THRESHER 155 REVIEW - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

easyday · 03-12-2015, 10:40 AM

I took the Thresher 155 out yesterday for the first time. the results are, I LOVE THIS BOAT. I had a Tarpon 160 before and loved that boat as well, but Wilderness Systems really put some thought into this one. The flex pod OS is really nice having the battery, FF, and transducer all together on one place is really cool. No need to drill holes in the hull and the best part is your transducer is actually in the water. I noticed ALOT clearer picture on my FF as opposed to having it on the ram arm that wobbled and moved over the side. The bow design is nice we ran into a little chop yesterday and the boat popped up right on over it and handled it with ease. Also the new rudder system and the way its mounted is bad @$$. It took a little while to get used to getting the lines tightened down right and getting it dialed in, but after that it was really nice to use your toes to work the rudder. At the end of the day the inside of the yak was completely dry. Overall it was FAST, STABLE, and TRACKED extremely well. Its safe to say I'm super happy with the upgrade and cant wait to get the deck bloody.

Fish Taco · 03-12-2015, 11:35 AM

Good on you man... AWESOME!!!

yak-fishing-socal · 03-12-2015, 12:01 PM

That front hatch is cool and seems pretty dry

ZUMAN · 03-12-2015, 12:32 PM

Nice!!!!
I've been having my crosshairs on this kayak since last year!!
Love that color or the dusk!!!

How did you like the seat??

easyday · 03-12-2015, 02:56 PM

I'm a big fan of the seat. It's the same seat as the tarpon.

YakMedic · 03-12-2015, 05:53 PM

I was going to hit you up to get a comparison but this post answered my questions. I've always loved the Tarpon line but I think the Thresher is it for my next boat.
Now to decide 140 or 155.........

easyday · 03-14-2015, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakMedic

I was going to hit you up to get a comparison but this post answered my questions. I've always loved the Tarpon line but I think the Thresher is it for my next boat.
Now to decide 140 or 155.........

I think I may have a complex or something but I always want the bigger boat offered. I'm sure I could have easily gotten away with the 140, but then I thought I liked the T160 so much better than the T140 I assumed the same would be true with the thresher.

Aznronin · 05-18-2015, 03:32 PM

The major flaw in the thresher is that it does not have side carry handles. It is very difficult to lift, load and unload your kayak. It has handles for the bow and stern and molded in handles on the side that go into the yak. Very poorly designed. If you get a thresher you will have to add handles for sure if you ever need to carry the boat by yourself.

easyday · 05-19-2015, 09:52 PM

You can easily add handles if you wanted to. I like the design of the molded in handles. Less things to get that stupid sabiki caught on

. I have the 15.5 and I load it up on the roof of my SUV several times a week and think the molded in handles work better for me. If you would like to add straps to yours shoot me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction of which hardware we have found works well, there is a couple guys who have added side handles and have had good results. Tight lines.

Jimmyz123 · 05-20-2015, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the review, I've been checking these out as well. CJ did some nice test videos on them out in the surf.

Fishin' Magician · 05-21-2015, 05:34 AM

Do you have any photos of your new ride?

easyday · 05-21-2015, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishin' Magician

Do you have any photos of your new ride?

makobob · 05-21-2015, 08:46 AM

Josh, those boats of yours are just so DUCKY!!!!!!

Fishin' Magician · 05-22-2015, 06:48 AM

Looks pretty awesome. Nice yak!

Aznronin · 05-22-2015, 01:01 PM

I also found that putting more than two rods in the hull can be a pain. Compared to my Trident 15 the Thresher has very limited and super tight hull space. It's also super heavy in the front so when I installed my side carry handles I had to use a sawhorse to figure out its center of gravity to place the handles in the ideal spot. Other than that I think it's a well made kayak. I'll have a better idea of how it paddles once I fish it this weekend. Hopefully it paddles we'll because the last time I had a wilderness systems it was the 160i (back when they first came out) and it paddled beautifully.

easyday · 05-22-2015, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aznronin

I also found that putting more than two rods in the hull can be a pain. Compared to my Trident 15 the Thresher has very limited and super tight hull space. It's also super heavy in the front so when I installed my side carry handles I had to use a sawhorse to figure out its center of gravity to place the handles in the ideal spot. Other than that I think it's a well made kayak. I'll have a better idea of how it paddles once I fish it this weekend. Hopefully it paddles we'll because the last time I had a wilderness systems it was the 160i (back when they first came out) and it paddled beautifully.

