The best Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 Specs Length: 12'2" / 3.7 m Width: 29" / 74 cm Weight: 49 lbs / 22 kg Capacity: 325 lbs / 147 kg MSRP: $1,099 USD / $1,399 CAD Market and demographics The Wilderness Systems Pungo series really are do-it-all recreational kayaks. If you can, always test paddle before buying any boat. I've had it on Lake Superior and been completely comfortable. Great things come in a small package, this easy-to-manage kayak for smaller paddlers is packed with performance that's ideal for both fledgling and advanced users. Everyone in the family loved using the boat on our recent camping trip on a mountain lake. Turning is improved with leaning. We have only used them on small lakes so far, but might try them on a slow river sometime. Almost identical hull, just a molded-in console in the front and a stripped down seat. Florida bay to tour the mangroves or go out to watch dolphins and sunsets. Absolutely not, but if fishing is the main goal, youll want to look towards a serious fishing kayak. Also, I use a cart to transport it to a nearby creek, about 5 blocks from my house. We pile them on to our car (2003 Hyundai Elantra) using a Yakima rack and two sets of Yakima Hull Raisers. Wilderness Systems has created the Pungo Series of sit in kayaks to serve the discerning recreational kayak buyer. Pungo 125 . Great kayak for anyone My 12 year old son had no problems during a 12 mile paddle in North Carolina. I highly recommend this for anyone. This sit-inside design best suits the beginner to intermediate paddler who enjoys a variety of paddling situations. Perhaps not surprisingly, given its length, width and hull design, the Pungo just did not seem to be the boat for the more challenging conditions. Read reviews for the Pungo 100 by Wilderness Systems as submitted by your fellow paddlers. The DAgger floats smooth and straight plus, has a lot of room for my gear. Ample storage capacity, yet light enough to handle with ease. The best-selling Pungo features an impressive balance of manageablity, stablity, speed, and comfort. However, it still has the stability and room of a recreational boat. I'm female, 5'4, 120lbs and often go on solo trips, so I needed a boat I could load onto my car and portage by myself. Full review, Terrific overall kayak. I went out on a flatwater creek and a small lake. Initial and secondary stability was excellent. It also moves very smoothly through the water with little resistance even at faster speeds but in small water areas, it doesnt perform that well. how insulting. Choose Wilderness Systems if youre ready to invest in a more refined touring, recreational or fishingkayak. The biggest drawback is the weight. The Pungo 105 is slower and carries slightly less weight, but is lighter and more maneuverable. I've got more background with canoeing. My first kayak purchase was a Wilderness Pungo 100. You can remove the Pungo's "kayak konsole" - its just held on with bungies around the cockpit rim. Decent balance in width. Absolutely love my line green Pungo 100. First day out the wind was calm and the water flat. We weren't looking to hop into white-water right away, and live right next to a lake, with slow-moving rivers and creeks throughout the area. I've been a canoer my entire life but decided that my big 15' canoe was a bit too heavy for me to man-handle alone so I sold it and bought the 12' Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 kayak which weighs about 49 pounds (30 pounds less than my old canoe). I live on a lake and take out one of the Pamlicos many times a week. Do you think the 2011 or 2012 Dirigo will ride a little higher? Coast Guard and state BUI (boating under the influence) laws apply to all vessels. I live on a lake and also have a 19 foot pontoon boat for the family but when I want to get a quick fish in I grab the Pungo. Perception Joyride is basically a stripped down pungo. Pro - Very comfortable, especially if you are paddling, floating, fishing, paddling, etc. Great family boat for a wide variety and size of user. Very comfortable. It has an ample amount of storage space that can be found underneath the seat, including dry compartments to store things like keys and wallets while kayaking. V bottom will help with tracking and speed in the wind. The Phase 3 seat is very comfortable and the quality of the kayak is better than others I looked at in this size and price range. The one I went with was the Pungo 100 because it sat nicely in the water--felt very stable and just felt right. However, lets see what you will get from this kayak-. The seating is fantastic, and my wife can even put hers on top of our van by herself if she wants to do some solo paddling. And I dont know about you, but I dont like paddle drips in my lap on anything but the hottest days. Update on my earlier review. Solid stable kayak with plenty of space to carry stuff. Definitely recommend this to anyone new to the sport that wants a stable and comfortable boat. Bought a Pungo 100 recently and took it for a weekend outing