Buzz has been building about a new moto-kayak from Wilderness Systems and media at OR got the chance to see the boat after signing a confidentiality agreement. Lead Designer Hanz Nutz took folks through the features of the Advanced Tactical Angler Kayak (ATAK), and while we can�t share all the details, let�s just say that the consensus on the boat is that it will cater to a wide range of anglers while taking kayak design and functionality to the next level.

The boat features an open design that can be customized to meet the needs of almost any angler. Along with the new hull and deck design, Wildy has created innovative accessories, with the most buzzed-about being the motor drive for FlexPod OS console. Anglers will be able to drop a fully-functional electric motor into a FlexPod OS console and cruise along for up to four hours on a integrated battery. Release date for the ATAK is still tentative, but stay tuned to www.wildernesssystems.com and the Wilderness Systems Facebook page for more details.

"The ACK merchandising team spent last week at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City to check out the latest and greatest products as well as revisit others that remained tried and true. On day one of the show the team was invited to the Wilderness Systems booth to go over new products, review changes to current products, and best of all get a sneak peek of something very special, The Wilderness Systems Advanced Tactical Angler Kayak. aka A.T.A.K.

The ATAK is a new breed of boat for Wilderness Systems. Wildy used pro-staff feedback as well as customer input via social media to find out exactly what their end user would like in a boat. All this research was done before the team at Wildy even drafted their first sketch. Based on the collected feedback, customers were looking for a boat that had both features that appeal to the new kayak angler, but needed to be a customizable dream platform for the serious tournament fisherman, all while utilizing an open concept floor plan. One of the most appealing parts to the ATAK is that it can be adapted to many environments including tournaments, inland lakes, marsh flats, near-shore, off-shore, fly and sight fishing as well as trolling.

But here comes the banger: The designers over at Wildy have created a new console called the FlexPod OS. The FlexPod is, well, flexible. It rides forward of the paddler and can be used to house a fishfinder (similar to the pod in the Ride 115x), it can be used for gear stowage, or it can be replaced with a version that holds 2 batteries; one for your electronics and the other for the ATAK�s forward/reverse motor! This self-contained unit doesn�t require any complicated wiring and is both lightweight and exceptionally durable. Based on battery selection and speed the A.T.A.K. has a window of two-and-a-half to four hours of run time. Batteries can also be doubled for a longer run time.

Our friends over at Wildy were kind enough to show us a short clip of the A.T.A.K. prototype, outfitted with the motor, in action. Watching it cruise around the lake gave us all visions of the possibilities of this boat. Accompanied with Wildy�s October release of the its new lean bar will make this a sight or fly fisherman�s dream rig. It�s no wonder after seeing its smooth and quiet operation that Wilderness System�s dubbed their new boat the ATAK .

Estimated ship date is spring 2015 for the ATAK and late summer 2015 for the Flex Pod Motor Drive.

Wilderness Systems; A.T.A.K. Top Secret Dream Boat

Buzz has been building about a new moto-kayak from Wilderness and today I was able to finally take a look. But not before signing a confidentiality agreement and stepping into a shrouded room just large enough for the rigged out boat and a handful of people. Hanz Nutz, Designer at Confluence took us through the features of the Advanced Tactical Angler Kayak (ATAK). While I can�t share all the heavily guarded features, I can say that the boat is a compilation of the wishes and desires of a wide range of anglers. The kayak features an open design that can be customized to meet the needs of almost any angler. Along with the new hull and deck design, they�ve created innovative accessories and add-ons that will change the game. The most innovative accessory is the motor drive for FlexPod OS Console. Anglers will be able to drop a full-function electric motor into a FlexPod OS console and cruise along for up to four hours on the self-contained battery. While the boat and motor are still �in-the-works�, Wilderness expects the package to be available by this time next year. While Wildy won�t let me divulge any more details, I can say that this boat will take kayak design and function to a new level. Yeah, it�s a game changer. Stay tuned to www.wildernesssystems.com and kayakanglermag.com for more details on this hush-hush kayak.

The new Wilderness Systems Advanced Tactical Angling Kayak (ATAK), scheduled for release in early 2015, features an open design that can be customized to meet the needs of almost any angler. The deck is highly walkable and stable � a feature that was achieved without needing to add more width to the boat, allowing for sustained speed and glide. The deck is low-profile and intentionally designed to shed wind. Storage opportunities are abundant and are thoughtfully located throughout. Amongst the many new innovations that are overflowing on this boat, the ATAK will also feature the new AirPro MAX seat which becomes even more versatile with the ability to travel the majority of the length of the deck.

Evan Lyendecker, marketing manager with Wilderness Systems had this to say about the development of the ATAK: "We�re currently sitting with a phase 3 prototype, which is shaping up quite nicely, and have tested it in various fisheries from the Susquehanna River in PA and the tidal Potomac in MD/VA, to the marshes and bays around Charleston, SC and Port Aransas, TX, and various lakes in between. We�ll also be headed south this winter to chase some reds and specks in the Apalachicola National Forest and around the Forgotten Coast of FL. If the testing schedule is any indication, this kayak will be highly adaptive to almost any environment and target species."

Looks very cool. Definitely need to keep an eye on this.

Question: as written today in most tourney rules, can you to prefish with a motor as long as you are human powered during the actual tournament?