Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
- Chunk&Wind
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:50 pm
- Location: Liberty, Texas
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Found this a few weeks ago after a great outing on the water. After hand washing, I was starting to apply a coat of 303 and noticed a crack in the hull where the bolt passes though the hull to connect the phase 3 seat to the kayak. Keep in mind this boat is not even three years old yet.
I tried contacting Wilderness through their website with no response. I called FTU and Trent was quick to take my information and he passed it along to Confluence who were quick to reply with "They will not warranty the kayak" FTU was eager to help offer ideas on how to fix the problem but I think I could handle fixing it on my own since the manufacturer won't lift a finger to help.
Just a heads up!
Look for this to be a problem area on your kayak!
Look for Confluence (Wilderness Systems) not to stand by their warranty!
Look for ways to keep this from happening to you!
Look for a kayak other than Wilderness Systems!
I tried contacting Wilderness through their website with no response. I called FTU and Trent was quick to take my information and he passed it along to Confluence who were quick to reply with "They will not warranty the kayak" FTU was eager to help offer ideas on how to fix the problem but I think I could handle fixing it on my own since the manufacturer won't lift a finger to help.
Just a heads up!
Look for this to be a problem area on your kayak!
Look for Confluence (Wilderness Systems) not to stand by their warranty!
Look for ways to keep this from happening to you!
Look for a kayak other than Wilderness Systems!
- J.McDonald Knives
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:02 pm
- Location: Calallen, TX
- Contact:
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
If you know how to plastic weld, you can fix it since they won't warranty it.
- RedWolf
- TKF 3000 Club
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:47 pm
- Location: Clear Lake, Lime OK Frenzy, Lime Tarpon 120, Blue Tarpon 140
- Contact:
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
We have a LOT of WS pro staffers on this board, try talking to them about getting some from Wildy on it. From the photos, it looks like a structural flaw and they should at least pro-rate the damage.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I had a very similar thing happen to my 2010 tarpon....... Check out this thread
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=86155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck with your issue
Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of a 2013 Jackson Cuda 12
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=86155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck with your issue
Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of a 2013 Jackson Cuda 12
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I had a similar issue with my 2010 tarpon.... Check out this thread
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=86155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck with your issue
Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of a 2013 Jackson Cuda 12
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=86155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck with your issue
Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of a 2013 Jackson Cuda 12
- Chunk&Wind
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:50 pm
- Location: Liberty, Texas
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I think I may have to join the above mentioned site and express my concern there too.pjstevko wrote:I had a very similar thing happen to my 2010 tarpon....... Check out this thread
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/commun ... hp?t=86155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good luck with your issue
Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of a 2013 Jackson Cuda 12
It is obvious there is a design flaw here and Wilderness should have stepped up in both our cases?
Anyone else had this problem? Maybe I should have posted this in a different forum?
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Has anyone had this problem with the Ride series? I was hoping to get a used R135 but this scares me
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
DO NOT BUY USED!mlyle wrote:Has anyone had this problem with the Ride series? I was hoping to get a used R135 but this scares me
If you buy used they will definitely NOT stand by the warranty. The customer service rep I spoke to about my2 issues said if I was the original owner then they would have given me a new boat but since I bought used they didn't really owe me anything.... That's the reason I bought a NEW kayak after my whole debacle just I was guaranteed a warranty
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I'll send you a pm in the am with a few contact numbers of a few different customer service people for WS so you can talk to someone from within the company. Maybe since you're the original owner you'll get better treatment than I did
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
You have a pm
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I got my Rides, 4 of them now.
& I had the same problem, however I went to ACK & was given the Best Customer Service Ever & WS replaced my kayak
Maybe you should start where you bought it ??????
& I had the same problem, however I went to ACK & was given the Best Customer Service Ever & WS replaced my kayak
Maybe you should start where you bought it ??????
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
How old were your orginal Rides? Do you have any pics, would you be willing to post them, of the failures or stress cracks?Roofish wrote:I got my Rides, 4 of them now.
& I had the same problem, however I went to ACK & was given the Best Customer Service Ever & WS replaced my kayak
Maybe you should start where you bought it ??????
I'm beginning to think this is a design flaw and there are more people out there who have had the same issue.....
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I've owned these yr model Rides, 2008 replaced with 2009 because of this problem. I now own a 2012 & a 2013.
Don't have any pics of problem. I was well taken care of though by ACK & WS.
I will own more, Good Lord willing
Only thing I can say about design flaws is that a seemingly perfectly good Space Shuttle slammed into to the ground...
As with any man-made product, anything can have problems...
Don't have any pics of problem. I was well taken care of though by ACK & WS.
I will own more, Good Lord willing
Only thing I can say about design flaws is that a seemingly perfectly good Space Shuttle slammed into to the ground...
As with any man-made product, anything can have problems...
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
mlyle wrote:Has anyone had this problem with the Ride series? I was hoping to get a used R135 but this scares me
I have 2x 2012 135s. If anyone can find/expose/create a structural flaw on those boats it would be me. My avatar is a pic of me at a younger age...
The seat fender buttons used to hold the lower pad to the frame were weak and I replaced them with the next size larger automotive version and thats been not a problem since.
Check the screws often they seem to like working themselves loose. Part of my after trip cleanup/inspection anyway.
- Jedi
- TKF 2000 club
- Posts: 2481
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:13 pm
- Location: Beaumont Tarpon 160 spotonfishing.wordpress.com
- Contact:
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
I have a 2009 Tarpon 160 and have not had that issue.
