Does anyone paddle a Tempest? If so what do you think? Thanks Rob.

Hi Rob -

I've got a plastic Tempest 165 that I've had for a year and a half. I keep it to play with but I usually paddle a NDK Explorer. I think it's a good boat, fast and responsive with a really nice 'fit' for me - I feel very connected when I first get in it. Unfortunately that 'fit' and my sciatic problem are a bad combination - a low deck and narrow forward cockpit leave little room to squirm. To be fair I don't last all that long in any boat. My biggest grip is with the hatch covers - I ALWAYS have water in its hatches! A lot when doing rolling and rescues (it does roll quite nicely). Makes me very nervous to take it out in rough water.
Did I say it fits really nice...? I'm 5'9" and 185 so I should probably be in a T170, but my 165 doesn't sit too low in the water even with some gear aboard, so?

Anyhow, hope this helps,

Randy

Thanks Randy

Rob

I've got a fiberglass Tempest17 and I think it's a really really great boat. I don't have any trouble (so far) with the hatches (and they're the old ones). They redesigned the WS hatches, and now I've heard something about them moving to Kajaksport's. I'm not sure about the poly boats (have no experience there), but from what I've seen, the crew that makes the fiberglass boats seem to be on the ball with respect to QC.
What I really enjoy about it is the flexibility you have with positioning the thigh braces, seat angle, back band etc. My weight fluctuates some (as does what I wear paddling), so the ability to adjust the cockpit is a great thing - especially if someone else wants to paddle it. I've never found another boat out there that's as comfortable. Comfort was a big deal for me. I would hasten to point out however, that everyone will want something different in a boat, so keep in mind that picking a boat should be an idiosyncratic thing.
WS tends to get slammed pretty hard on the forums, and I'm not saying people's complaints aren't justified. Just make sure you inspect the boat prior to laying your money down. If you find a good one, I think you'll enjoy it. But don't take my word for it, try'em all and get what speaks to you.

Javabop, thanks for your imput. You are right, I should test myself. I like to hear from those that have them rather the magazines and mfg.

Rob

I found that deciding which boat to buy was worse than buying a car ! I narrowed it down between a Wilderness Systems Tempest and a Nigel Dennis Explorer. I had talked with serveral others who had some serious concerns about the quality control of the Tempest with the hatch covers and skeg leaks, being of paramount concern. On one occasion, I test drove a Tempest 170 at a dealer, opened the front hatch cover in the showroom and found 3-5 inches of water there, apparently from previous paddles.

At some point I tested a Nigel Dennis Explorer. They have limited distribution here in the US however it is a marvelous boat and I love it. If you're concerned about hatch cover leaks, go to the Nigel Dennis Kayaks web site, and there is a true story of a fellow on the East Coast. He dislocated his shoulder. In the process of the rescue he was separated from his boat which drifted off and became lost. After two years, he broke down and purchased a replacement Explorer. When he got home he got a call from police in France who had found his boat on their shoreline. The Explorer had drifted across the Atlantic, probably endured ~ four hurricanes and not a drop of water inside any of the bulkheads.

Best of luck in your decisions !!

Thanks Alan, I will have a look at the reccomended site.

Rob

The Wilderness Systems Tempest is a nice kayak. I had the opportunity to 'try' a 165 on the California/Oregon coast

In the discussion on leaking hatches I want to add the following information. Many plastic (rotomoulded) kayaks have the hatch rim 'in the mould'. The hatch rim is thus of the same material as the rest of the kayak. Shrinkage of plastic kayaks is not constant and might even differ depending on colour. Thus the rim is not allways 'exactly' the same size. Now, the hatch covers are of a 'constant' size. Thus plastic kayaks are more prone to leakage through the hatches, because of not-perfect fitting hatch covers.

I have seen plastic Tempests retrofitted with ABS hatch rims (after cutting out the plastic rim). These ABS hatch rims are then glued and bolted in place. Valley 'welds' ABS hatch rims in their plastic kayaks and those are then less prone to leakage 'out of the factory'.

I would think that the glass Tempests have no issues with leaking hatches

Axel

Thanks Axel

Rob, I've had a WS Tempest Pro 170 (kevlar) for about 2 years. I'm very happy with it. It's my second sea kayak, the one I "moved up" to after several years of paddling and considerable research. It edges, turns, and rolls very nicely, and is just plain fun to paddle. I give Wilderness Systems a "10" for the design, comfort, and handling of the Tempest. Quality control, however, was definitely an issue with Tempests a couple of years ago when I bought mine. I took the first new Tempest I bought back to the dealer the next day because it had a leak around the skeg housing. I swapped that boat (fiberglass) for the kevlar demo I have now. It's been fine, and I have no compaints. As for the hatch problems that some Tempests have had in the past, I think Axel's right: the problems have been mainly with the plastic boats, not with the composite models. I have the old hatches on my boat, and don't find them to be much of a problem. After some rolling practice, I typically will have a few drops of water in the forward compartment, none in the small mid-ship compartment, and a cup or two in the aft.

Remember, my boat is several years old: Wilderness Systems may well have fixed any hatch problems or other quality-control issues. In the meantime, I'm quite happy with my Tempest.