Any kayak designer, paddler or angler would tell you that a kayak can either track well, or turn easily, and that the longer the kayak’s hull the better it would track, but the harder it would be to maneuver, and vice versa. In the narrow and restricted world of traditional, mono-hull kayaks this is axiomatic, meaning that it requires no proof, since everyone already knows it to be true.
Wavewalk has already proven that its W300 kayak was a great tracker for a 10 ft long kayak, and did not require a rudder to help it track even under strong wind. The W300 also astonished quite a few kayak paddlers and designers by showing them that a paddler could lean it into the turn, and make very sharp turns – again, without a rudder.
Now we offer the W500 that’s much faster than the W300, and tracks considerably better. In fact, kayakers and kayak anglers compare its speed to that of a 14-16 ft long, fast fishing kayak, or a 12-13 ft long touring kayak.
The question that some kayakers and anglers have asked, and rightfully so, is whether this great tracker could maneuver easily without a rudder.
This demo movie shows how riding the saddle from its rear end changes the kayak’s hydrodynamics in a way that makes it highly maneuverable:
Leaning into the turn makes steering even more effective.
When tight maneuvers are no longer required, the paddler can go back to paddling the W500 kayak from the middle of the saddle. In that position, the W500 is perfectly balanced fore and aft, tracks perfectly, and can achieve its highest speed.
No rudder is required for either tracking or turning the W500 kayak. If you’ve used a rudder with your kayak you’d know it is really good news. This is because rudders cost money, they impede your kayak, and they have a nasty tendency to harvest seaweed and get stuck in the bottom when you’re paddling and fishing in shallow water.
In other words, rudders are pain…
By the way, aboriginal kayaks made by arctic circle people had no rudders, since the people who crafted and paddled them were better paddlers than we are.
Yoav, that method does work well when seated aft, but I find that the when sitting in the the middle in the 500, it turns best if handled like a mono hull kayak. Leaning to the opposite side of the desired turn and paddling on that side turns it pretty well. The hull opposite the side you are turning is angled at the bow on the side and this digs in forcing the front to track away from the angle. This seems contrary to the way the 300 turns in the videos, think because the bow angles are different on the 300.
Hi Kevin,
Indeed, the W500 can be turned easily the way you describe it.
We recommend leaning into the turn for two reasons:
1. Learning curve: Leaning into the turn seems more intuitive for most paddlers who don’t benefit from your extensive experience in traditional kayaking.
2. Safety (the ‘what if’ factor): If you lose balance while leaning into the turn, stopping the paddling action would likely correct the problem, or at least help you deal with the situation. But if you lose balance while paddling on the same side you’re leaning to, stopping the paddling action would only aggravate the problem.
Yoav
Looks to me like the paddler in the video is sitting on the top rear rim of the W rather than on the saddle. Don’t think I’d want to do that!!
Ok Yoav, those wheelies are cool! We were talking about the W last night at a kayak meeting and the handling questions came up. What many of those guys did not understand was that it was so easy to move backwards or forwards on the saddle. They are so use to being stuck in one place underway in their mono hull boats. One other advantage the W has it that by nature of the seating an angler is very well centered and stays that way. Tendency to tip is not a real issue, at least for me. By letting your body “melt” into the seat the boat is dock like in stability yet it moves with the best of performance kayaks.
Hi Gary,
That paddler in the movie is me wearing my leather jacket because the temperature there was 40 F with a 10 mph wind…
I’m riding the W500 from the top of the rear part of the spray deflector, and it feels pretty good, actually. I suppose it would have felt real comfy had I padded it with some foam.
Generally speaking, since the W500 is more stable than the W300, it’s easier to paddle it from higher sitting and riding positions.
Hi Jeff,
In agree – It is difficult for most people to see all the advantages the W kayak concept has to offer at once, and in the beginning different people see different parts of the whole.
Yoav
Did your butt get wet??? LOLOL
Nice job showing how easy the W is to turn.
And one of the many positions you can sit while paddling the W500.
Tight lines and paddle safe all!
Rox
Hi Rox,
I stayed dry from head to toe, obviously!
Yoav