Wilderness System Aspire (Mods & Additions LONG) 

Awesome Najja! Great to hear you are enjoying your new kayak....Jackson makes a nice boat! Thanks for the sub & the kind words:) Big shout out to my "extended family" down in NOLA...WHO DAT! Happy paddling & float on!

Hey Angela, Thanks for taking an interest in my kayaking vids.! Sounds to me that you have been bitten by the kayak bug and honestly I can relate to your excitement. You obviously enjoy being outdoors and yakpacking is such a great way to explore and immerse yourself in nature that not having a kayak just seems silly! Absolutely do some research on the many different types of kayaks and if you can test/demo any boats that will certainly help narrow the list down to a few that would suit your needs. I researched pretty heavily before pulling the trigger on the WS Aspire. Here let me break it down this way (might be kinda long but should be quicker to analyze) SIK (sit in kayak) SOT (sit on top) more stable ( in my opinion) stable yes, but more exposed lower center of gravity easier to get in and out of usually has a water tight hatch (sealed bulkhead) some have hatches but most of your gear will be exposed to elements will accept a spray skirt most will not accept spray skirt (handy for rainy days or cold weather) warmer to paddle in colder weather most have "scupper" holes to allow drainage of water, you will get wet generally a bit lighter weight usually heavier than SIK's--dunno why allows room for drybags with gear--in the yak, not on top drybag storage will be on the top deck--awkward/ top heavy to paddle Why I like the WS Aspire: Pretty lightweight as it is...about 48 lbs. Totally sealed rear bulkhead with hatch....gear stays dry, though I still pack things in drysacks to be xtra sure. The hatch is also easily accessible from the seat...just turn around, swing open the levers, raise the lid, and reach back to grab what is needed. Comfy and adjustable seat....this is important!!! you won't want to do much paddling if the seat is uncomfortable. Especially on longer trips. The seat was the one thing that I was really picky about before purchase. The Phase 3 seat that Wilderness Systems uses is super comfy and very adjustable. Makes the whole trip (long or short) way better when your butt doesn't hurt. Retractable skeg...this was a must for me as well. I paddle flat and moving water, and the skeg makes the yak track much better in windy conditions (when dropped down) and allows for nimble steering on small rapids and moving water (when brought up into the hull) I think all kayaks should have these, they are grrrrreat! Size...I like a 10' boat for a few reasons: short enough to take on narrow winding water...(longer boats are not as nimble) I am kinda short about 5'10", so a 10' boat felt more "handleable" to me & I fit the cockpit comfortably longer yaks will allow you to bring more stuff but that weight will add up...I like the less is more theory easier to get on/off a vehicle the only drawback to a shorter boat vs. a longer one is speed & tracking...longer yaks move faster and track straighter, shorter yaks are a bit slower and want to turn at each paddle stroke (the skeg will handle the tracking part and I am generally in no hurry what so ever...but that's just me) Stability...The Aspire is very stable. The hull design promotes stability and is actually quite difficult to tip intentionally, though it can be done. The hull however, is not designed to eskimo roll like most all-out whitewater boats are. This makes it good IMHO for yakpacking, allowing stability and control with the added weight of camping gear. The Aspire is labled as a cross-over yak. Part recreational and part touring. It will handle all the flat water you can throw at it and I can attest to it's ability in class 2- low class 3 whitewater. You may get wet from splashes coming over the deck but it can handle most light to intermediate rivers with no problem---add a sprayskirt down the road, and you are good to go! I too, thought of getting a cheaper yak to get started with but then realized that cheaper yaks were in fact cheaper....poorly designed/uncomfortable seats, flimsy materials, lack of sealed bulkheads, pointless accessories, hulls that warped over time, and dog gone it, I wanted a nice yak...something I could be proud of!!! The Aspire was absolutely perfect for me, it had everything I was looking for and the quality of build to last a while. I can fish out of it, camp out of it, warm weather or cold weather, or I can just take a casual cruise down the river or a relaxing paddle out on the lake. My gear stays dry and organized, the skegs helps when the wind picks up, it is super stable, and is made by a reputable company. Sure, it cost more out of the gate, but I honestly have no need or desire at this time to even consider getting a different kayak. I feel totally satisifed with the purchase. This time of year is a good time to shop kayaks as the Fall/Winter season is approaching and most retailers will be having sales to clear their inventory before next Spring hits. Also look for demo. models or some with slight cosmetic blemishes...this can save you some $$$, but you have to shop around to find them. My Aspire in fact was a blemished model...the logo screened paint had a small smudge that I could barely see, but they took $150 off the price and threw in a bailing sponge, LOL ! The kayak itself will be the biggest overall purchase, but it is good to keep in mind the other things that go with it: PFD...personal floatation device (life jacket)...mandatory in most states plus they can save your life!! Paddle...no need to spend big money here, you can upgrade in time, but you will need one to move your new yak :) Dry bags...these are must for day trips or overnighters...things will get wet...you can bank on it I better stop here and let you marinate on this for a while... so much to cover, lol I hope this at least answered a few of your questions and will give you some things to consider. Fell free to ask any questions that may come up and I will do my best to help out. Thanks again for watching my videos and also for the kind comment! Welcome to the wonderful world of Yakpacking! Float On!

Dave Schuetrum Glad you liked it Dave! Sometimes I spend more time thinking of how to make my yak just a little bit better than I spend paddling :) Wonder if I could get a R&D job with some kayak manufacturer...that would be great! Take care & thanks for watching!

Rastalova Just wait till you start "tinkering" with things. Then it really gets fun!

