddled.

The current Ride has been extensively revised - it's really a new design. Even the tri-hull was tweaked. The all-new deck is pure Tarpon.

I didn't notice any oil-canning on the model I tested. It is a sizable boat that puts a premium on stability, but didn't feel overly sluggish.

Yeah... what I see in the picture is a completely different boat than that Ride of a few years ago.  The old "Ride" was very similar in performance to a Malibu Two... beefy but stable.

EK

The current Ride has been extensively revised - it's really a new design. Even the tri-hull was tweaked. The all-new deck is pure Tarpon.

Yeah, I did not mean any of that as a slam against WS (After testing about 15 boats last year I did buy a tarpon after all ). The Ride I paddled was one of the first generation I think ('99 or so), and they were still working out the bugs. Wilderness systems has come a long way with their products IMHO, and eclipsed other manufacturers that just didn't want to stay in the SOT market. I was fairly drooling over Bungle's prototype tarpon at bean last month.
My comments are really there to help folks who might run into a used older model.

I believe Brian G. has the older model of the Ride. I know Big J has a ride too - but I don't recall if it's the old or new model......

I have the Ride.  It is slow but stable.  It is made to stand up and sight fish from.  It is my freshwater lake yak.  The nice thing it all the room under your leggs. I would get the rudder because it helps in a strong wind.  Also, got the Tarpon 160 and the Tarpon would fly by the Ride IMO.

Ken kickfish