I thought about this motorized W boat design a few years ago:
It shouldn’t be too hard to turn a W500 kayak into a similar ‘personal watercraft’:
Using standard aluminum tubes, the stem of the steering handle can be made to be telescopic, so it could extend and retract, thus allowing to steer while riding the saddle as well as standing up.
Also, such telescopic steering system could allow for the driver to move fore and aft on the saddle while still steering. This could be useful for dealing with different water conditions.
-Food for thought for the engineering-oriented members of the W kayak community…
NEW: read more about motorizing fishing kayaks >>
An interesting idea. Darn thing would be quick too. I would imagine if a 9.9HP motor could be rigged the speed would be nearly 25 mph. Of course to save weight you could just use an extension on a tiller version and drive standing. So many possibilities.
I am not sure how successful will be the above design but definitely any design that favor mounting of an electric motor, fish finders, GPS or fish finder transducer will help more yakers to chose WaveWalk as a yak.
I am an avid reader on yaks forums and I find that many people like to buy the yak and customize them. Mounting a Fishfinder, GPS, and transducer is a common routine. Electric motor is not so common but if design permits will be better. Fish finder is a must these days. I would say that WW should have dedicated hole / shield for mounting the transducer. The mono hull brands tend to have it.
Everyone has a different taste for details on water.
WW has the best stability and freedom of position. If you can add above features without losing the current features, WW will become and even more competitive product.
The yakers like in general the yaks because it gives them the freedom to explore the waters where the engine boats can’t reach. Any design which alters this fact will be bad.
Regards and all the best from Ontario, Canada
Thanks Petru,
My intention in posting this drawing was to use it as a ‘teaser’, that is to give people another perspective on additional possibilities that they could explore using the W500 as a basis.
Yoav
Great read Yoav.
I for one, Know the W’s full potential.
Setting up my W300, with my hands free steering and 30lb minn kota trolling motor, was a dream come true.
Small, stable, easy to transport, uses the Electric power, a very Green, Lean fishing machine.
I’m hoping to wow you all with my next trolling motor setup on my W500.
This time, I’m setting it up so I can paddle, or quickly add the the hands free steering 40lb minn kota setup prior to my trip.
This way I can paddle with no extra weight added.
Tight Lines and Happy Paddling All
Rox