The 160i is such a sweet kayak. I haven't paddled a thresher 14 yet let me know what you think. We'll have to fish sometime.

Aznronin · 05-22-2015, 03:32 PM

Easyday do you have the drop in box for the center hatch? Where can I order that? Mine didn't have one.

easyday · 05-22-2015, 05:24 PM

You can order through OEX.

03-12-2015, 10:40 AM	#1
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,469	THRESHER 155 REVIEW I took the Thresher 155 out yesterday for the first time. the results are, I LOVE THIS BOAT. I had a Tarpon 160 before and loved that boat as well, but Wilderness Systems really put some thought into this one. The flex pod OS is really nice having the battery, FF, and transducer all together on one place is really cool. No need to drill holes in the hull and the best part is your transducer is actually in the water. I noticed ALOT clearer picture on my FF as opposed to having it on the ram arm that wobbled and moved over the side. The bow design is nice we ran into a little chop yesterday and the boat popped up right on over it and handled it with ease. Also the new rudder system and the way its mounted is bad @$$. It took a little while to get used to getting the lines tightened down right and getting it dialed in, but after that it was really nice to use your toes to work the rudder. At the end of the day the inside of the yak was completely dry. Overall it was FAST, STABLE, and TRACKED extremely well. Its safe to say I'm super happy with the upgrade and cant wait to get the deck bloody. __________________

03-12-2015, 11:35 AM	#2
Fish Taco Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 164	Good on you man... AWESOME!!! __________________ - Ken Redondo Beach, CA 2011 Malibu Stealth 14

03-12-2015, 02:56 PM	#5
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,469	I'm a big fan of the seat. It's the same seat as the tarpon. __________________

05-19-2015, 09:52 PM	#9
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,469	You can easily add handles if you wanted to. I like the design of the molded in handles. Less things to get that stupid sabiki caught on. I have the 15.5 and I load it up on the roof of my SUV several times a week and think the molded in handles work better for me. If you would like to add straps to yours shoot me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction of which hardware we have found works well, there is a couple guys who have added side handles and have had good results. Tight lines. __________________

05-20-2015, 09:59 AM	#10
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	Thanks for the review, I've been checking these out as well. CJ did some nice test videos on them out in the surf. __________________ No better time than being on the water, God Bless, JimmyZ

03-12-2015, 12:01 PM	#3
yak-fishing-socal kayak fishing socal Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southern California / Whittier Posts: 438	That front hatch is cool and seems pretty dry

03-12-2015, 12:32 PM	#4
ZUMAN Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calabasas Posts: 79	Nice!!!! I've been having my crosshairs on this kayak since last year!! Love that color or the dusk!!! How did you like the seat??

03-12-2015, 05:53 PM	#6
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	I was going to hit you up to get a comparison but this post answered my questions. I've always loved the Tarpon line but I think the Thresher is it for my next boat. Now to decide 140 or 155.........

05-18-2015, 03:32 PM	#8
Aznronin Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sfv Posts: 147	The major flaw in the thresher is that it does not have side carry handles. It is very difficult to lift, load and unload your kayak. It has handles for the bow and stern and molded in handles on the side that go into the yak. Very poorly designed. If you get a thresher you will have to add handles for sure if you ever need to carry the boat by yourself.

05-21-2015, 05:34 AM	#11
Fishin' Magician Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 219	Do you have any photos of your new ride? __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy.....

05-21-2015, 08:46 AM	#13
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	Josh, those boats of yours are just so DUCKY!!!!!! __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

05-22-2015, 06:48 AM	#14
Fishin' Magician Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 219	Looks pretty awesome. Nice yak! __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy.....

05-22-2015, 01:01 PM	#15
Aznronin Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sfv Posts: 147	I also found that putting more than two rods in the hull can be a pain. Compared to my Trident 15 the Thresher has very limited and super tight hull space. It's also super heavy in the front so when I installed my side carry handles I had to use a sawhorse to figure out its center of gravity to place the handles in the ideal spot. Other than that I think it's a well made kayak. I'll have a better idea of how it paddles once I fish it this weekend. Hopefully it paddles we'll because the last time I had a wilderness systems it was the 160i (back when they first came out) and it paddled beautifully.

05-22-2015, 03:32 PM	#17
Aznronin Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sfv Posts: 147	Easyday do you have the drop in box for the center hatch? Where can I order that? Mine didn't have one.

05-22-2015, 05:24 PM	#18
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,469	You can order through OEX. __________________