Primary does look a little loose. And that step-up sight fishing deal looks stupid IMO. Too hard getting too and from it.

Agreed, and that looseness could be an issue with many people who rarely actually take a kayak very far into its secondary stability zone. A feeling of tipping left and right sitting in a high seat is "off putting" to many people. And, it never goes away. It'll feel, I think, like sitting in a kayak designed for racing speed.

Yep, I'd say those "perch pads" as they are being called will be used by a very slim percentage of its eventual owners . . . and by very slim kayakers, too. Ha! Luther did some little maneuver where he flipped the seat back down or something, was facing forward, and sort of walked his feet back up and on the pads, then he stood up from there. But, many folks won't be limber enough to do that. I could see some wiry and light kayakers hop up there but I don't see all that much advantage . . . not certain what the heck one would do with a 10 lbs. bedding bass on the other end of the line and trying to land it.

I want to see Chad Hoover get up there unassisted.

I follow lots of brands, am always interested in innovations and how they are accepted by end users/buyers. Some work some don't, some work and don't sell.

A good price point, I think this one will sell but it is fighting a very powerful trend toward pedal power. Just think of all the pedalers introduced since last year.

Brad

Yea, I haven't been able to get in it yet, But I'm not sure if the stability will allow me to get in the "perch pads" ether. My balance is absolutely terrible. I loved my Ride135 and could stand in it. But couldn't ever feel comfortable standing and fishing. I know a lot of people that can stand and fish in them all day long. I guess my old age and being "fluffy" isn't a good combo.

"As I get older"! Man do I resemble that remark!

I am 6' 7" 250 lbs so stability is way more important to me than speed.

I went from an Ocean Kayaks Trident Prowler 13 to a Jackson Kayaks Big Tuna and now to a Hobie PA12.

My wife said something about people who add trolling motors to their yaks and shaking her head about it so I took it as a sign that the Hobie should be the next step.

I have a bum knee from years of playing ball and a couple injuries so standing up on a yak is out of the question.

Stability!.....One reason I probably won't ever upgrade from my Commander120. It's mainly the stability and ease of getting in and out of it that at my age and stiffness, I can't justify changing from what works for me.

I have a Commander 140 and feel the same way. It is supper stable even for a old fat dude like me.

I fished out of a friends SOT about a week ago and it's a stable one, and maybe I'm spoiled, but there were a couple of times on the water I didn't feel that security like in my Commander. Us old fharts have to make too many adjustments, so we need that extra stability for forgiveness.

AMEN

Here's a complete walkthrough I did of the SS127 at ICAST.

Nice walk through!

Did Hans Nutz leave Wilderness Systems? Could be why this kayak looks very similar to the ATAK

And, I note that Chad Hoover was all over and around these Bonafide kayaks. He was active with Wilderness, too, and was found all over the ATAK 120 and other models one year ago at ICAST 2016. Did he jump ship?

Interesting!

Brad

He and basically the entire Confluence design team. Jake Fuller went with him and a couple of their engineers.

Not sure Chads involvement if any but he and Luther have been good friends for years so I can see him just being there for support. There has been several people including reps jump over to Bonafide. I'm a big Wildy fan but I will have see how this turns out. Great team over at Bonafide.

This kayak doesn't interest me at all. Perch pads, really? You're already standing, do you really need that extra 5 inches?