And here the movie we’ve all been waiting for: Dan Carroll in his maiden voyage in his motorized, electric W fishing kayak:
Read more about this electric trolling motor project
When you’re fishing from a W kayak there’s an instant way to know how long a caught fish is:
You place it on the saddle top (a.k.a. mini-deck), and count the lines -
Each rectangle is 6″, so this flounder that stretches over three of them would measure just a little above 18″.
Obviously, this method is not recognized by any fishing tournament, but it’s good to know - in case you forgot your ruler.
Photo courtesy of Jeff McGovern, Florida.
Thrust is a unit of measurement that manufacturers of electric trolling motors for fishing kayaks and other boats use to describe propulsion capability. Thrust is measured in units of weight. In the USA it’s usually pounds (lb.).
This can be confusing, since we often tend to think of propulsion in motion terms, or in horsepower (HP).
Before going further, we’d better clarify what weight and thrust have in common:
This (rather crude) illustration shows a small boat on the water. The boat is equipped with an electric trolling motor and propeller unit whose measurable output is 36 lb. The boat is attached by a line to a 36 lb weight that’s pulling it backward. Since the motor unit can provide 36 lb of thrust it will keep the boat in place: It would be strong enough to counterweight the 36 lb weight, but not strong enough to get the boat to move forward.
Once the battery gets weaker and/or the propeller entangled in seaweed the thrust achieved will diminish and the 36 lb weight will drag the boat backwards.
Similarly, if we lifted the propeller out the water it would still thrust the boat forward, but much less so, since it would be pushing against air that’s hundreds of times less dense than the water this propeller was designed to work in… In this case the 36 lb weight would easily win this tug of war.
Note that this simple model describes thrust without using speed terms.
There is no simple formula that can help you convert thrust to horsepower or vice versa, although the terms are closely related to each other when motorized boats are concerned.
In our case Thrust is the directional force resulting from the rotation of a propeller at a certain speed. Different propellers rotating at the same speed will generate different thrust. The same propeller will usually generate more thrust at a higher rotation speed (RPM).
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power (it’s quite obvious isn’t it?…), which is the ability to do work. Power is described by weight lifted over a distance during a certain time.
1 HP is equal to the power needed to lift the weight of 550 lb over a vertical distance of 1 ft - in 1 second.
Just by looking at these numbers we can sense that not every human is capable of producing 1 HP - not even for a short period of time. Most of us can produce much less than 1 HP over long periods of time, such as when paddling, biking etc. Estimates vary from 0.2 to 0.4 HP, but that doesn’t mean much for us as individuals.
So, going back to our illustration, if we had a 1 HP gas engine on top of the dam, and that engine was attached with a pulley to the line holding the 36 lb weight, we would be able to lift that weight up at a staggering speed of over 15 ft per second (550:36 = 15….).
Apples to apples: How can we compare the 1 HP gas engine to our 36 lb electric trolling motor?
We need comparable, that is mutually convertible units of measurement. In this case it’s HP and Watt. To convert Watts (W) to a horsepower rating (HP) simply multiply the Watts by 0.00134
In other words, a 750 W electric motor (1:00134 = 746…) produces the equivalent of 1 HP.
In boating terms, Thrust would be the result of applying this power to move a boat through the water by connecting the engine to a suitable propeller and letting it move water… In order for such a comparison to make some practical sense we need to assume certain things about RPM, type and condition of propeller, boat size, boat speed etc… It’s really not that easy.
More specifically, when it comes to electric motors for kayaks you shouldn’t be tempted to get a strong motor that would consume your battery power too fast. If such a thing happens you’ll have to paddle your kayak back with a heavy battery and motor onboard…
Here is Jeff McGovern’s latest contribution to the art and science of W kayak fishing -
A two minute, online guided tour of his rigged, 2008 W fishing kayak (video plus audio).
It’s a gem:
We’re getting reports about people sailing, rowing, surfing, paddling and driving their W kayaks… -When we get enough pictures we publish a ’story’ page. The latest story is from Vermont. It’s about Dan Carroll’s electric trolling motor system project for his 2007 W fishing kayak, a.k.a “The Mean Green Machine”. We call it a ’system’ because it includes not only the motor but a clever, user friendly steering device as well.
Dan cruising in his electric W fishing kayak
And here’s the first fish Dan caught in his motorized W fishing kayak
Last year Scott Johnson from Minnesota bought a 2007 W fishing kayak that he’s used for photography and bow hunting (See full story).
