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Following Jeff’s Fishing Trip

Today Jeff emailed me this short addendum to his fishing report from yesterday:

“I wanted to mention these two things. First not having really to lift much of anything is great. From the time I put my W into my pickup truck until I arrive home I only lift it to put it away. At the launching site in and out it’s only a pull out, lower, and drag the water (one trip by the way with all gear) then reverse when I’m done. No strain at all.
The other thing is the saddle positions you can get. I found that by bending all the way forward while seated you can stretch out the back issues and take off a bunch of strain. Nothing else allows a position like that except maybe riding on a horse, and I would guess loading a horse in my Ford Ranger would negate any gains from the position. Besides the W doesn’t eat much and you don’t have to clean it’s stall.
I had to mention this stuff because today is the best my back has felt in weeks. Maybe it’s the W maybe not.”

Why do I think this is important? It’s because you can’t overestimate good ergonomics since it is critical to the well being of any paddler and kayak fisherman, and because unlike stability and mobility it’s hard to demonstrate in a video or discuss in an article.

Yoav


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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at and is filed under Kayak design, Kayaks, fishing, kayak fishing, paddling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

8 Responses to “Following Jeff’s Fishing Trip”

  1. Bob Korman Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    It’s the most important thing together with safety. I just don’t get why people are willing to put up with the zero level of comfort they get in their kayaks.
    Bob Korman

  2. Mike M Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    Most people don’t take their kayaks out for more than an hour or two. besides, what’s the alternative? kayaks are cheap, durable and you can put two or three on top of your car

  3. Mike H. Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    Recreational kayaks are cheap but a sea kayak or a fishing kayak can cost over a grand, and after an hour in them your back and legs feel the same as if you were in a $300 kayak from Wal-mart.

  4. Mike M Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    what’s their alternative? most people haven’t heard of the W
    Mike M

  5. Bob Korman Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    Some people would spend hundreds of dollars just on a kayak seat
    bob

  6. April Leder Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    You mean an “ergonomic” kayak seat ;-)

  7. admin Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    Aren’t all kayak seats ergonomic??… :-D

  8. April Leder Says:
    February 10th, 2008 at

    I guess the real trouble begins when you’re over forty and you find out that you can’t endure what you used to.

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