WAVEWALK FISHING KAYAKS BLOG » kayaking

W Fishing Kayak Rigged For Oceanographic Research

W kayak — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:51:56 +0000

Peter Traykovski is an oceanographer who specializes in Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering. He works at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. WHOI is the world’s largest private, non-profit oceanographic research institution, and a global leader in the study and exploration of the ocean.
Peter is also an avid kayaker and surfer…
Peter needed a small, lightweight, stable, dry and comfortable boat, in which he could spend long hours in the ocean. After testing various options, he chose the W500, which he outfitted with a 2hp 4-cycle Honda outboard, as well as various scientific instruments. Says Peter: –

Working great so far… Have it mostly rigged for science, just a few finishing touches required.
Did a quick survey of Woods Hole Harbor last week with the Honda motor and the Hummingbird sidescan and was pleased with the results. Put some sump pumps in tonight for keeping water out in rougher conditions. Just need to finish integrating the RTK GPS and will be all set. I am shipping it to North Carolina for a project studying a tidal inlet next week so that will its first major test. Will send some more pics when I get a chance.
Peter

W kayak in the surf - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Woods Hole harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Captains Chair In Texan Fishing Kayak, By Rolf Hogfeldt

W kayak — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:20:24 +0000

Bob and I did do the Demo Day at the bayou last week but due to weather conditions, we had to scale it back to one day. Anytime we can get out on the water, it’s a “good thing”!
I stopped at a Wal-Mart on the way and picked up this white patio chair for $8.88 plus tax.. We now have equipped a W-kayak with a Captains Chair for under ten dollars!!

It’s actually very comfortable to paddle in and very stable on the water. I think the stability is due to the fact your body weight is distributed over a larger area because of the placement of the legs/feet of the chair.
I thought it would have been more “tippy” because you are sitting a few inches higher than the saddle but the opposite is true.
Also attached is one of the other reasons I love being on the water… The wild life on the bayou is much different and the only real way to get close to it is to be on the water.
Rolf
R & B WaveWalk of Houston, Fishing Kayaks

W Fishing Kayak Demo Day, Lake Nokomis, South Minneapolis, Minnesota

W kayak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:08:02 +0000

Try out a Wavewalk this weekend in Minnesota -
Gary Thorberg and the MinnYaks team are offering a demo day this weekend at Lake Nokomis, South Minneapolis.

What: On-the-water demonstration, trials.

When: Saturday, April 21st from 1:00 to 3:00, weather permitting.

EXPERIENCE A LEGEND IN THE MAKING: KAYAKS FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM – TRUE STANDUP PADDLING – KAYAK FISHING AS IT SHOULD BE

Dad & Son in Kayak Fishing Trip, By Jeremy Knight, Tennessee

W kayak — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:24:48 +0000

My dad and I decided to take the Wavewalk kayaks out on Tims Ford Lake.
I never imagined it could be so much fun! We were able to get the Wavewalks in places we can’t take our other boat.
We fished with small yellow and white jigs using the trolling method. We threw our lines out and paddled the Wavewalks so the line would trail behind the kayaks. We caught over a dozen fish in a very short amount of time!

We decided to race back to the dock on our way in. I took the lead but eventually looked up to see Dad passing me up. He had the long W paddle with him which allows you to stand up while paddling the W kayak. I couldn’t believe he won! Of course, I had to take my kayak back out for a second just to see what an advantage paddling while standing up would give a person.

The Wavewalk kayaks are very easy to load/unload, and maneuver in the water.
I was very comfortable while fishing, and I loved the fact I could stand up if I needed to.
I can’t wait for some more adventures…

Jeremy

Tennessee Fishing Kayaks

W Kayak For Fishing and Bird Watching, by Russell Dodd, Western Australia

W kayak — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:17:11 +0000

Due to back problems, conventional kayaks and canoes have become unusable for Russell, so he ordered a W500 for himself to paddle solo and in tandem with his wife Wendy:

It got a first run up the Canning River. Wendy & I got in straight up and pushed off – I must say it very stable and everything I expected it to be.
Paddling double up required some focus, as I am used to a Canadian Canoe which is what we used in Zimbabwe.
As a fishing and bird watching platform the W500 is certainly is a great unit. The bird watching from the kayak has been great.

Most of my focus has been directed towards sorting out a pulley harness to store the kayak in our garage roof and make it easy to load when we go out.
Also thinking about installing a forward mount electric trolling motor that’s foot controlled and leaves your hands free for other things – used to be great for bass fishing in Zimbabwe.

Everything is fine – have not used the kayak as much as I would have liked.
I am still taking things very slowly still.
Wendy and I have had 2 great trips on the sea out to Penguin Island and Seal Island just south of Rockingham which we loved. On the last trip I had a session standing and paddling on my own which certainly highlighted why I went for the W500, plus how much less drag there is opposed to carrying 2 up.
On Saturday I took a friend up the Canning which he loved.
Plans in April / May to go up to Denmark, 450kms south of Perth to test it on the inlets there & hopefully will get some photos for you.
The only photos I have taken to date are of mostly of birds and some of the seals and for that the W500 has proved to be wonderful – it gets you right into the zone. Within a year or 2 we should also get back up to the Ningaloo reef off Exmouth again which is what I really wanted the Kayak for – To get us out to the whales just on the edge of the reef and the fishing.
I have made up a roof extension frame to help load up the W500 onto our Grand Vitara roof – thanks to the good advice from your site and current project is to make some trolley wheels so I can manage on my own.
At least the w500 gets me into spots that are good for the soul.

Russell Dodd