Hey guys… I am picking up a gently used Tarpon 160 and am pretty stoked but I was wondering… Did wilderness used to put two hatches on them? If they did how long ago? My brother is picking it up from a guy and he said it was last years model but all the Tarpon drivers I know have the indentation in the back for like a milk crate or some thing. This has 2 “dry” hatches 1 fore and 1 aft… Anyone know if this is an older yak? He looked at it and he said it looks BRAND new. It has less scratches on it than his and he babies the carp out of his boat…
aft hatch
side view
“I’ll be your huckleberry…” --Doc Holiday
If it has two hatches then it is a 2004 model or older. The tarpon 160 was redesigned in 2005 and they changed the name to the 160i. Found this on some kayak review website
2005 Re-Design:Tarpon 160i
"Wilderness Systems has re-made the Tarpon 160. The hull shape has not changed, at least not by much. The big changes are on the deck. The two large, hard cover hatches, are gone and replaced with a tank well, with shock cords, on the stern deck and slightly smaller cargo hatch on the bow deck. Many added features are the same as the other Tarpons in the line-up. Two small hatches (one handy in the cockpit, the other behind the seat) have been added. The seatback has changed to match all Tarpons. And there is now a deck net on the bow and shock cords in the cockpit for handy storage. Also of note, the Tarpon 160i has 6 scupper holes, 4 in the cockpit and 2 in the tank well. (Corks do not seem to be included.) "
quote:
Originally posted by palmettobum
don’t do it!!
Actually, how much are you getting it for? If its a couple hundy then go for it. But definitely read the opinions of kayakfishingstuff.com about the tarpons with the hatches. Not much love for em. You can forget about milk crate, cooler, easy gear access. If you are paying close to 500, buck up the extra 100 and order a new one with the open back(639 shipped to chas.)from paddleva.com.
I am getting a pretty good deal… it’s also got the upgraded seat, cooler bag, fish finder, anchor trolleys, cart, roof rack system ( pads and such), extra scotty rod holders and a few dry bags thrown in, and to top it all off the bote is older but only used a few times. For my price range it’s perfect and it’ll also be my 2nd yak so now my daughters can go with me.
“I’ll be your huckleberry…” --Doc Holiday