WAVEWALK KAYAKS

“Finally, here are some pictures for you from Alaska. We’re very happy with the Kayak, she’s brain dead easy to use.
We took her out for a few practice runs. Mostly right by our place (Hammer Slough) and Woodpecker Cove.
My wife, Bev (The Admiral) really likes the kayak, and the dog (Critter) is very comfortable now that he has rug velcroed onto the bridge deck.
I’m not totally comfortable paddling standing, yet, but I will get there.

Not much time for kayaking yet, but as soon as I get the mother ship back into full service (2 years of sitting don’t do wonders for a boat) we’re going to be using the kayak as our crab pot and shore boat.
I’m also going to use her for some halibut fishing.

Carl”

Here’s another result from Craig’s visit here:

Craig is a saltwater kayak fly fisherman who’s usually fly fishing standing in his W300 kayak in Cape Cod and Florida. He got that fishing kayak back in 2008, and has contributed a kayak review about it, as well as interesting rigging ideas.
Now he’s come to test the W500, and guess what – he became an instant fan of it.

Craig is getting a yellow W500, and we can hardly wait to see how he’s going to rig it.

The movie shows Craig fly fishing standing in his kayak, paddling standing, and doing a bunch of other things that are amazing and amusing, including entertaining a guest on board, and testing a lawn chair as a seat add-on (just stick the chair in the cockpit…).
BTW, Craig said he prefers the kayak without any added seat, which proves the W saddle is a classic

This is a new video posted on YouTube by our friends from Oregon Fishing Forum

This rigged stand up fly fishing kayak is a 2005 W300

Craig Masterman is a fly fisherman from Massachusetts who likes to fish in saltwater, usually in Cape Cod and Florida.

Craig has already contributed a review of his W300 fly fishing kayak, and innovative rigging solutions.
Here are his latest innovative creations:

I’ve been working on this enhanced set-up for fly fishing from my W300. I used two short sections of the floatation noodle: one section for the front of the cockpit rim with a groove to hold the rod centered and a slit a couple inches aside of the groove to hold the leader tight, and the other section with a short bungee cord through it strung between the forward rigging loops on the hulls for the forward fly rod support rest. The darker layer on the forward rod support rest is an additional layer of foam pipe insulation secured with electrical zip ties. The idea was to have a place for the rod to rest securely with some line already stripped off the reel and ready to cast while I stand and paddle scouting for fish. A second rod can be carried in the side mounted rubber clips as seen in the pictures, all rigged and ready, as I described in my original rigging set up a couple of years ago.

Craig

You will also notice that I have installed a set of six snaps (kit available at any hardware store) along the outside edge of the forward part of the cockpit rim. I used an old towel and cut it to size and shape to snap to the rim to hold it draped over the front third of the cockpit. This is my rendition of a stripping “basket” which keeps the line away from the bottom of the hulls (and my feet) as I strip the fly line in on the retrieve. Although a crude installation, this “line management device” and rod rest design works very well as a fly fishing accessory.

Some DIY projects are special – Kevin Eastman is a fly kayak fisherman from Florida, who made a DIY Greenland – Aleutian style kayak paddle for his new W500 fishing kayak.

Contrarily to what most kayakers seem to believe, aboriginal kayak paddle were not necessarily short as standard modern paddles are, and some could be as long as the paddle Kevin made, and even longer. The decision about the length of the paddle depended on the owner’s plans for usage and paddling style, and sometimes on the availability of materials in the barren Arctic.

Says Kevin:

-I made a Greenland/Aleutian paddle for my W500.  So far it seems to be working out very well, and it has the advantage of being very light.  One face of the paddle is the beveled Greenland style and the other face is a flatter Aleutian style.  The Greenland face allows for quicker acceleration while the Aleutian surface shines at faster speeds.

It’s 9 1/2 feet long and about 3 1/2″ wide at the tip.  I made it from a 10′ cedar 2X4 and finished it in teak oil.   The loom (hand hold area) is 24″. I think using cedar is the key for this long of a paddle.  Using some of the other woods used for shorter Greenland paddles would make it a bit heavy.

The paddle is nearly as light as the Pacific Design paddle I use for my other kayaks, and has a very low swing weight because of the thin blades, making it easy to paddle long periods without fatigue.  The flex of the wood and dynamics of the paddle also make it easy one the joints.

I took a picture with it next to my Pacific Design paddle for size comparison:

Since I’m in Florida with oyster bars everywhere, I decided to protect the paddle tip with fiberglass cloth and epoxy.  So far that is keeping the oysters at bay.