Hey! I'm trying to decide between the Apire 105 and Pungo 120. Not many reviews or ppl comparing them. Does the Skeg system really work that well? Like does it make enough of a difference to get Apire over Pungo?

Thanks bigskycharlie! Glad you enjoyed...playing with yaks is fun!

LetsBoogieDown Right now my Yak is buried in my shed do to "yardsale relocation" , but I'll try to dig it out soon and show you the meathod i used. As far as drilling/riviting...there is none, all of my "mods" are hole free,( except for rod holder and it was one screw in a location that already had bungee/drain holes present) that way I could add/remove as needed or if it didn't work out. Glad you liked the video and I'll get the other one together soon, Thanks for watching!

lol, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what PROC sticker you saw on my yak. Could not figure out wth PROC even was...had me scratching my head all day. Just now it hit me, Pack Rat Outdoor Center! At least I hope that's what you're refering to...or I'm losing my mind! Got my yak at OMTC...now it's your turn, figure that one out, lol! Enjoy your new Aspire....wherever it comes from! Float on!

+Pete Braginton LOL, I noticed after I commented that your Arkansas shaped sticker is a Nativ sticker. Well it's almost identical to the Pack Rat Sticker they gave me, LOL... Picture here: i.imgur.com/DFTgY2H.jpg. And I know OMTC. My wife got her kayak from there. I was just too impatient to drive that far and I really fell in love with the Aspire 105 Pack Rat had. BTW, I ordered the same dry case and pouch that you have because that idea is genius. Thanks for the videos man!

+Riddler556 Good to hear comments from local folk! Also, glad to hear you took a liking to my goofy mods....knew someone out there would dig them! Thanks for checking out my channel, look forward to some more rainfall, and I'm glad I got that PROC thing outta my brain now! Take care!

guloguloguy Oh yeah, I was looking at a compass just the other day...need to find a decent one small enough. Also, a good idea with the pool float, I was actually thinking about incorperating some of those into the roof rack on my car:) I do have a spray skirt (nylon not neoprene) that works well for splashes, rain, warmth,etc... but I wouldn't expect it to hold in a serious capsize. The WS Aspire does not really have a hull design that lends it self to rolling... it's design is more for stability and top water agility vs. a narrower, more cylindrical hull (best suited for eskimo rolls). I guess some sort of He-Man might be able to muscle a roll out of it, but I don't know LOL! Thanks for watching and take care!

Dory Liggett The dents are likely from having the kayak strapped too tight or too long on the rack (especially if its hot outside). Just lay it on the ground in the sun upsidedown for a couple hrs. , the dents should pop back out. I learned the hard way of leaving a different yak strapped to the roof rack all the time during Summertime and the bottom hull looked like a washboard :( We too are planning an 11 Point trip later this month from Thomasville to AR./MO. stateline. Maybe see ya on the water. Take care!

Thanks for the reply, I had left it strapped on top of my car for a day and 1/2 so I'll put it out in the sun. I appreciate your videos.

yngatheart I'll get a short video up as soon as I get my yak out of storage. Stay tuned;)

P J PHILLIPS ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! That video was pre GoPro. Thanks for watching and float on!

I just got a 10 ` and I am gonna hit the Suwannee this year . Also , I caught a lizard and fed it to a hawk and got it on video if you are interested in that stuff .

bparisi11 That is a RAM MOUNT (model #2007 Ram Rod) fitted to a 1.5" flat base (single screw) ball mount placed in the direct center of the left acc. tray. Hope that helps. Seems that particular mount is harder to find now that RAMMOUNTS have changed things up a bit. I bought mine locally at the Yak shop, and now that I think of it we ended up using the ball mount from one rod holder and then a different rod holder all together....kinda "frankenstiend" it I guess.

Pete Braginton Thanks for the help, I was able to piece one together with the RAM mounts as well. Keep up the great videos!

+Jerry Lee I think the Pungo was sold with or had the option of adding the Wilderness Systems "kayak konsole" which is removable and sold separately. I had originally wanted one for my Aspire but the integrated dashboard wouldn't allow it to fit...Bummer. I believe it is designed for cockpits without any integrated dashboard. Thanks for watching!

Survive Without Hey Travis, just finished watching your canoe & cave video...cool trip, was that on the Mulberry? I think you mentioned it but wasn't sure. If so that's a really great river for floating w/ some awesome countryside. As far as kayak size, think about what type of water you'll be floating mostly, then what you want to do w/ your kayak (rec.floating, fishing, passengers?, overnight / camping). Lakes and big flat water...IMHO bigger is better (12-14') & for smaller rivers and creeks (or occassional "whitewater") you want something more nimble & shorter (8-10') Also think about maximum capacity you'll be needing (your weight + gear) Oh, how you will transport it (roofrack vs. trailer vs. pick-up maybe?) I load and unload my yak alot by myself (on a roof rack)...so I went lightest weight for most total capacity. That should get ya scratchin your head...lemme know if you got more ?'s...take care!

Pete Braginton thank you so much. I just love Arkansas. it was the mulberry. really good float. I want to use it for fishing and packing trips down rivers. maybe 12' would be good. ill look around. was thinking I should look for a one piece. your mods were great and I shared them with a friend. keep up the great videos. I love them

The GoPro mount in front of the dash is the standard mount with the 3M sticky baseplate...it's the one that comes with the GoPro mount accessory pack or in my case it came bundled w/ several others included in my camera bundle. The round ball mounted in the dash tray is a RAMmount 1" ball used to attach the fishing rod holder.

+Pete Braginton Thank you for the info! Really love your setup. Nice looking yak!

+Daniel Thanks Daniel, appreciate that...she's a good little boat!