We’ve decided to publish this partial account from Steve mainly as reminder that ‘stuff happens’ is the rule out there, when you’re on the water, especially if you’re practicing ‘advanced’ applications such as sailing:

I.    -”Received kayak and very impressed. I have also purchased Jim’s sail kit, and I love it also. Works well with wavewalk. I will be taking a friend out tomorrow…”

II.    -”People are curious of my new boat. Hit some high winds today sailing (beginner) and the kayak performed beautifully…”

And a couple days later:
III. -”Today a friend of mine tipped the kayak while sailing. It was difficult to right with mast, stabilizers etc… Will need to talk with Jim. I am aware sailing is not the normal… I purchased the whole kit with outriggers etc. Might have been more the operator since I had no issues. I was surprised that it could tip. Glad I know this now than when I’m sailing by myself. Cheers
Steve Phillis”

Later, Steve added:
-”Kayaking from a traditional kayak caused me considerable pain, and at the end of
last year I was out of action for 2 months and spent a lot of money on extensive physiotherapy and even had to take time off from work, not to mention that I could not sit in a car or seat for more than 10 minutes without considerable pain. . Determined to find an alternative, I came across wavewalk and purchased one. Guess what? No back pain. I am wrapped and I have taken up learning to sail using it.
Steve Phillis”

The reader would benefit from watching this demo video of the sailing kit Steve mentions – The sail it features is big and powerful, and it drives the kayak at high speed.  The outriggers that come with it are relatively small, and this fact demands both better sailing skills and extra cautiousness than one might expect at first sight.
Other sailing fans who sail their W kayaks outfit it with bigger outriggers, such as seen in these reviews of Rafael Franck’s sailing W kayak from Florida, and Brian Vickery’s motor sailing kayak with folding outriggers from California.

I have two sons, one 10 and one 8. I put one of them on one end of the cabin, myself in the middle, and the other son on the other end of the cabin. The one sitting behind me faces the opposite direction so he can fish out the back of the boat. When we weren’t casting into the weed beds, we were trolling around the lake. I was the trolling motor and my kids each would put a pole in the water on opposite sides of the boat. This boat is just roomy enough for me to fit myself and the two kids in the boat so we can all go fishing at once. It is incredibly stable. This particular lake is a water ski lake so we often had boat wakes to deal with. Boat wakes make me nervous in a traditional kayak, but they are no concern in the W500.

I took it out for it’s maiden voyage last weekend. I went to Manresa State Beach just outside Watsonville, CA. Anyway, the plan was to go fishing but surf was quite large that day and given my inexperience with the W500, I was worried I’d lose my tackle. So I left all the tackle in the truck and just took the W for a joyride. My 8 year old and I dawned our life jackets and paddled out to sea thru 4 foot waves! The waves were going over the top of our heads. But keeping the W500 pointed straight into them, I was able to safely paddle out thru the waves. I had some water to bail out of the boat but we got thru the surf just fine.
Coming back in, we weren’t so fortunate. We made it all the way to knee deep water (really shallow water) when a wave dumped us. In retrospect, I should have jumped out of the boat sooner. But, practice makes perfect.
Your product proved to be superior to anything else out there. I just needed to learn how to use it.

Sam Wire

Update: Read Sam’s story about his recent fishing trips with his 2 sons >>

When attached below the kayak’s saddle (Fig. 1-3) the flotation will keep the kayak floating if it gets overturned, or if water gets into the hulls.
However, having the flotation attached to the sides of the craft is more effective:
When attached on the kayak’s sides (see Fig 4) the flotation modules work both to -
a. Stop the kayak from overturning, and -
b. Help the kayak right itself, even without your help.

If your W kayak kayak is lying on its side (it should right itself, in principle), side flotation will assist you in turning it back, and recovering it.

If you happen to flip your W kayak over, side flotation would make it easier for you to flip it back:
While you’re flipping the W kayak back, you use one of its twin hulls as a ‘pivot’, and in the beginning of the rotation, this hull will have to be lower in the water than its twin. At this initial point, side flotation attached to the lower hull keeps the kayak floating higher, and thus reduces the amount of water the lower hull scoops in.

Side flotation has been in use for many years in hunting and fishing canoes, as well as in some rescue watercraft. It is an effective means of recovery, but it improves neither stability, nor load capacity.

Wavewalk kayaks are offered with closed-cell polyethylene foam side flotation modules that you can attach either below the saddle, or or on the kayak’s sides.
Each kayak flotation module is 5 ft long (150 cm), and 2.5″ in diameter (6.5 cm), and features a bungee cord going through it, with hooks on both ends.

