Inflatable Kayak Review: Wilderness Systems iATAK 110

Before I talk about the Wilderness Systems iATAK 110, let me share some inflatable history. Everyone remembers the inflatable vinyl pool toys we played with as children. Or maybe you recall the heavy-duty river raft from your whitewater adventure weekend. Today’s inflatable fishing kayaks use drop-stitch air chambers to take blow-up boats to new levels of paddling performance and stability.

At first, fishing inflatables used high pressure drop-stitch chambers in the floor and low-pressure air chambers in the gunwales. Now companies are turning out boats, like the Wilderness iATAK 110, with drop-stitch floors and gunwales. The result is an inflatable kayak that is easier to paddle and more comfortable for fishing.

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Inflatable Kayak Review: Wilderness Systems iATAK 110

Fishy Features

According to the Wilderness Systems website, ATAK stands for Advanced Tactical Angling Kayak. The rotomolded ATAK 120 favors stability, rigging and comfort. The sister iATAK is the first inflatable in the Wilderness Systems family using these features to squeeze the maximum fishability out of an inflatable kayak.

To install accessories for fishing, Wilderness Systems installed mounting pads at strategic locations. These pads allow me to add rod holders, camera booms and electronics where they make sense.

Ahead of the cockpit, an accessory bar provides a convenient place to install a rod holder or fish finder display where it is out of the way and easy to reach. The wide, flat floor is padded to provide more traction for standup fishing. There’s even a handy fish ruler printed on the deck.

But anyone can slap some rod holders and a fish ruler on an inflatable and call it a fishing kayak. The iATAK takes air-filled boats to another level with an innovative hull design and a really cool seat.

Seat

The crowning glory of the iATAK is the Ergoboost seat. Wilderness Systems is famous for their comfortable seats and they didn’t skimp with the iATAK.

The Ergoboost is a full-size, mesh-covered frame seat with lumbar support for all-day comfort. To further elevate the angler off the deck, the seat back folds forward to expose a platform. Sitting on the platform gives me a few extra inches above the water to make casting and retrieving a lure easier and more effective. Moving the seat into the low position is more aerodynamic and ergonomic for paddling.

Complementing the seat, a set of foot pegs in the cockpit provide a stable place to rest my feet for more paddling power.

Drop Stitch

The worst thing about inflatable kayaks is performance. Inflatables float on top of the water without a keel to keep the boat tracking straight. This makes the kayak susceptible to being moved off course by wind and current.

Also, an inflatable kayak lacks rigidity. Flex in the hull saps paddling power and stability. And, the air chambers limit options for shaping the kayak.

The iATAK overcomes these challenges with an innovative design. Many fishing kayaks use a flat drop-stitch floor and low-pressure side chambers. To increase stiffness, the iATAK uses a drop-stitch construction in both the floor and gunwales. But drop-stitch panels are flat, so the iATAK wraps the panel in a vinyl skin to give the hull a curved shape. To further improve paddling performance, the iATAK has a molded, hard plastic bow and removable skeg.

Rigging

At 11 feet long, the iATAK offers plenty of space for gear and fishing. There is ample space behind the seat for a gear crate with multiple vertical rod holders.

Mounting bases on either side of the cockpit provide a base for elevated rod holders or a camera boom. Another base on the starboard gunwale ahead of the seat is convenient for a rod holder or cup holder. I can even use the base to mount a fish finder and transducer on a YakAttack SwitchBlade.

That’s about the extent of the rigging options. Inflatable kayaks are best for grab-and-go fishing with easy transport and storage. A couple boxes of tackle, a few fishing rods, a paddle and life vest are all I need when I take the iATAK 110 fishing.

On the Go

Most anglers buy an inflatable fishing kayak for easy transportation and storage. At 40 pounds, the iATAK is considerably lighter than a rotomolded kayak. And, the boat deflates and folds into a large carry case.

The iATAK comes with a dual stage hand pump and a battery-operated electric pump. I use the battery pump to inflate the iATAK to 90-percent capacity and the hand pump to top off the chambers.

The boat only has two chambers, which speeds up the inflation process. However, pumping up two high-pressure drop-stitch chambers requires some time and effort.

Performance

For almost every issue of Kayak Angler, I test-drive an inflatable fishing kayak. Kayak fishing is an entry-level sport and anglers with limited transportation and storage options want to get in on the fun. The iATAK allows almost any angler to become a kayak angler.

After testing dozens of inflatable fishing kayaks, the iATAK is one of the best at paddling a straight line and maintaining stability. Solid paddling performance makes fishing easier. While the iATAK is still no match for the performance or fishability of a rotomolded plastic kayak, the innovative drop-stitch construction and comfortable two position high-low seat make the Wilderness Systems iATAK 110 the next evolution in inflatable kayaks.

A unique double drop-stitch hull provides unmatched rigidity. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes