Video · Kayak Reviews
Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128: Motor-Ready Kayak at ICAST
At ICAST 2024 I go over the Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128, a dual pontoon fishing kayak built around a bow mount motor, with their design team.
What’s in this video
At ICAST on the water I got the lowdown on the Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128 while Alex ran it on a bow mount motor. I’m 6’2 and a little over 200 lb, and this kayak is a beast. The new hull has dual pontoons, kind of like a catamaran. Most powered kayaks have a V hull and roll on the keel line when you turn. This one stays flat through tight turns.
The bow motor stows off to the side, so it doesn’t block your interior space or your fish finder. The specs they gave me: 12 ft 8 in long, 158 lb, and 600 lb capacity. There’s an AirPro ACES 360 swivel seat, about 18 ft of track including two 64 in rails, a Commander bar that holds two 12 in graphs, a retractable skeg so the stern doesn’t swing on straight runs, and a stern hatch that takes a 100 amp hour battery. Wiring and the motor lift handles come pre-run from the factory.
Standing on it looked locked in, and you can stand on the hatches to cast from up high. This was prototype version two ahead of an early 2025 release, and the price they quoted was $2,199 at the time. With the shipping cost alone on a boat this big, that’s a good value. Let’s be honest, I’m probably not going to paddle it, but it’s good to know it can be paddled.
Key moments
Quick takeaways
- The dual pontoon hull keeps the kayak flat in turns instead of rolling on the keel line like a V hull.
- The bow motor stows off to the side, so it stays clear of your fish finder and interior storage.
- A retractable skeg keeps the stern from swinging on straight runs; pull it up to spin around docks.
- Specs given: 12 ft 8 in, 158 lb, 600 lb capacity, about 18 ft of track and room for a 100 amp hour battery.
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