Fig. 1 – Kayak Overturned With Pair of Flotation Modules Attached Below Saddle:

Top View

Fig. 2 – Kayak Overturned With Pair of Flotation Modules Attached Below Saddle:

Front View

Fig. 3 – Pair of Flotation Modules Attached Below W Kayak Saddle – Attaching:

Fig. 4 – Pair of Flotation Modules Attached to the Sides of a W500 Kayak

Fig. 5 – The Effect of Side Flotation on a Capsized W500 Kayak

How does side flotation work to make it possible for the W kayak to right itself, and how does it make it easier for you to turn the W kayak back in case it is overturned?  Learn more about kayak recovery and side flotation >>

Does Flotation Increase Stability or Load Capacity?

One shouldn’t confound flotation with either stabilizers (a.k.a. outriggers, pontoons, sponsons) or with buoyancy, I.E. load capacity. Flotation is a means designed to facilitate a boat’s recovery in case of an accident, and it adds nothing to the boat’s stability, or to its load capacity.

More Ways To Attach Flotation Modules To Your W Kayak:

You can attach flotation modules to your W kayak in additional ways. The flotation modules going over the cockpit do not interfere with either paddling or fishing.
The one attached on top of the hull tips won’t interfere with your fishing lines if you cast in the other direction, I.E. if the flotation is attached to the stern.

Extra Large Flotation Modules

Wavewalk offers the standard flotation modules described above, as well as extra large (XL) flotation modules.
Learn more about the extra large flotation modules >>

Extra large (XL) and standard size detachable flotation modules

If there’s a slight chance that you might fall asleep in your kayak, you’d better be anchored in water that’s very shallow, that is enough for you stand in safely and comfortably in case you go overboard. By shallow we mean not more than knee deep. Remember: stuff happens is not just a phrase – it’s real life, which can be cruel. Deep water is dangerous enough even when you’re fully awake, and believe it or not – it’s possible to drown in water that you can stand in.

Falling asleep in your kayak involves taking the risk of being exposed to predators, such as alligators or sharks in the water, and bears and other large size land predators on the nearby shore. Statistics can be composed of improbable events.

Sleeping in a kayak that’s not solidly anchored in place is particularly hazardous, because you might drift too far from shore, or into deep or turbulent water, or to an area that can be otherwise dangerous to you.

Taking a nap in your kayak is extremely perilous when the water is cold, because falling in such water while you’re asleep might cause a shock, quickly followed by hypothermia, which can lead to the inability to move, and thus be lethal.

If your paddle is not properly secured in case you fall asleep in your kayak, the result could be more than awkward, since losing it would prevent you from paddling back to shore in time before darkness, or before a storm.

Sleeping in a kayak with hooks and bait around could cause you to hook yourself, or attract some unwanted visitors…

Always, and in all circumstances, leave your PFD on. Wearing your PFD is your best policy against drowning.

Avoid falling asleep in your kayak especially if there’s even a slight chance of a fast motorboat going by. Even if the driver can see you and avoid a collision with your fishing kayak, the wake their motorboat leaves could make you lose balance and fall overboard, and even capsize your kayak if you panic.

Although some irresponsible kayak anglers say that wearing waders is OK when you’re kayak fishing, it is not. It’s one thing to plan testing a concept in a controlled environment such as in one’s swimming pool, and a totally different thing to have to deal with a problem in real life, which tends to catch you by surprise. Therefore, falling asleep in your kayak while you’re wearing waders is much more dangerous.

Never drink alcohol on board a fishing kayak (or any other small watercraft for that matter), and don’t use mind altering substances or drugs. Remember – drowning is easier than you think. Being drowsy while operating a small watercraft can be enough to cause a fatal accident, and many deaths by drowning are related to substance abuse.

Don’t take the risk of falling asleep in direct sun on a hot and bright day. Being asleep won’t prevent you from getting a sun stroke, and paddling while you’re sun stricken and dehydrated can be very hard, and might even prevent you from making it back to shore.

Falling asleep in your kayak while there’s no one else around is more dangerous. Generally, it’s highly recommended to go kayak fishing and paddling in a group, because it’s safer.

The reader should remember this list of recommendations is partial, as the author cannot possibly cover all potential risks involved in taking a nap in your kayak, as those risks are multiple and varied.

Bottom line: Do whatever you can to avoid falling asleep in your kayak.