The drip rings are made out of oval pieces of inner tube.  These are essential since the long blade surface accumulates a lot of water that will otherwise end up in your lap.

This is a fairly easy project for anyone that is game to try.  There are lots of “how to” articles to be found on the Web.  It’s also the first time I’ve made one.

The paddle can be used very well without a sliding stroke, but if you need to dig in on a turn it helps out. Also when standing, the sliding stroke helps with more speed, but is not needed.

One thing it does do is allow you to keep the paddle very low around the waist when stroking and use your torso to put the power to the paddle well.

I was going to order an extended midsection for my P.D. paddle initially, but after using this, I may just be content.

I’m going to take some GPS readings to see what speeds it will cruise at vs a traditional wide paddle.

I’ll send some more pictures of my W500 when I finally decide on how I’m going to rig this boat.
I did a little umbrella sailing yesterday and that was interesting.

Kevin

Ben Ciliberto, a kayak carp fisherman from Pennsylvania, rigged his 3 W300 kayaks especially for stand up carp fishing. This is a picture of two of them:

Ben writes:

“Back’s improving albeit slowly.

The two kayaks, sided by side in the garage have gotten many comments and inquiries, but unfortunately not much use! The new one has still not touched water (but is rigged),– I have had mine out twice so far—high water, work, vacations have really crimped my schedule! I’m ready to roll when time permits!

Sure has been great that even with a ruptured L4 disc, and bulging L3—I can paddle and use the W without pain or aggravation!!

Ben”

Read more about Ben’s fly fishing kayaks

Craig Masterman, a Massachusetts W kayak fly fisherman who contributed a great review of the W kayak last year, sent us fresh stories and rigging ideas:

-”Hey Yoav!

I just returned from my first trip to SW Florida since I got the W last summer.  We drove the pick up all the way down and back from Massachusetts with the W on top secured with just two heavy duty web straps.  It rode absolutely securely on 4 foam blocks sold by several outlets for just that purpose.  I figured out a way to stop the straps from loudly humming like guitar strings on the highway I thought others might find useful.  I simply cut some one inch diameter foam pipe insulation to fit over those parts of the straps that angle down from the top of the kayak to the vehicle, which silenced the hum caused by the wind rushing past the taught straps. Problem solved for about 4 bucks!  But that’s not the main reason I’m writing you.

As we made our way around SW Florida with the W on the truck, we were followed, stopped and questioned by at least twenty people about the “really cool and unique looking kayak”.  It actually started in South Carolina and continued throughout the two week trip.  By the end I had my speech singing the praises of the W pretty well memorized.  I gave out the website to all of them after describing the W as the ultimate fishing platform.  Most were surprised at the fact that it is only 25 inches wide.  They were also surprised to learn that I was not a sales rep for the company, but just a satisfied customer!  I had guys climbing up on the tailgate, taking pictures of the cockpit “saddle” and the 9 foot paddle.  I would be happy to put a decal of the website on the boat.  It would certainly generate some inquiries, and give my voice a rest!!!

A much time as I spent talking about the W, I actually did get a chance to fish out of it too!  I was fortunate enough to land several fish on the flyrod.  The boat performed beyond expectations and felt solid under foot as I stood and made cast after cast to sighted fish on the flats and under the mangroves.  One day, I paddled a total of six miles casting to and prospecting for fish.  By day’s end I was understandably a little tired, but not at all sore or stiff owing to the comfort of the cockpit and the ability to change paddling positions at will.  I can’t wait to get the W in the water again later this spring on Cape Cod!

Best regards — Craig”

Earlier this year, Craig Masterman, a W kayak saltwater fly fisherman from Massachusetts contributed some innovative rigging ideas in his fishing kayak review. Craig recently emailed me the following report from Cape Cod:

-”The fishing has been only fair along much of Cape Cod this season.  That seems to be the consensus of many anglers I have talked to.  There are fish around, but you have to work hard for them.  I have taken the W out in Pleasant Bay twice and on the Brewster flats in Cape Cod bay once, and I caught fish on each outing with the fly rod.  The rigging for the rod and paddle worked out really well. I did add a small cleat on one end of the boat right over the W logo to tie off the anchor line as I had planned.  The first trip on Pleasant Bay found me paddling up onto a beautiful white sand shallow flat next to a deeper trough of water on a falling tide.  I was able to stand and slowly pole/paddle along the edge and sight cast to visible stripers edging onto the flat to feed.  I hooked a 26 inch fat fish on the third cast!  Just perfect!  …I love the boat and will keep you updated as I tweek the rigging over time. Craig”

Thanks Craig, we look forward to more reports, rigging ideas and pictures!

Yoav

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



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.