Thanks for the review. I have had one of the 120 models now for about 11 months. I highly recommend it. I have the same body type (5'-10" 195lbs) and picked the 120 over the 125 becasue I thought it would be easier to transport and store. I have no desire for the longer one at this point. I do not lug it around by myself but always get help getting it on the car roof. My wife also has one so that works out well. I have honestly never used the console. I did buy the sun shade that slips over you and it is great. Keeps the drips off too. Let me say that the most comfortable seat position is with the back in it's lowest position, straight up and not leaning back. If the back is high is makes a lot of creaking sounds. It's easy to do a 3 hour paddle without getting out for any breaks. If I had to say anything negative about it, I just have two little points. Without the console on, the little fabric drink holder at the front of the seat does not do a very good job. Needs a permanent, formed holder like many boats have. I wish it was 1 or 2 inches narrower. While using my 230cm paddle it's easy to thump the side of the boat when you are trying to stab the water. Those are minor points. I can't wait to get back on the water with this thing.
I picked up the Pungo 125 to help support hauling more weight for multi-day trips. This in addition to me being bigger. My specific issues: - bad seal on the bulkhead from day 1(leaking in 'dry hatch') - the hull basically weakened just below where my feet touch getting in and out; it bows upwards. Going to be seeking warranty on that In spite of all this, I absolutely love it. As mentioned in the video, I was bummed that the 14' wasn't available but this is a dream from where I upgraded from. I can go for short paddles, 10 mile paddles or 20 mile paddles and I'm comfortable every stroke of the way. It takes the wake of power boats like a champ if you nose into them. The console comes out for the dog too. So perfect.
What are the holes in the locks on the hatch for, putting a cable lock thru??? One of the holes is almost broken, it happened in shipping and I don't know if the holes can be for something other than a lock.
Hey, thx alot for your work making this review :) For a long time i am watching out for a good kayak where me and my dog can comfortely sit and paddle in. I like the big cockpit size of the pungo for this reason. As im thinking about to finally buy one, i still have one question left. Is it possible to move the seat completly to the back to get more space in front of me? And maybe someone know similar kayaks which have such a great cockpit size, but still remain a one seater.
Yeah all the new ones have the sandpaper texture and in my opinion the plastic seems to be softer or less dense than the older models. Pelican did buy Wilderness Systems lately and everyone knows how cheaply made Pelican kayaks are. I have a 2021 Tarpon 120 and I really have come to not like it. The plastic seems thinner and softer. It’s got more flex than my buddy’s older Tarpon. I get so much water inside somehow. I have a 2012 Tsunami 145 and I kayak the same areas and seems the scratches I get on it are very minimal. The Tarpon I have bigger, deeper scratches. I don’t see it lasting long where I am in Texas due to our low rivers, my Tsunami has lasted though and see it out lasting this new Tarpon. They’re fast and have good glide. My main issue is with the build quality now. Go check out any 2016 Wilderness and before and you will notice the quality of plastic is different.
@@Zhy151TexI have the newest version of the Tsunami 125 and can add a few points. The hull is essentially the same as the Pungo, but slightly narrower. I don’t notice a durability problem just yet. I got the impression that the re-design of both the Tsunami and Pungo series in 2018 was done before Pelican bought out the Confluence Outdoor brands (WS, Dagger, Perception, etc). The dealers I spoke with say no noticeable decline in quality since the merger, if anything the ordering, shipping times and assembly has somewhat improved. But with that, I still wish some things were different about my Tsunami, it’s not as maneuverable as I would like, and no good place to tie off bow and stern when car-topping (built in handles on the Pungo are better for that). Cockpit on all Tsunami models is same, 16” x 32” (website gives dimensions that include the rim, rather than actual opening size), but it does have 2 hatches with nice rubber covers and 2 bulkheads, and a locking bar, none of which the Pungo has. Still, for rocky rivers where you can’t safely use a thermoformed or composite kayak, the Tsunami 125 is among best value if you want something around 50 lbs or less - Pungo a little heavier and not the same features, but they are similarly built.