Tarpon 100 - wave riding capabilities

[Hjalmar Larsen]

Hi guy's

I'm keen on buying a tarpon 100, just worried about it's wave riding abilities. I often go out in fairly rough water, 2-4ft waves. How does the tarpon 100 handle? Paddling out, does it dive through the waves or can you lean back and angle it over, also when catching a wave out can you steer it with your paddle or does it take on it's own tracking direction? Just worried that the front keel will dig in and take it's own route and then flip over eventually... Also does it nose dive easily?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
Hjalmar

[Hjalmar Larsen]

any movie clips?

[DAVID]

Paddling out the TARPON 100 rides over the waves easily, i always launch in to atlantic swell and find it an excellent boat...let the seat back straps off on the way in and with surf straps fitted ( Palm) it is great fun in 2 - 4 ft waves, many a long paddle has been topped off with a surf session. easy to control with a paddle , just a big surf ski really.....lean back and the nose dive is up to you....great boat very much recommended and used whenever possible. i also have a tarpon 140 for long distance / calm sea fun and games.

[Hjalmar Larsen]

Thanks David, I'm going to buy one soon, just wanted some reviews on it...

[DAVID]

The Tarpon 100 IS BRILLIANT in rough seas, i would regularly launch in to atlantic surf off the north coast of Cornwall without any problem, just lean back and ride over the whitewater, plus great fun on the way in catching surf. have moved up to a Tarpon 140, but would really reccomend the 100 as a general all round kayak.

[Hjalmar Larsen]

Actually had a chance to try a tarpon 100 the other day. In rather smallish wave's (2-3ft) it still kept capsizing due to the keel design on the front. The keel tends to dig in, and take it's own route, you can't steer it out of it's course, usually ends up sideways to the wave which in return then flips you over.

[DAVID]

Sorry but this sounds like operator induced stuff .. mind you ive been surfing, body boarding, and surf kayaking for 40 years .... maybe im not seeing the issues...have fun, safe .. or as we say in the UK " a bad workman blames his tools " ... joke honest ... regards david
......... in reality when you end up sideways to the wave extend your paddle blade over the white water, and roll towards the wave, you will be supported by the force of the wave and you will be carried in sideways at great speed and will love the rush ... i delibratly catch waves like this and my grandson has just started the same process .. with mixed results lol .... he's 6!! ..lol but you must have surf straps.

[Hjalmar Larsen]

Look I was also born with salt in my veins, growing up in and on the water, but I'm not going to argue about who has the most and best experience or is a operator or not. All I know is from what I have seen. It might be that your weight has to do with your ability to turn the kayak, I weigh 70kg. I would imagine adding more weight would definitely give you more steering ability in waves...

[Wilson Mark Jr.]

i have a few 120's and a 140.  going out, no problem, coming in was terrible, always got turned and flipped.  couldn't do anything about it and tried.  i've had a couple cobra kayaks that rode the same waves out and in.  alot more fun to ride in and i could steer it.  as larsen said, the tarpon takes it own course, no matter what you do, and flips you over.  the only time i didn't flip, was when the wave was about 2'.

[Chris Fierro]

I used to launch, and land a Tarpon 120 in large surf, it was a lot easier than the Tarpon 160, because, you could lift bow when flying down the face. It was easier to steer too. So, I figure a Tarpon 100 would be even more wave friendly.

[Hjalmar Larsen]

Hi Chris - thanks for the input! If I may ask how much do you weigh?

[Fred Couch, Jr]

What are and where / how does one install surf straps?

[Fred Douville]

Hey Hjalmar,

 

I have a Tarpon 100 and have had it is some heavy water in large reservoirs. I have not had mine off shore. I have found that it rides well over most waves I have dealt with. I am 6' and 210 lbs plus about 40 lbs of gear. It has been great for me. Scuppers work great at self bailing. Steering is very responsive with the paddle. Again this is all in big chop reservoir water maybe up to 2 ft. Hope this helps.