Wilderness Systems Pungo 125

Size and Weight

The Pungo 125 comes in at 12’6” (381 cm) long by 29” (75 cm) wide. It weighs 53 lbs (24 kg). Even though the boat is long, its overall weight is quite light. The cockpit is 57.25” (147 cm) long and 22.5” (57 cm) wide, providing enough room to have comfortable freedom of movement while on the water.

Capacity

With a total capacity of 425 lbs (193 kg), the Pungo 125 can handle large paddlers and carry a lot of equipment without needing to worry about weight constraints. Just keep in mind that for best performance, it is recommended not to load the boat to more than 80% of its total capacity.

Features

Starting at the bow, the Pungo 125 has a rigid carry handle fastened with two screws. While it is not molded, it is still sturdy enough to act as an attachment point for straps when transporting the boat while also adding an additional bit of comfort when picking it up or dragging it.

On top the deck in front of the cockpit, there is a bungee cord with ten attachment points to help you configure it however necessary to carry a wide variety of gear. The deck at this area has a rough texture to help keep anything under the bungee cord from slipping out.

This kayak’s dashboard is fully removable and mounts by fitting into the lip around the cockpit. At its front is a molded recess with a strap for Wilderness System’s proprietary lithium battery. There is a proprietary “SlideTrax” mount so you can add accessories such as a fish finder or rod holder. Along with this are two flat surfaces meant to allow the user to mount additional accessories they may desire by drilling through those spots. Two molded cup holders ensure you will not spill any beverages you may bring with you. But the best feature is a dry box immediately in front of the user that has a clear hinged lid and can slide out separately, allowing for a variety of objects to be stowed safely while being just as accessible.

The footrests consist of a comfortable foam material and are easily adjusted due to each being part of a singular rod.

Two padded leg rests on the cockpit sides add a lot of comfort, especially with the Pungo’s extremely innovative seat.

The seat, which Wilderness Systems calls the “Phase 3 AirPro” seat, is fully adjustable. In the front of the seat there is a button that moves the backrest up and a strap that, if pulled, makes it go down. Other straps on the sides adjust the backrest forward and backward while another one pulls the portion of the seat under your thighs up. This system provides great flexibility and is probably the most comfortable kayak seat on the market. There is also a mesh cup holder located under the seat for when it is adjusted up.

On the deck behind the seat is another bungee, and then a dual locking hinged hatch for the rear storage compartment. This is a dry storage area due to a sealed foam bulkhead behind the seat. On the rear portion of the keel is a replaceable skid plate to ensure no damage comes from dragging it.

Performance

The Pungo 125 has incredible primary and secondary stability due to its hull design. The boat’s length gives it tremendous glide capability and ensures it tracks very well without sacrificing too much maneuverability. Since a bit more of the boat’s mass is in the front, it allows it to be pulled through the water once you get going. Because of this, the Pungo 125 exhibits great speed.