Wilderness Systems Pamlico 135T

Size and Weight

The Pamlico 135T has a length of 13’ 6” (411 cm), a width of 31” (79 cm) and a deck height of 14’ (36 cm). It is quite short for a tandem kayak, which may limit the room you have on board but also reduces weight and makes the boat easier to transport and store.

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With a weight of 72 lbs (32.7 kg), this boat is relatively light for a tandem. The cockpit is 90” (229 cm) long and 24” (61 cm) wide, which is enough for two people. The maximum capacity of this boat is 500 lbs. (227 kg), which means that two average sized individuals with some gear will not overload it. Still, if you need to carry more weight, check out the Pamlico 145T model, which is rated for 550 lbs (249 kg).

Features

When looking at the Pamlico 135T, the first feature on the bow is the carrying handle. It is made of heavy-duty plastic and can be used to attach a strap or bungee cord to secure the kayak while transporting it. If you wish to use the carrying handles as an attachment point, make sure that the strap is fastened securely, and there is no fraying whatsoever.

On the front deck, there is a bungee cord to secure anything you need at hand while on the water. There is no designated storage compartment inside the bow, but you can still use the area forward of the cockpit by stowing a medium-sized dry bag inside.

The Pamlico 135T comes with Wilderness Systems’ “Phase 3 AirPro” seats. The backrests adjust for height and tilt, so it is easy to find a comfortable position. Moreover, the front portion of the seat can be raised to relieve stress on your legs. Both paddlers also get foam knee pads that add a lot of comfort on longer trips.

A strong point of this boat is how easy it is to convert to a solo configuration. Just take out the rear seat and slide the front seat back towards the center. The footrests will accommodate for this move as well. Not all tandem kayaks can do this.

Further back, a foam bulkhead seals off the storage compartment in the stern. It is accessible via a waterproof Orbix hatch. There have been some complaints about the flimsy plastic of the hatch locking mechanism, so pay attention here.

Pamlico 135T is rudder ready but does not come with a rudder. A foot-controlled rudder will set you back about $300, which is pretty significant considering the price of the boat itself.

The stern carrying handle is the same as the one on the bow.

Performance

This kayak performs reasonably well in most conditions including light currents and moderate wind. Note that the handling characteristics of this kayak are going to be more reliant on the teamwork between the two paddlers. Since it is over 13’ (411 cm) long, you can expect this boat to track quite nicely.

The rounded hull allows quick acceleration and good speed, letting you cover larger distances. However, this hull design is not the most stable, so it may take some getting used to.