Help me pick a new (used) SOT - Tarpon 160, Freedom 15, Perception Search 15, or another OK Scupper Pro?

Advice
#1

I have found I really enjoy SOT’s for day tripping and exploring in this summer heat. I really enjoy playing in the surf with them, too, provided I have some thigh straps. I am looking for a combination of the best speed, durability, fun in surf, ability to paddle all day in comfort and some light camping. I don’t fish or scuba.

I have been absolutely loving my 2002 scupper pro TW, but I am looking at either picking up a backup one or another boat. Just on marketplace in my area, there is a Tarpon 160 ($300), Freedom 15 ($300), Perception Search 15 ($500 list) and at least 2-3 cheaper Scupper pros for sale. These are all around my budget, or I would look for similar boats that can be had used for a similar price.

I have heard the Tarpon 160 is the best you can get, but some seem to say the tarpon has the worst plastic of the bunch. Right now I might still be leaning towards the WS, but I have found a couple comments that the perception is faster. I haven’t found much about them online. The freedom 15 looks like it has the most interesting outline and could be the fastest, but the one for sale near me is pretty old. I see OK prowler 15’s for sale but I think this would be the widest. With my scupper pro I can hold a fine edge and I don’t think I’d like another 3" wide. There are no RTM Tempo’s or Current Design Kestrel SOT’s for sale near me, if there were I would consider those.

The Scupper pro is really the perfect kayak for me right now. It is excellent in wind, and I can do a little better than 4 mph usually. I don’t love the fact that my 215 lbs means the seat is a very wet ride, but I haven’t tried to mitigate it any (thicker pad or scupper plugs), and its really not a big deal. I would be perfectly happy picking up a backup one, and might anyway if a good enough deal comes around, but I wonder if I should consider any of these other options first.

I would like a stellar s16s or s18s but these are going to be out of my budget for the next few years. The swell scuppers look interesting, but also going to be out of my budget and seem to be heavy.

What would you get? I think I’d be happy with any but wanted to ask someone. TYIA

#2

I had and loved Tarpon 160 for years.
Stable, responsive and comfortable. I sold mine because the weight and length were getting too much for my aging body.
I love SOT so I got a T140. Very enjoyable but just not as much as the 160. My impression is that it’s slow but I often paddle with sea kayaks. Reality sometimes catches up with me.

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#3

I have paddled with string and the Tarpon 16 is a fine choice.

Those stellar are fast. String had one but it didn’t fit him. He let me paddle it and I liked it. Very nice kayaks.

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#4

A higher performance SOT, I come across these Heritage SOT kayaks every so often (even better when a composite version shows up in Craigslist of Facebook marketplace):

-sing

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#5

I paddled with a friend that had one of those. good boats indeed.

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