Wilderness Systems Commander 140 Kayak 

I was looking for a kayak that I could stand up on to sight cast for redfish and after doing my research, I knew this was going to be the perfect boat. It is very stable and the open cockpit allows for an easy transition from sitting to standing. I am a “big guy” at 295 lbs but moving around in this kayak to access my gear was not a problem. Best of all, it was very comfortable! The kayak performed as well as I had hoped. An employee at the ACK Houston store told me the Commander cuts through the water like a knife and he was right on point. My previous kayak was a Hobie Quest, which was difficult for me to control without a rudder in windy conditions. My Commander tracked extremely well and appeared to paddle just as efficient as my Quest. Once again, I have to mention how easy it was to stand up in this kayak. When I looked at the pictures of the Commander on the Internet, I was concerned about where I would place my feet while standing. I thought that perhaps my ankles would be at odd or uncomfortable angles due to the dual tunnel hull design but I was wrong. There is plenty of room to place your feet adjacent the tunnels, which also helps to brace your calves against the sides for additional stability. Another feature I truly enjoy is the Slide Trax System. The guide rails allow for multiple rigging options without drilling holes in the kayak. I installed a Stake-out-Stick holder and anchor trolley in very little time and if I decide to move (or remove) them later I can do so worrying about leaving holes behind. PROS: 1. Stability – very easy to stand in and the captain’s seat is an ingenious idea. 2. Tracking – paddles smooth and straight 3. Slide Trax – allows for adding accessories without drilling holes. 4. Storage Capacity – with a load rating of 475 lbs even I can haul camping gear. 5. Appearance – sharp lines, comfortable seat and sturdy construction. CONS: The main drawback to the Commander Series kayaks is they are not designed to fish the surf. It is great for the bays and calm waters of a slow river or lake but I would not take it out in the surf because it is not self-bailing (no scupper holes). I imagine it could fill with water faster than one could pump or bail it out. Another thing to note is that this is a kayak with high sides, which can make paddling difficult for smaller people. I had my wife try it out and she had a difficult time paddling because she had to keep her arms elevated at an uncomfortable angle to make contact with the water. While not necessary a “con” anyone requiring a sharp turning radius may opt to install a rudder on the Commander 140. The full length keel makes it track very well but also limits one’s ability to turn or spin the kayak in a small area. While I don’t have an issue with the turning radius it does take a few paddle strokes to turn it around. Overview: I am very pleased with my Commander 140 and give it a 5 star rating.

The Commander 140 is very comfortable and has plenty of open space. I was looking for a kayak that I could stand up in to sight cast for redfish and this kayak is perfect. It is very stable and the open cock pit allows for an easy transition from sitting to standing. I am a “big guy” at 295 lbs but moving around in this kayak to access gear is not a problem. Pros:Jerron at the Houston store told me the Commander cuts through the water like a knife and he was right on point. My previous kayak was a Hobie Quest which was difficult for me to control without a rudder in windy conditions. My Commander tracks extremely well and appears to paddle just as efficient as my Quest. Last but definitely not least I have to mention the smart track system. The guide rails allow for multiple rigging options without having to drill holes in the kayak. I installed a stake-out stick holder and anchor trolley in very little time and if I decide to move (or remove) them later I can do so without patching holes in my boat. Again, I have to mention how easy it is to stand in this kayak. When I looked at the pictures of the Commander on the internet, I was concerned about where I would place my feet while standing. I thought that perhaps my ankles would be at odd or uncomfortable angles due to the dual tunnel hull design. But I was wrong, there is plenty of room to place your feet adjacent the tunnels which also helps to brace your calves against the sides for stability. Cons: The only drawback to the Commander Series kayaks is they are not designed to fish the surf. It is great for the bays and calm waters of a slow river or lake but I would not take it out in the surf because it is not self bailing (no scupper holes). I imagine it could fill with water faster than one could pump or bail it out. One more thing to note, this is a wide kayak with high sides which can make paddling difficult for smaller people. I had my wife try it out and she had a difficult time paddling because she had to keep her arms elevated at an uncomfortable angle to make contact with the water.

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