to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. The foam seat forms to your body, while the perforations ensure its quick-drying and keeps you cool on hot days. I would love to share my experience throughout this blog. I sent pix to them showing the bubble and they have ignored all my emails to resolve this. Looks like their 10-foot one is $600. The kayak also has built-in carrying handles, which make it more comfortable to carry around. A skirt is also really nice to have in the rain and in cooler weather for a bit of extra warmth. Fabulous kayak! Recreational kayak for one person, light and easy to load. My biggest criticism would be that even small wind driven waves are coming in the cockpit - a spray skirt (even the mini-skirt) is a good idea. Needless to say we bought 2 Pungos. The Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 sits right in the Goldilocks zone for a wide variety of paddlers. $879.95 (0) 0 reviews. Recommend it highly. It moves so smoothly through the water since it has a slight V Hull. The Pungo kayak has an extra storage compartment, a larger kayak seat, and a backrest that makes it more comfortable for kayakers to kayak . After months of research I chose the Pungo 100 for my first boat. The kayak is made from Tarpon 120 kayaks, which were known for their durability and stability. Bottom line, there is a lot to like about the Pungo as a first kayak, particularly if you don't mind working a bit harder, going a bit slower, and limiting your paddling to calm water. The minuses - not the world's fastest boat (but then again, I'm not looking to race anyone) and just wish it was a wee bit lighter. The bestselling Wilderness Systems Pungo series of do-it-all recreational kayaks are some of the most popular choices for paddlers who enjoy smaller lakes, meandering rivers, coastline exploration, kayak fishing or even the occasional overnight trip. Add some of these optional accessories and you can really start to customize things to make the Pungo 120 your perfect personalized ride. I was initially going to buy this one because its price was very attractive but when I tried it on the water I found that I felt like I was floating in a bubble on top of the water. This means you dont need to shed a tear every time you bump a dock or a rock, and can drag it up on craggy shores without fear of damaging the hull. I've filled it with water trying but couldn't even fall out. Wilderness Systems makes all of their kayaks at their Greenville, South Carolina factory. I have used it for paddling on flat water and slow moving streams. I do enjoy the large cock pit I have room for my self and take my dog along for a ride.if wilderness systems ever find the need to up grade I hope it is some kind of scuff proof keal cover. Personally, I find the fit to be fine (5'6", 170 lbs), and love the adjustable foot pegs, but my husband, who's about 2-3" taller than me, can't comfortably bend his legs and use the foot pegs, even at the longest extension. This popular model was introduced in 2003 and has been a touring mainstay for nearly two decades. Being a first time kayaker, I had no problems getting into the boat, stearing, or paddling. This system allows for high, low or reclined positions while providing lower back support. Otherwise, they're awesome! Majority of use has been on calm waterslakes, creeks, and streams. I demo'd a bunch of boats and took my time deciding; am very happy! This lightweight 14-ounce, water-resistant battery has one 12-volt and two USB ports to keep phones, tablets, fish finders or other electronics charged on the water. Speed - I can cruise all day at 3.5 MPH, push it hard to 4.5, then the wall is there (I weigh 170). Finding the right recreational kayak for your needs can be a daunting task with so many different designs and styles to choose from. Our first time out on the water in them was not a disappointment. Ocean Kayak produces exclusively sit-on-top boats. PUNGO 120 Pungo kayaks are designed for calm waters without much in terms of waves or currents. Wilderness Systems AirPro MAX seating system is standard on current fishing models and compatible with all of their popular Ride fishing kayaks made since 2012. One of the key strengths of Wilderness Systems kayaks is the comfort of its seating systems, tweaked and refined after years of production and feedback. I decided on a WS Pungo 100 and so far, am completely satisfied. Holds a line really well for a 10 foot boat. I have had my Pungo 100 for couple of months. I was somewhat afraid of a short boat since most of my paddling experience came as a guide using much longer boats (that I didn't have to store). The Pungo 120 kayak is 17 feet 6 inches in length, which makes its kayaking space 72 long by 20 wide. The comparison between these two kayaks is based on the features you can find in these kayaks. After months of research time and time again my search kept leading me back to the Pungo family of kayaks by Wilderness Systems. After paddling it in a bit of wind and swell, however, we decided to exchange the Pungo for another Stealth. It features a