Month: July 2013

I really thought my career was over before I got a W500 kayak

By Robbie Cairl, Massachusetts

The W500 is as comfortable as any seat in my house. My back feels so good while I am kayaking now, I really thought my career was over before I got a W500. I absolutely love it. I mean that so sincerely, but to say I have been out a dozen times usually for over 3 hours and a couple of times for 7 hours says it better. Yesterday was a drift on the Deerfield River with a couple of friends and just to be a wiseacre I stood up through several sets of class 1 rapids with no instability. In fact being higher up I could scout the rapids better. Not that I recommend such foolishness.
I have been meaning to check in but I wanted a snap shot worthy of my appreciation, it’s just that we are all more interested in fishing and paddling than photographing. I must recruit a friend to take a couple of shots next time I go out.
Getting the yak on and off the car gets easier every time and lashing the hulls to the roof rack instead of going all the way over the yak is easy and stable. I went up to Vermont on 91 twice, cruising at 65 with no movement or annoying strap hum.
I love changing positions, standing while paddling and especially fishing from a standing position, again increasing visibility. I understand why you asked that I use it for half an hour before showing it off to friends. A very steep learning curve, I was so comfortable in half an hour and now after what I estimate to be over 50 hours I am a hopeless show off.
I love the looks I get while driving or on the water. Everyone has to ask about it. The park ranger at Wilgus State Park in VT is an avid kayak fisherman and proudly showed me his very expensive kayak/canoe hybrid. He looked mine over and was very curious. As luck would have it we met on the water later that day and he got to see the W in action. The next day he excitedly told me he looked on line and how impressed he was and how ergonomically well designed and on and on. I was very kind and feigned interest. But on the inside I was like, I know friend I know. I bought one!
Oh, problems? I had to transport 90% of the camping equipment when a friend and I went camping on Grout Pond in Vermont last weekend. We only were a half mile from the launch but made it in one trip. With 2 conventional yaks it would have been several trips at best. That would have been a great photo, sorry, all the coolers and tents piled up and you couldn’t even see all the supplies in the hull. But seriously, I am only more excited and pleased than my wildest dreams every time I go out.

Owner Review of Wavewalk 500

Wavewalk Owner Experience

Paul Harrison, Mississippi

Spotted a thread on the Wavewalk and thought I would toss out my experience with it.

I am a 2+ years owner of a model W500 Wavewalk kayak. I am 52 yrs old, about 5’10”, and unfortunately about 200lbs. I am of modest athletic ability. I love the water, paddling, fishing, and also powerboats. I live on a bayou off the Mississippi Sound so I get to paddle 2-3 times a week in the summer and 1-2 times a week in the winter. Not necessarily because it is cold in the winter but because the days are shorter. My kayak is scarred and scratched up but still going strong. I have paddled marsh, bays, swamps, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, ditches, and the open MS Sound here in my area.

Stability of the Wavewalk 500 is amazing (and yes stability is important for people that value safety and security and have bills to pay). It is a true catamaran with two full length hulls, that you stand in or sit between, and a center seat or “saddle” about 6ft long (sort of like a jetski seat). My favorite paddling position is standing. I can standup paddle easily for up to about an hour. A favorite is paddling standing up in 2-3 ft waves/rollers just for fun. Get tired or too rough then just sit down. Needless to say, with this stability fishing is easy standing or sitting. Get really tired, make a pillow from a towel and stretch out for a nap (in the kayak). When paddling standing it also easier to sight fish and navigate our marsh grass here in MS. I only paddle sitting to increase speed or due to needing to change posture. No worries either with submerged stumps or logs that used to scare me in a canoe. Just straddle them or shift your weight around until you get over them. It’s like four wheel drive.

The seat/saddle is well above the water. I never wear swim clothes unless I want to swim. No wet feet and no wet butt. Launch without stepping in the water or mud. I can easily “seal launch” straight off the bank if the situation allows. The seat is very comfortable due to being able to change your position very easily. My limit on being on the water is how long do I want to paddle, not how does my back feel or am I tired of being wet. Four to six hours would be no problem with enough food and water. I also like being up out of the water due to presence of gators in areas I paddle. I want that extra distance and separation, and not having my elbows/hands so close to the water!

It is very easy to maneuver. Need to turn short? sit toward the back of the saddle so that the front tips of the hull are out of the water and it turns on a dime. Want to track? Sit toward the middle and it goes straight and cuts into wind or current without a separate rudder. In a tight spot? Turn your body on the saddle 180 degrees and paddle it out “backwards” (it doesn’t have a true stern or bow). It paddles very efficiently in my opinion with good carry/momentum from each stroke. I am not a racer mind you but I have also not had that “barge” feeling.

The kayak is super easy to rig, easy to carry, easy to transport. I can carry a lot more stuff than I need, and I usually do.

That’s enough … sorry for going on but it is the best recreation and exercise dollar I have spent in a long time. I don’t have anything negative to say about any other machine because I have not used them! Just know what has worked for me.

 

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