How to Save Money When Buying a Fishing Kayak
Fishing kayaks can be expensive, and when you start adding the cost of all accessories you’ll find they actually cost much more.
However, by buying a Wavewalk fishing kayak you can save a lot of money (up to $1,350) just on accessories:
- Rudder: Our kayaks track better than any other kayak, and require no rudder. You save $220 – $300
- Kayak Seat: Our W Kayaks are yak-back free, and require no special seat added. You save $80 – $200
- Kayak Rack: Our kayaks are easy to cartop and fit any car rack – No need for a special kayak rack. You save $50 – $500.
- Outriggers: Our W500 kayaks are stabler and safer than other kayaks that are equipped with outriggers. With the W500 you don’t need outriggers, even with an electric trolling motor. You save $100 – $350.
Rudders are a pain to operate, they slow you down, and get stuck in shallow water and weeds.
Kayak seats are bad for your back, and can turn your kayak fishing trip into an unpleasant experience. They are even likely to get you to quit kayak fishing in the long run, because of back pain and discomfort.
Kayak racks need to be installed on your car rack, and when they’re there you can’t use your car rack to carry other things.
Outriggers are a pain to install, they slow you down, and they limit your kayak’s mobility and maneuverability. Plus they’re one more bulky thing to carry.
BOTTOM LINE: Rudders, yak racks and outriggers are annoying, and kayak seats are bad for you. Aren’t your health and peace of mind priceless?
Tags: accessories, car rack, choosing a fishing kayak, fishing kayak, fishing kayaks, kayak seat, outriggers, sale, stabilizers
October 3rd, 2009 at
totally
October 3rd, 2009 at
Well Yoav you layed it all out. The fact is the W has many advantages. Remember the story I told you of a man almost ruining a whole fishing trip by forgeting his seats. Happens all the time. When the fish camp was still renting boats that was an item many times requested by folks bringing their own yaks to use. The W has what you need already part of the boat. Of course you could always forget your paddle, I’ve never done that (cough cough). If you consider what some folks pay for the high end yak racks I’ll bet it’s more than their boats cost. Dollar for dollar spent you get alot in a W. When it arrives you can unpack it, gear up, and go. Nothing has to be adjusted which is another advantage for families. Anyone tall, short, large or small can just jump in an be off. Their own body will conform to the boat right away and they will be comfortable.
October 3rd, 2009 at
Also, let’s not forget that seats and rudders suffer from wear and tear, and need replacement, and that’s more money to throw away in the future.
Pete
October 3rd, 2009 at
Basically, you start thinking about your next kayak seat the day after you used the one you got, and realized you were still seated uncomfortably, at best…
Marco
October 3rd, 2009 at
Pete has a point: Rudders tend to break down, especially if you go in shallow water, and seats get worn, and torn – especially the soft ones that have a lot of foam in them.
That turns kayak rudders and seats into “consumables” rather than “durable goods”. It’s good for the manufacturers, and not very good for consumers.
Marco is right too – kayak seats are uncomfortable by definition, because of the way you sit in them.
October 3rd, 2009 at
The W’s are by far the easiest to rig.
Yoav, I couldn’t have said it better.
Rox
October 5th, 2009 at
This article raises the question of how much does a fishing kayak really cost?
You can easily double the cost of your yak just by adding all these accessories that are necessary if you have a sot-kayak, or a sink, but it doesn’t mean that in the end you’ll have a yak that’s going to serve you well.
On the contrary, you’ll end up owning a clumsy and uncomfortable craft, and you’ll wonder what had brought you to get into this thing in the first place?
Don R
November 17th, 2009 at
Don, that’s what I was thinking while reading all above. It is not about how much you pay but how much you get for money. I’d rather spend more and get what I really need than spend less and get something that is not what I need.
A friend of mine bought cheap imitation of Swiss watches and they worked for a week then stopped. I will always remember him saying “There is certain price you have to pay for each thing. If you go cheap and try to pay less you get nothing”.
January 4th, 2010 at
Please send where i can go and see your kayak and also pricing.
Thank You For Your Time On This Matter.
James
January 4th, 2010 at
Jim,
We sell the kayaks we make directly.
If you live in New England, or visit our region, you’re welcome to come over and visit us.
Pricing, shipping, technical and other info can be found on our website’s ‘Kayaks’ and ‘Ordering’ pages.
Yoav
June 24th, 2010 at
I’m going to admit, these kayaks look AMAZING.
however, currently i cannot afford one. Based on your information about the advantage they provide, I will need to try one.
currently I have a little sink with rod holders and such. in all honesty, i love the rudder, as I can track and battle wind and current better than no rudder (skegs are nice also)
i wouldn’t dream of getting a kayak rudder that can’t be folded onto the deck, they do exactly what you say otherwise: get damaged. the rudder is the kind of thing you want to deploy when needed, and leave stowed the rest of the time.
but also, i don’t really carry much on my yak. i have a spinner setup and a baitcaster setup. that’s really it, and it works fine for me.
about the only thing that could make the W yak any better (and this is just my aesthetic opinion) is offer differing lengths of boat.
will there be any chance of seeing this yak at any demo days? I’m on the west coast and trying it out on some demo day would be great.
i also had to post the link to some forums i belong to that are about yakking and yak fishing, i though the people there might like this.
can’t wait to try one sometime!
June 25th, 2010 at
Discoman,
You’ll find that many comments posted on online kayaking and kayak fishing forum are made by people who are affiliated with one or more kayak brands that compete with Wavewalk.
In fact, many of those forums are either owned, operated or moderated by some equipment vendor, kayaks included.
Don’t be surprised if your post gets some unflattering comments from people who will trash the W kayak concept, looks etc.
It all starts to make sense once you introduce the $$ factor into the equation
June 25th, 2010 at
This blog has the only ongoing online discussion about W kayaks where most participants actually know what they’re talking about
Marco
June 26th, 2010 at
admin,
most everyone’s first reaction to it has been what? no way. does it work?
then they ask for videos, which i kindly provide form youtube.
then most people do the research and see that they are in fact, quite good, and the design ideas quite sound.
i only post to neutral forums and fishing forums.
the only people who don’t really seem to like the W are SIK diehards.
then again, the SIK is really low to the water. nearly everyone interested have been from SOT forums.
and i can say for sure, that when i get a fishing yak (hopefully soon) it will be a W yak. my only question is how is the turning on them?
June 26th, 2010 at
Hi Discoman,
A neutral forum is like a diet that works… It exists in theory
Turning a W300 isn’t a problem, but turning a W500 is something you have to learn, because the boat is such a natural tracker.
The way to do it is by leaning into the turn, and/or applying long, circular paddle strokes (see exaggerated example in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdgDuenWDxU )
Once you know how to do it it’s easy, and comes naturally.
I’ve heard other W kayakers complain about a certain intolerance and resistance to change from die hard sea kayakers. That’s basically because these people have had to suffer so much to practice their favorite, unrewarding sport, that they may sometime feel that such sacrifice makes them and their boats ‘special’. In a way, it does
Yoav