- Wilderness Systems
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:28 pm
- Contact:
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Hi Chunk&Wind,
We're very sorry you have had this issue with your kayak. While we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, we understand that there are a number of factors, whether it be a rare issue in the manufacturing process, or wear-and-tear from the owner, or your occasional random act of nature, that can affect the integrity of any particular boat. That is why we have crafted a very workable and reasonable warranty and why we partner with the best dealers in the industry. We work together with these amazingly accommodating dealers to try to repair or replace as many claims as possible because we believe in not only standing by our products, but standing by our paddlers as well. Confluence has what is considered one of the best (and more lenient) warranties in the outdoor industry, but like almost every other manufacturer, our warranty is non-transferrable.
We absolutely do stand by our warranty and the conditions of that warranty reside with the kayak's original owner. In user pjstevko's case, we even went beyond what we stated in our warranty and helped with the cost of repairs to his kayak, even though his kayak was used. As I stated earlier, we will do what we can to stand by our paddlers. In your case, Chunk&Wind, we want you out on the water, we want you fishing, and we really want you to enjoy the boat that we have designed. So if you will send us a private message, we would be happy to review repair options for your boat as well.
Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks, and happy paddling everyone.
We're very sorry you have had this issue with your kayak. While we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, we understand that there are a number of factors, whether it be a rare issue in the manufacturing process, or wear-and-tear from the owner, or your occasional random act of nature, that can affect the integrity of any particular boat. That is why we have crafted a very workable and reasonable warranty and why we partner with the best dealers in the industry. We work together with these amazingly accommodating dealers to try to repair or replace as many claims as possible because we believe in not only standing by our products, but standing by our paddlers as well. Confluence has what is considered one of the best (and more lenient) warranties in the outdoor industry, but like almost every other manufacturer, our warranty is non-transferrable.
We absolutely do stand by our warranty and the conditions of that warranty reside with the kayak's original owner. In user pjstevko's case, we even went beyond what we stated in our warranty and helped with the cost of repairs to his kayak, even though his kayak was used. As I stated earlier, we will do what we can to stand by our paddlers. In your case, Chunk&Wind, we want you out on the water, we want you fishing, and we really want you to enjoy the boat that we have designed. So if you will send us a private message, we would be happy to review repair options for your boat as well.
Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks, and happy paddling everyone.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
^^^That's legit
-NastyNate
-NastyNate
- RedWolf
- TKF 3000 Club
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:47 pm
- Location: Clear Lake, Lime OK Frenzy, Lime Tarpon 120, Blue Tarpon 140
- Contact:
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Way to step up Wildy! Makes me feel that much better about the T120 I just bought for my wife from FTU.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Thats good PR if I have ever seen it, way to go Wilderness Systems.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Didnt we have a PM exchange regarding this?mlyle wrote:Thats good PR if I have ever seen it, way to go Wilderness Systems.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Yes sir we did! Im very glad I took your advice and still got a WS Ride 135. I love it!Kingz wrote:Didnt we have a PM exchange regarding this?mlyle wrote:Thats good PR if I have ever seen it, way to go Wilderness Systems.
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Enjoymlyle wrote:Yes sir we did! Im very glad I took your advice and still got a WS Ride 135. I love it!Kingz wrote:Didnt we have a PM exchange regarding this?mlyle wrote:Thats good PR if I have ever seen it, way to go Wilderness Systems.
- Pokey Pogie
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:29 pm
- Location: Mobile, Alabama Malibu Kayaks Pro Staff
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Way to step up!Wilderness Systems wrote:Hi Chunk&Wind,
We're very sorry you have had this issue with your kayak. While we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, we understand that there are a number of factors, whether it be a rare issue in the manufacturing process, or wear-and-tear from the owner, or your occasional random act of nature, that can affect the integrity of any particular boat. That is why we have crafted a very workable and reasonable warranty and why we partner with the best dealers in the industry. We work together with these amazingly accommodating dealers to try to repair or replace as many claims as possible because we believe in not only standing by our products, but standing by our paddlers as well. Confluence has what is considered one of the best (and more lenient) warranties in the outdoor industry, but like almost every other manufacturer, our warranty is non-transferrable.
We absolutely do stand by our warranty and the conditions of that warranty reside with the kayak's original owner. In user pjstevko's case, we even went beyond what we stated in our warranty and helped with the cost of repairs to his kayak, even though his kayak was used. As I stated earlier, we will do what we can to stand by our paddlers. In your case, Chunk&Wind, we want you out on the water, we want you fishing, and we really want you to enjoy the boat that we have designed. So if you will send us a private message, we would be happy to review repair options for your boat as well.
Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks, and happy paddling everyone.
- Mellow-Yellow
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:47 pm
- Location: Richmond
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
Outstanding customer service!
- Chunk&Wind
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:50 pm
- Location: Liberty, Texas
Re: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 hull failure
More like Outstanding LIP service.mellow-yellow-xt wrote:Outstanding customer service!
It has been three weeks since WS posted and PM'd me. I sent them a PM and left my phone number for the customer service rep on request. I have yet to hear anything else from them. I also have noticed that my last PM to them has not even been read. I also notice that the WS post here was the first on this forum.
I think they know they have a problem and are just trying to cover it up.
Keep looking for new posts from me on this site and others....I think my next one will be a video of me taking my new Stihl chainsaw to my WS 160.