This year Scott got himself a 2008 model. With two W kayaks Scott can enjoy W kayak trips in the company of guests, and this time it was his nephew Justin, who’s also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Here is Scott’s report from their first W kayak trip this year: -”The rivers are finally coming down to a safe level but they are very stirred up and muddy. My nephew Justin and I went for our first paddle together yesterday. More major erosion has widened out the river even further. When we started out we were on a 45 degree muddy incline - I positioned my 2008 Wavewalk kayak square to the water and said “This is how you get started” - a little thrust and I was on my way. I hit the water and bounced the front end a little but easily maintained my balance. Justin was grinning, he also managed the water slide entry with no problem. Going with the current is lots of fun but no work… We saw an eagle on a sandbar eating a fish, it took off and when we checked out the carp he was still flipping around. We had our fish poles but the river was so muddy it seemed pointless.
Justin paddling Scott’s 2007 W Fishing kayak
The important thing is we had a great time just cruising down the river. We are both impressed with the Wavewalk kayaks, they are very versatile. Temps were around 90 so a couple hours was enough. The next outing will be an all day, fishing, shore lunch on a nicer cleaner river. I found a manmade lake about 20 miles frome here. I geuss it has a sand bottom and is nice and clear. It has crappies and sunnies in it, maybe some good fishing will materialize soon! -Scott”
Sometimes we tend to forget that kayak fishermen are people with additional interests in life besides fishing… Some have families, and they like to share their experience and even their boat with family members and friends.
Such is Dan, from Vermont (see Dan’s W Fishing Kayak Review).
Dan invited his daughter Emily and her friend Tunie to try his 2007 W fishing kayak, and like him they had no problem paddling standing:
John Putnam is a kayak fisherman from eastern Massachusetts who likes to fish the beaches and small lakes in the southeastern part of the state, where few other fishermen venture. The access to those places is sometimes very difficult, and therefore requires an all-terrain solution for portaging.
A kayak or canoe trolley would be expensive and bulky to carry onboard, and might not be up to the task in particularly hard to access spots.
John’s DIY solution is simply brilliant: Use the W kayak as a wheelbarrow, with a wide wheel attached in the space below the hull tips. The wheel is mounted on a lightweight, plastic tube frame, which itself can be attached to the boat with just one strap going between the hulls.
John’s ‘all terrain’ 2007 W Fishing Kayak:
This is a picture sent by Fred, from North Carolina.
It was shot by a group of soldiers on a big fishing boat while they were on a vacation fishing trip organized by M.A.D.
Fred is currently experiencing with W kayak sailing… and we hope to get more pictures from him.
Thanks Fred!
Craig is a fly fisherman from central Massachusetts who rigged his new 2008 W Fishing Kayak in an innovative yet simple and elegant way.
You can read about Craig and his fly fishing W kayak in this new review.
View of Craig’s 2008 W fly fishing kayak - Note the innovative fly rod holder.
Dan C, a Vermont resident, always wanted to fish standing up in a kayak. He tried all kinds of kayak designs that promised ’stand up kayak fishing’, just to find he couldn’t really stand in them and fish in full confidence - and not even at a reasonable level of comfort.
Earlier this year Dan bought himself a 2007 W fishing kayak, and this time he got exactly what he expected: He can stand up and fish comfortably and confidently even when some wind is blowing, and in the presence of eddies, and he can easily paddle standing.
Read Dan’s W Fishing Kayak Review. It shows some cool things that Dan did with his kayak in terms of rigging it for fishing.
These are pictures Dan sent from his latest fishing trip in Lake Champlain, Vermont.
Ben is a W Kayak fly fisherman from Pennsylvania who has a personal blog.
He recently added to his blog this report on his kayak fishing trip drifting and paddling down Nesahminy creek .
Highly recommended reading!
Ben’s W Kayak - Neshaminy creek
Jeff’ McGovern’s new kayak fishing article is called ‘Good As Live Bait?’. It’s a review of the Fishbites and Gulp lure brands.
Jeff writes: -”The brands I’ve been using are “Fishbites” (Carr Specialty Baits, St Augustine, Florida) and the more widely distributed “Gulp” (Berkley). 
They are very different in composition, but achieve the same purpose for me: live bait results without the hassle of storing or keeping bait alive in my W. Whenever I’m fishing saltwater flats, both products are onboard and ready to catch fish.”
Anyway on to the largest fish today. I had gotten out to cool off with a little wading when the big jack hit a minnow style plug. It was like trying to hold back a train. That fish hit with a quick flash and peeled off line against the drag. Thank heavens I was using a stiff bait cast rig with 16lb line. I was barely able to keep the fish from running right around the oyster beds.
