Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Sea Kayak with TruTrak Skeg

I'm 5'4", 120 lbs, female - thought maybe the boat was too large volume for me. I had been paddling a Betsie Bay Valkyrie, and wanted a larger touring boat. I did a round Manhattan paddle, and found myself in a tricky situation with an 8 foot backwash from a ferry that sent a friend into a bunch of pilings and a very life-threatening situation. Meanwhile the boat handled like a dream and sat up on those 8 foot wakes like it was parked on a concrete pier. Hmmm - I started to like the boat. The following summer I paddled it from Albany to the Battery and found myself out in front of the crowd most of the time. Bottom line? It's the best boat I've ever paddled - handles like a dream, and rock solid. Comfy as hell, too. The front and rear hatches leak a couple of teaspoons on a 6 hour paddle - the compass and the skeg are at fault, I'm sure, cause the day hatch is dry as a bone. But that's what the dry bags are for, and I can live with a few ounces of water...I LOVE THIS BOAT!

My wife and I have owned a Wilderness Systems RM Tempest for about one year now. It gets used about 4 times a week for about 1 hour workouts. I am 6'3", 195 and find the boat an excellent fit. Overall I find the boat excellent. With the skeg down either partially or fully the boat tracks great. With the skeg up it likes to weather vane in winds over 15 knots. But again when you need just put down the skeg or a little lean and sweep will work also. The boat definetely makes you perfect you strokes. If you are not equal with both left and right strokes it will not track well. That is probably because it is made to be a turny boat. No complaints. I learned to roll in this boat and it seems real easy. I haven't rolled any others so I can't say how easy it is compared to others. But I did learn on this on so... I noticed in other reviews that people had problems with the hatches leaking. I notice that as long as you hear the little thunk as the hatch goes on it works fine. I also burp the hatch like you do with tupperware containers. I'm not sure if that's what's been doing it but I know that after about 12-15 rolls the foreward and rear hatches are bone dry. The only hatch I've noticed that leaks at all is the day hatch, it usually has about one half cup of water in it after a rolling session. But this could be because my spray skirt leaks like a seive and there is constant water in the cockpit. So maybe some of that water is leaking through the bulkhead. Overall I really love the boat the only reasone I gave it a 9 out of 10 rating is the day hatch leak.

My wife and I purchased Poly Tempests in 2004 (I have the 170). I am 6'1" and 180 lbs. In the last year we've had the boats out close to 50 times in everything from flat water to 2-3' waves and up to 20-25 mph winds. The boats are stable, handle waves well, turn easily, are easy to roll, and are well equipped. I do notice that my 170 does weathercock a bit in a wind, but that's easily compensated for by using the skeg. We've had no problems with water getting the hatches, even after 20-30 rolls. You just need to make sure that the hatches are properly secured. We can easily carry enough gear for a week long trip. The Tempest is reasonable fast, and we've never been the boat anchor on any of our trips with friends. On the whole, we are very happy with the boats and I would recommend them to anyone. I didn't give the Tempest 170 a 10 because I've been in boats that don't weathercock as much, weigh less, and I don't believe in perfect boats.

I have a Tempest 170 which I have been using for over 1 year and have absolutely no complaints. It tracks beautifully, is very responsive to leaned turns, rolls easily, and the compartments are always dry whether rolling or in rough water. I have been in heavy seas and very confused water and the boat handles both extremely well. I had it fully packed this summer with over a weeks worth of camping gear, clothing, water & food and the water was 1" below the shear line and it responded like it does when it's empty. And the seat allows me to stay in the boat for hours without any sort of numbing or aching problems. Definitely try one before buying any other.

I've owned my Tempest 170 for about a year now and it is the best boat I've owned yet. And I've had some nice boats. It's extremely comfortable (snug in the right places and roomy in the right places). It doesn't leak, the skeg doesn't rattle, and it tracks like an arrow. It's fast and it looks great. I love the skeg, but only use it in heavy weather. It's what I've been looking for in a touring boat.