WAVEWALK KAYAKS

There’s a new article available on the exciting, complex, confusing, and often daunting subject of rigging your fishing kayak.

The article is called Rigging Your Fishing Kayak: Some Basic Practical Advice

The main message it conveys is that there’s no need to hurry and start outfitting your W kayak for fishing as soon as you take it out of the box in which it came, and it’s advisable to use it at least several times as is before you decide if and what type of rigging you’d like to add to it.

The article discusses typical rigging questions like rod holders, paddle holders, rudder, seat, outriggers, motor, anchor, milk crate etc.

We recommend that prospecting clients as well as new owners of W fishing kayaks read it.

Norm Craig from Rhode Island owns a W500 fishing kayak (see his kayak review), and he sent us some new ideas for rigging:
-”Went fishing and wildlife watching this morning. Took a pic of my big W to show ya a few Ideas:

Rod or paddle holder made out of closet shelving: Cut the shelving 3 rods wide, bend to your liking, and bend it to clip under the lip of cockpit. EASY……No riveting ,movable, and easy on and off.

Old canoe seat I had modified: Nylon strap cut to length. Stitch in  2 round 1″key holders, hook to clips on Yak. Slide seat back and forth for back adjustment .  To beach Yak unhook rings, slide seat back and off ya go. EASY

Find a car console that you like (about $5.00), get some gorilla glue and a foam floor mat. Cut the mat to the bottom of the console, glue as many pieces as it takes to be even with the bottom of the console. Make two 7″ strips out of the foam mat, 1 1/4″high, 1″ thick. Glue to bottom of console spacing, so they will fit into slits on kayak seat.
Nice and snug , easy on and off – use it if you like.

I was at a nice kayak shop today watching people cramming themselves into $2,000 kayaks. Oh my back felt bad just watching. I didn’t say anything but I wanted to.

-Norm”

John Brown, from Alabama, got his W300 fishing kayak in March.

Since then he’s rigged it to perfection:
-”It’s a great boat, and I love it. I got what I call the wavewalk-tan on my knees from paddling it so often… I do a lot of stand up paddling and poling. It works for me.” Says John.

Front view of John’s fully rigged W300 fishing kayak.
-”I just purchased a Hummingbird fish finder, but haven’t put it on yet.”

John paddling his kayak standing – scouting for fish.

John’s variation on the front storage solution.
The tube rod holders are RAM-301 (top) and RAM-119 (bottom) .

John’s anchor trolley system – a useful device for certain types of shallow water kayak fishing.

Close up on John’s W300 cockpit. Note the anchor attached to the anchor trolley, and how well the space is organized.

John’s version of paddle holders made from foam noodles. It’s as silent as it gets.

The classic milk crate used for attaching extra rod holders, and for more storage.

John Fabina got his new W fsihing kayak a short time ago, and he already rigged it for the fishing trips he’s planning once the ice is gone…

Says John:

-”I have not  been able to access open water yet, but I have been rigging my new “w” kayak for fishing. Using ideas from other owners I have added a crate in the back that includes three rod holders and a net holder. Two [catalog brand] quick draw rod holers have been mounted in front. Also added on the side a hook that is used with the bungee to quickly hold rod on side of the “w”.

-”Finally, I riveted two pieces of aluminum that were fashioned into a paddle holder.”

-”I am still exploring my best options for mounting my portable eagle fish finder. I sure am looking forward to getting on the water and learning about the “w”. I will keep you posted and hopefully have some photos of spring crappies.”

Wavewalk is now offering a new option with its PSP paddle: Folding Paddle Clips.

These clips are molded from Nylon, which is common for small-size deck rigging.

Each clip features two holes, and can be either riveted to the kayak hull (preferably), or attached with bolts and nuts.

Note: We don’t recommend using screws for this purpose, or for attaching any piece of deck rigging to your kayak.

The clip has two positions: Open – ready to take the paddle, and folded – so it doesn’t get in the paddle’s way when you’re paddling.

The clips’ internal diameter is 1.25″, which fits the Wavewalk paddle’s shaft diameter.

You can also use it for holding the Mohawk paddle, although it features a smaller, 1.125″ diameter shaft.

When ordering the Wavewalk PSP paddle you can choose between getting a free pair of these folding paddle clips, or a pair of rubber paddle holders (clips). The advantage of the folding clips is that they’ll never get in your paddle’s way when you’re paddling your fishing kayak. The advantage of the rubber paddle holders is that they won’t break.

Separately from our PSP paddle, a pair of folding or rubber paddle clips costs $10 plus S&H.

Different kayak fishermen prefer to have the paddle clips in different places. We recommend that you don’t attach paddle clips to your fishing kayak before having fished from it several times, that is enough for you to know exactly where you want those clips to be.

Wavewalk is offering a line of gear and accessories for rigging your fishing kayak.

The line includes paddles, paddle holders, anchors, stake out pole, deck rigging, flotation modules, deck mount rod holders, flush mount rod holders, kayak carry handles, and our Wavewalk hat.

We offer these products as a service to customers who bought a W-kayak from us, and are looking to either extend their basic order, or get spare parts after the initial purchase.

Dennis Vircks is a saltwater Wavewalk kayak fisherman from Huntington Beach, California.

Dennis contributed his kayak review to this website, and many excellent outfitting and rigging ideas, such as this ‘storm proof’ paddle holder system:

As it’s easy to see, this paddle isn’t going anywhere even when Dennis is fighting a fish or busy with his electric trolling motor, and even if the kayak is in turbulent water.

This picture shows the inner side of the cockpit, where Dennis attached a Nylon eyelet that serves as an attachment point for the hook on the bungee cord:
The hook prevents the bungee from coming out of its place when holding the paddle.
The last picture shows the paddle holder from inside the cockpit, with the hook securing the bungee to the eyelet.



Jeff McGovern did it again: This time he found what seems to be a perfect DIY solution for flat water, ‘drop-in’ paddle holders. It’s so simple and elegant – just a pair of bathroom door clothes hooks attached to the cockpit rim with plastic straps, using the factory-made holes that are already there…

The hole came with the boat, and it’s there exactly for this purpose: Enable the kayak fisherman to easily attach his tackle and gear to the kayak.