[KFM] New Offshore Kayak From Wilderness Systems

Those who know my primary boat already know my 2 cents. 

18' long, 24.5" wide, rod holders, FF, back deck for net and fish storage, 400 lb capacity with lots of dry storage for extended trips. Surfs great, super efficient and still around 60 pounds. I'll bet one day there will be something like this on the market, maybe in a SOT version or partially covered cockpit. Until then I get all those offshore trips to myself.

Agree with most of this except the very last part.  The fact that Mirage driven boats, even at double the cost, are taking away butts that would otherwise be in paddle boats, means they are in fact, competition.  An interesting question ... could one build a paddle kayak at the cost of a Hobie Mirage kayak and compete with it?  What would it look like?

-Allen

I think your answer might come in the form of the Kazkasi DoDo's.
Not knowing squat about them, would the RTM Abaco fit this too?

Which reminds me, What does Wilderness plan on naming this thingy?

Agree with most of this except the very last part.  The fact that Mirage driven boats, even at double the cost, are taking away butts that would otherwise be in paddle boats, means they are in fact, competition.  An interesting question ... could one build a paddle kayak at the cost of a Hobie Mirage kayak and compete with it?  What would it look like?

-Allen

I think your answer might come in the form of the Kazkasi DoDo's.
Not knowing squat about them, would the RTM Abaco fit this too?

Which reminds me, What does Wilderness plan on naming this thingy?

Yeah, along the lines of what I'm thinking.  A nice fiberglass/composite yak.  Stealth has a container full of their stuff coming to the USA in Feb.
RTM Abaco does NOT fit this.
No name on the new Wildy.  No other details at this time.  But stay tuned.   

-Allen

Stealth has a container full of their stuff coming to the USA in Feb.
-Allen

I saw this posted on the other forum. Have you ever paddled them? Thoughts on how they'd fit with our NW conditions?

Stealth has a container full of their stuff coming to the USA in Feb.
-Allen

I saw this posted on the other forum. Have you ever paddled them? Thoughts on how they'd fit with our NW conditions?

I test paddled a Pro Fisha 575 for about 10 minutes down in Panama.  The guy that was on it for the week, didn't want to give it up for a day.     It's a really fast kayak, that I think will do well, but it will be expensive, and they don't have a whole lot of them coming in.  The cockpit is short on the 575, but they came out with the 525 for longer legged paddlers.  I can't wait to get some butt time in on the 525.  But I can't wait to get some butt time in on the new WS kayak as well.  I love the concept of a big water kayak, but the devil will be in the details.

-Allen