I finally received a Tarpon 160 Tank well, prototype, to try out, test, and review. It couldn't come at a better time, as my family and I were headed for Morro Bay, and some possible Halibut fishing the following weekend. First thing I wanted to know--could the tank well replace the fishing crate. Fishing Crate: My fishing crate plays a important part in how I rig my kayak, it was actually a milk crate at one time I installed a piece of 12 inch PVC four inches in diameter, secured with a hose clamp into two corners of a plastic laundry crate. You can install as many as therešs room for, and you'll have an extremely useful carrier, for your net, cooler, tackle, anchor, throw rope, on and off the kayak.To secure the fishing crate to kayak, Install a pair of patch eyes on each side of the back hatch. You then run a couple of bungie cords through the basket, and latch it down to them. Not much on looks but it did the job.
The Tarpon 160 tank well is designed so all you have to do is remove the old hatch, slide the tank well down into the hatch opening and simply strap the new hatch down. The tank well measures at 26'' long, 10'' wide, 9'' deep. Useable space is 241/4'' x 9'' x 9'' . ( Fair amount) The tank bottom has a rubber lip around the rim just like the hatch, allowing you ( once itšs strapped down tight) to to use the bottom by it self as an opened well . Top and-- bottom together give you the option of a cold box . The first thing I did was buy a couple of PVC--T Joints, and a regular piece-- about four feet, that I would eventually cut to fit. Once back in my shop, I took a hack saw to the length of PVC, and cut off a fourteen inch piece. I then fit into the side hole of each T joint. Setting this creation into the well I then had
PVC holder and divider .holders for whatever I might need them for. The well was also divided into compartments; for whatever you would need them for, tackle boxes, bilge pumps, etc. . The fishing crate has been replaced!
160 set up with Crate. 160 set Tank Well.Next Test: Early Saturday Morning I paddle out a little ways from the boat launch at Morro Bay, and flipped my 160, with tank well strapped tightly down without the hatch lid ( I would like to mentioned at this point, a Tarpon isn't the easiest kayak in the world to flip.) Once I had flipped the 160 right side up again I climbed back in. The tank well took in a little water. I then took my bilge pump, and squirted water in the well--until it was full. I paddled around the bay for about a half hour. The full tank well didn't even lift up the bow or slow my paddling. Once back at the launch I emptied the tank well, then I checked for leakage. The water that had leaked in--couldn't have filled a glass. The addition of the tank well successfully transforms the 160 into an opened well kayak, or as I said previously-- It can be a cold box. In my class room the 160 Tank Well gets an A.
Looking down inside the 160 Tank Well.
The 160 Tank Well Is now available for $49.95, at any establishment that sells Wilderness Systems!
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