Size wise it pulled lots harder than it looked but it’s still a nice sized jack for the inshore waters. The last shot is how a strong fish can actually bend a very strong saltwater treble hook almost open. A few more minutes on the line and this fish would have straighted the hooks and pulled loose.
The W kayak can carry two adult passengers onboard, providing none of them is very big.
In these pictures the guy is 6 ft 200 lbs, and the girl is 5′5″ and weighs 135 lb. That’s about the maximum passenger load this boat would take and still perform reasonably well.
To begin with, it’s important to stress the fact that tandem is an ‘advanced’ application, which means both paddlers are required to be experienced in solo W kayaking before they go paddling it in tandem.
The secret to successful tandem paddling is having each paddler perform his / her role: The front paddler should paddle as regularly as possible (e.g. left-right), and the back paddler, who’s in fact the ’skipper’ should follow the movement of the front paddle with his own paddle while trying to keep the paddles parallel to each other in order to prevent them from colliding.
The paddler in the back is also the one who’s more responsible for tracking and steering, and should try to do it without losing power and momentum, that is while applying different strokes of varying power. Sharp turns should be done together.
Paddling and just drifting down a river standing in your W is a new and exhilarating way to travel and fish.
The river and scenery are experienced differently than when you’re sitting or riding in your kayak, and fishing is altogether different.
First of all, you can see more of what’s around you, whether it’s the water or the banks that you’re interested in. Wildlife and vegetation are more visible, and fish can often be perceived in the water when they wouldn’t be from a lower position.
Paddling down river is always easier than up river, and when you paddle standing you can paddle and steer at the same time by applying canoe-style J strokes on one side of your W kayak. If the stream is fast enough to carry you at a good speed you can just stand and occasionally dip your paddle to correct your course.
You can also paddle fast - both on one and two sides of your W kayak. Even speed is sensed differently when you paddle standing - Imagine going down a snowy mountain slope sitting on a sled and then standing on skis… The difference is comparable, although going on snow is faster in both cases.
The older W kayak models enable sitting in the Riding-Over position outside the cockpit - on their hull tips. The New, 2008 design offers to ride over the cockpit as well, due to its lower spray deflector.
Riding-over is basically a static position offering you to dip your feet in the water in case you want to cool down, and try yet another position in case you feel like changing. 
It’s practical for fishing, and since you can ride over the hull tips it enables establishing a bigger distance between two fishermen working from the same W kayak.
You can paddle in this position, as well as correct the kayak’s location.
The 2008 W Kayak offers two new positions: Side-Saddle, and the Riding-Over.
The side-saddle position is a stable and comfortable but static position for fishing or resting while your feet are cooling in the water.
It’s possible to paddle in this position, although not in fast moving water or for long distances. You can paddle on both sides of the boat: The one you’re facing and the one behind you. It’s not particularly difficult, and takes little time to learn. Paddling in this position can be useful when you’re fishing and you need to reposition the boat.
The new side-saddle position adds another option to choose from when you feel like changing positions and relieve your fatigue, and it’s fun! 
Ben is a fly fisherman from Pennsylvania who opted for the W kayak.
In a new review he tells about the things he’s doing with his new 2008 W kayak, and about the way he rigged it to be a perfect fly fishing boat.
Among a lot of interesting things Ben has to say about his W kayak fly fishing experience, this is what struck me the most -“I’m loving the W– after 12 hours in it in a short period my back still feels good, although I suffer from chronic back issues. After 8 hours Friday I knew when to quit, when it started getting tired.”
Anyone who’s suffered from chronic back pain could appreciate this.
“I got about four hours of water time with the 2008 W again this morning. It was predicted to be a windy day so I headed out early. There were a number of cyclists heading over to the coast this morning and I spoke to some of them at a convenience store on the way over. Of course the W drew a crowd and created some interest with the upright riding position.
As with the other trips so far this boat worked very well. Being able to slide back and forth really helped to hold in the wind on the sandy areas as I fished.
An interesting note is how easy this boat is to paddle into a strong wind. Not real fast of course but you don’t wear yourself out making progress.
When I paddled in around 10:30AM there was a group of kayakers getting instruction from one of the guides at the fish camp. They were facing me on the water and his back was turned to me as he spoke and demonstrated paddling techniques. As I got closer I noticed them all craning their necks looking past him at the W. He went on not seeing he had lost the interest of his crowd. As I came in and then pulled the W up the stairs from the beach they just stared. The silence was broken when one of the folks stated “we want to rent one of those kayaks, they look like fun”. Ahh very nice moment. Had I been paying better attention I should have pulled in standing up…
–Jeff”