stable, predictable, and efficient performance in both calm and rough conditions. Have a Kestrel 120 OTC, Dirigo 106, Pungo 120. My criteria were 1) had to fit in my small apartment, 2) be a reasonable paddle for my size 6 ft 200 lbs, and 3)be roomy enough to fish with. It is also one of the most comfortable of the kayaks we tested, making it fun for paddlers of all ages and abilities. fishing kayak, serving a broad spectrum of paddlers but sharing the common themes of quality and user-informed design. This most popular Pungo in the family strikes the perfect balance of size and manageability. Believe it or not, most damage to a boat happens while the kayak is simply sitting on the rack (if it hasnt been properly stored). Here are answers to some of the most common online questions about Wilderness Systems kayaks. At outdoor retail chains like MEC and REI, Wilderness Systems kayaks are a mainstay on the sales floor. I had never sat in a kayak before and I was a little nervous about how different it might be from my canoeing experience. The Phase 3 seat, however, is very comfortable. It's fantastic where these boats will fit in to. The redesigned Pungo 100 tracks straight, turns great and generally responds very well. The kayak is not suitable for paddlers over 210 pounds. The reason why the Pungo kayak is more expensive lies in the additional features that it has. But I had a defect in the keel (a slight bubble) and it cracked and cause a large hole in the keel. We use it on a S.W. I fish and do photographer from it and have no complaints. But the seat is highly customizable, so you might want to spend a little time on dry land getting that dialed in before you take it out on the water. This is an incredibly durable and tough material, but its still important to look over a plastic kayak for wear or damage. While the Pungo 105 is also good for fishing, it does not have many accessories such as rod holders and extra storage. I feel I made a good choice for a first boat and find it great for practicing my strokes and gaining experience. Plenty of room in the cockpit I'm going to try to put my 70lb labrador in with me and see how it goes. Read a detailed review of the Tempest 165 here. When I took it out on the water the first time it was instant love. The brochure says this but it didn't register until I took it in a shallow river with class 2+ rapids - not a good idea. I have taken out in the Puget Sound and it does just fine as long as the water is mild. I confirmed with Pelican that is had the twin arch multichine hull. Even a light wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, faster than you can swim. The kayak is also equipped with a large number of storage compartments so you can store your things in them while kayaking, including dry compartments to protect wet items from becoming damaged when kayaking in waves or rivers with strong currents. Again, this kayak comes with various features also. The Pungo delivers a dynamic on-water performance with superior stability, unmatched speed, premium comfort and intelligent outfitting. Fishing kayaks are extremely stable to accommodate anglers shifting weight and position when rigging lines, casting and catching fish. The only weakness I can detect so far is than on a river, the current can sometimes grab the rear rudder and slew the boat around if you're not careful to protect against it. My wife and I had no experience at all, and we purchased them in Fall of '04, we could stay off the water. Sit-inside kayaks from Wilderness Systems range in length from 10.5 ft all the way to 17' 10". I am very disappointed with the Pungo 100. Bigfoot aside, the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 strikes up a great balance of speed, stability, durability, comfort and affordability. Never mix alcohol and paddling. We have 5 of these kayaks and we LOVE them. Settled on two Elie Sound 100XE's at around $600 piece. Ease of Use The Dagger Axis 12 is pretty easy to get right into and use. More stable, FASTER, much more manuverable. Synthetic fabrics, or wool, are generally a better choice. The 29-inch width and voluminous chines (where the sides of the kayak meet the bottom) create confidence-inspiring stability so you can wiggle around, snap a few pics or take Fido out on the water without fear of the slightest movement sending you overboard. Wilderness Systems is a best-selling American kayak brand that has been around since 1986. Wilderness Systems sit-inside kayaks set the company apart. Pamlico sits very low in the water with any sort of load, and on the Hudson, any slight chop will end up coming in at your hips. The Tsunami is available in 12.5-, 14- and 14.5-foot lengths for day and weekend trips, and high-volume, rudder-equipped 16.5- and 17.5-foot models for extended multi-day trips. No biggie, though. The full skirt will keep you dry in the rain and under major waves - but you have a 50/50 chance of it staying on if you roll over (I have the basic nylon full skirt - too much cockpit to cover). 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