Kayak Review- Phoenix 140 from Hurricane

I got interested in Hurricane after seeing their Phoenix line of fishing kayaks at UP Sports in Dana Point Californiat last Fall. After checking into them and getting the testimony of a lot of Phoenix owners from the Southeast, I started including a few of their models in my referrals to anglers.
I finally had the opportunity to fish the Phoenix 140 last week and within an hour, I knew I had a special fishing model under me. With an exceptional touring hull for a 14 footer, this model is lightweight, very strong, tracks and turns well and speed-wise is right on par with, or faster than, other kayaks in its length class (Tarpon, Prowler, Marauder and a few others). The deck is spacious without wasting room for "added" stability and is easy to accessorize. The aft tankwell is well designed and with all the junk I've got piled up by the end of the day, seemed less crowded and notably drier than tankwells on some other models. A 4" screw deck plate behind the seat appears to be for access and may be retrofitted with a pouch. The bow hatch is approx 18"X14" with plenty of room for rod storage. The bow lid is the rubber snap on style.
The Phoenix 140 is so dry and stable that those factors are not issues.
Special features are many. Most kayaks for fishing are rotationally molded from polyethylene. Hurricane kayaks are hand made with Trylon and consist of 2 pieces. .
Trylon won't fade in the sun like many poly boats and it won't warp while tied to the roof racks on a hot day.
From the manufacturer, "Trylon is a durable plastic, with exceptional abrasion and ultraviolet resistance. It has the weight, performance and semblance of a composite material. Trylon is the best material currently being used to manufacture kayaks and unique to Hurricane Aqua Sports."
The scupper system on the Phoenix 140 and 160 is state-of-the-art in my experience. The deck and tankwell scuppers are plumbed to a single, center through-hull scupper drain. This is a solid system that won't be compromised by stowing rods and gear securely inside the hull.
The Trylon material and polished glass-like finish on the Phoenix line is unique to this manufacturer. With a heavy angler (220#), the 140 feels solid on the water. In 10kt winds and chop, It tracks straight and clean through the water. The deck affords easy mobility for sitting sideways and accessing both the stern deck and the bow hatch. The cockpit is comfortable by design for many hours of fishing and paddling comfort. The deck areas will accommodate every modification anglers consider including mounts for electronics and livewells. Due to the shiny finish, like new fiberglass, owners may be inclined to take a little more care not to scratch the hull. Long proven by anglers on the southern oyster beds, the Trylon boats are tough and hold up to the worst conditions. Unlike poly boats that are difficult to repair, often require plastic hot welding to fix and don’t offer easy solutions for scratches, virtually all the repairs on the Trylon kayaks, from gouges in the plastic to bigger holes and tears, can be done with Devcon Plastic Welder (an adhesive) for a permanent repair. The Hurricane 140 is fast becoming one of my top picks for anglers up to 225# in all the fisheries.