Comments on: Darrell Leidigh – My First Client http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/08/13/darrell-leidigh-my-first-client/ Kayak Fishing and Paddling: New Standards in Fishing Kayaks. Fishing Kayak Reviews and Kayak Fishing Trip Reports by and for Kayak Anglers Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:27:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: admin http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/08/13/darrell-leidigh-my-first-client/#comment-2050 admin Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:50:12 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=340#comment-2050 Jeff, I don't know about being a legend ;) Nick Schade, a seasoned traditional-style sea-kayak designer wrote me a few years ago that if I wanted to succeed I should focus on my business' cash flow. It sounded right, and I'm glad I took his advice :) BTW, I'm also glad I listened to your advice about kayak fishing :) Yoav Jeff,

I don’t know about being a legend ;)

Nick Schade, a seasoned traditional-style sea-kayak designer wrote me a few years ago that if I wanted to succeed I should focus on my business’ cash flow.
It sounded right, and I’m glad I took his advice :)

BTW, I’m also glad I listened to your advice about kayak fishing :)

Yoav

]]> By: Jeff McGovern http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/08/13/darrell-leidigh-my-first-client/#comment-2048 Jeff McGovern Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:34:12 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=340#comment-2048 I lived maybe 10 minutes from the Longwood Florida plant from 1985 till 2003. Everyone I fished with including myself had at least one Mohawk canoe. All the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops in Florida it seemed had trailers full of Mohawk seconds. These were boats that were sold mainly on Saturdays between nine and noon at the plant. They may have had a scratch or the gel coat was blurred in some fashion. Most of the boats we all had were fiberglass. He made two main styles a regular model and a livery model. The livery had an extra 10lbs of glass material in the bottom. This was for the amateur canoe rental customer. The type of folks who would jump off the dock into the canoe. I did see it happen one time at a water front restaurant on the Wekiva River near Orlando. A rather robust gentleman was preparing for a rented canoe trip in one of the Mohawk boats. These were well seasoned canoes totally faded from long storage in the Florida sun. He was right in front of the windows on the dock so it made a great show for all. The canoe was pulled up ready to go with one of the man's kids already in the boat. His was suited up in his life jacket, the old orange ones, and he was ready to go. Paddle in hand he jumped off the dock and dropped the two feet or so right into the canoe. He landed dead center and went right through the hull ended up in waist deep water wearing the canoe around his middle. No harm to anything except his dignity and the canoe. Mohawk made on heck of a product and for a long time ruled the Florida market for canoes. Throughout Central Florida while I lived there nobody could hope to sell canoes unless they were Mohawk. Whenever we visited the offices the folks were friendly and helpful. The plant itself was about as common as you might find. A collection of brown metal buildings with a fenced central area loaded with rack after rack of Mohawks. Their paddles were as tough as any ever made and the standard equipment of wilderness expeditions all over the world. For the Wavewalk to have gotten the attention of this gentleman is really something. At the rate things are going Yoav, you might become the next paddle craft legend. You already have one heck of a fantastic start. I lived maybe 10 minutes from the Longwood Florida plant from 1985 till 2003. Everyone I fished with including myself had at least one Mohawk canoe. All the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops in Florida it seemed had trailers full of Mohawk seconds. These were boats that were sold mainly on Saturdays between nine and noon at the plant. They may have had a scratch or the gel coat was blurred in some fashion. Most of the boats we all had were fiberglass. He made two main styles a regular model and a livery model. The livery had an extra 10lbs of glass material in the bottom. This was for the amateur canoe rental customer. The type of folks who would jump off the dock into the canoe. I did see it happen one time at a water front restaurant on the Wekiva River near Orlando. A rather robust gentleman was preparing for a rented canoe trip in one of the Mohawk boats. These were well seasoned canoes totally faded from long storage in the Florida sun. He was right in front of the windows on the dock so it made a great show for all. The canoe was pulled up ready to go with one of the man’s kids already in the boat. His was suited up in his life jacket, the old orange ones, and he was ready to go. Paddle in hand he jumped off the dock and dropped the two feet or so right into the canoe. He landed dead center and went right through the hull ended up in waist deep water wearing the canoe around his middle. No harm to anything except his dignity and the canoe.
Mohawk made on heck of a product and for a long time ruled the Florida market for canoes. Throughout Central Florida while I lived there nobody could hope to sell canoes unless they were Mohawk. Whenever we visited the offices the folks were friendly and helpful. The plant itself was about as common as you might find. A collection of brown metal buildings with a fenced central area loaded with rack after rack of Mohawks. Their paddles were as tough as any ever made and the standard equipment of wilderness expeditions all over the world. For the Wavewalk to have gotten the attention of this gentleman is really something.
At the rate things are going Yoav, you might become the next paddle craft legend. You already have one heck of a fantastic start.

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