Video · Kayak Reviews
Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128: First Look at the ICAST Best Boat
I unbox the final version of the Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128, rig it with my own motors, and take it on its first fishing trip.
What’s in this video
The Tactical Pro won best of category at ICAST 2024 as a prototype. This is the final version, delivered by semi truck, and I forgot how big it is. The olive drab looks sick. The seat parts fit in the front hatch, which is offset, and the bow has a semi catamaran hull. It’s pre-plumbed with a breaker so your battery and trolling motor just connect. There’s stern access for something like a Newport NK300, flat spots for more mounts, and molded-in grab handles. It also drained water off the deck well even sitting bow down on the trailer.
First I put on the EVA deck foam. It’s pre-cut peel and stick, so just clean the surface. It keeps things quiet if you drop a rod or cooler. The front base plate is meant for a bow mount motor, but I prefer my AutoBoat system, so I bolted a transom plate to it. There’s a backing plate inside the hull that spreads the load. I rigged an uphaul and downhaul with a lever and a T-handle so I can lift the motor out of the water from the seat.
Then we went to meet my buddy Shawn (Red Dog) to chase sharks. Launching was quicker than with most of my kayaks, and the plug connector worked the first time. I ran my NT300 on the back with a tiller while sitting on the cooler, with AutoBoat up front. It is so stable. I can walk all over it and rock it without feeling like I’ll fall. The deep catamaran bow lets the motor turn sharp without tipping you. It’s the easiest kayak to rig I’ve used.
Key moments
- 0:00 Unboxing the kayak
- 1:21 Kayak features tour
- 3:01 Installing deck foam
- 3:44 Motor mount setup
- 6:17 Launching on the water
- 9:57 Kayak fishing trip
- 12:35 Catching a shark
- 14:56 Trip recap
Quick takeaways
- The pre-cut EVA deck foam is peel and stick. Clean the surface first.
- You can bolt a transom plate to the bow base plate if you prefer a clamp-on motor over a bow mount.
- A backing plate inside the hull spreads the load from the front motor mount.
- The catamaran bow keeps it stable during sharp motor turns and when standing.
VoyaX Mossa 97: First Look at the Short, Wide GPS Pedal Kayak
Crescent Crescraft First Look: A Fishing Skiff That Doubles as a Kayak
Kaku Zulu Review: A Big Guy Fishing Kayak with a GPS Motor