For me it is the Wavewalk or nothing

By John Sealy

North Carolina

Not long ago I bought a W500. The 500 lived up to its billing. I could get in it with dry feet, I could paddle upright without back pain, and it was more stable than any canoe or kayak I’d ever been in. What a great “platform” for fishing and touring.
The Wavewalk 700 is everything the 500 is, and more.

I took the W700 out last week for my first trip and was amazed at how stable it was. The W700 is such a pleasure to paddle, easy to get into, easy to launch, and so incredibly stable. So I really put it to the test….my wife Kathy wanted to give it a try. Kathy is 60 yoa and hasn’t been on the water in 20 years. See the video of my wife coming to shore and getting out of my W700 for the first time. She’s now picked out a yellow one so it was an expensive test!

 

 

I’m 63 yoa and am no lightweight. I now have a kayak I can paddle with confidence. In the W500 or the W700 I can stand up!, move forward or back, lean forward or back, and change leg position.
I simply can’t use other kayaks or canoes due to my lower back issues and my size. For me it is the Wavewalk or nothing.

I’ve got fishing and exploring to do. I look forward to having my wife enjoy the water with me and to have grand children explore and fish with me in the 700 or alongside in their own 500.

See the pictures of me getting into and out of the W700:

Launching the Wavewalk 700

1-kayak-launching-stepping-into-the-kayak
1. Just step in
2-kayak-launching-entering-the-cockpit
2. Walk to the middle of the cockpit
3-kayak-launching-sitting-down
3. Sit down comfortably, with nothing pushing against your lower back…
4-kayak-launching-pushing-the-kayak-in
4. Push the kayak in with your paddle, and start paddling
big-guy-paddling-standing-in-his-W700-fishing-kayak-NC
Paddle sitting or standing, it’s easy even for a big guy like me

Beaching the Wavewalk 700

beaching-the-kayak-sit-in-the-back-and-raise-the-bow
1. Slide backward to the rear end of the cockpit – the bow goes up! Paddle directly to the beach…
beaching-the-kayak-slide-the-bow-up-the-bank
2. A few paddle strokes and a push, and the kayak’s bow slides up the bank
beaching-the-kayak-stand-up-easily
3. Get up (it’s easy!), stand up, and wave to your fans…
beaching-the-kayak-walk-out-effortlessly
4. Just walk out of the kayak. Feet always dry!

More from John »

More W700 reviews »

7 thoughts on “For me it is the Wavewalk or nothing”

  1. Awesome review!
    Thank you John 🙂
    And thank you Mrs. Sealy for this great series of instructive pictures – Perfect! 🙂

    Yoav

  2. Jill Toler says:

    Perfect, just perfect. I especially love the triumphant paddle raise at the end of the video. Very good review and photos; it really is that easy.

    Between sickness, work, and wind I have not been in my yak since just after the new year and I’m jonesing for a ride. That’s okay though, I’m scouting and planning many trips for my W700 this year.

  3. Jill,

    We all look forward to more pictures and funny stories from your coming fishing trips! 🙂

    BTW, your pickup truck and W700 rigged with that advanced lighting system made it to the slideshow on our home page!

    Yoav

  4. Hi John-

    You’ve done an excellent job of demonstrating that anyone can not only enter and exit a kayak while staying dry, but that they can maintain their dignity as well! 🙂

    Nice posting.

    -Michael

  5. Keeping your feet dry is priceless, and so is dignity 😀

  6. Jill Toler says:

    I saw that Yoav, thank you. I really enjoy reading the new reviews from folks that experience the Wavewalk kayak for the first time. I especially enjoy reading that folks are ordering more Wavewalk kayaks to add to their fleet of awesomeness.

    The temperature, here in New Bern, NC, is supposed to be around 68 degrees on Sunday. I believe I just might have to find somewhere to fish from my W700 and see if I can trick a fish into eating a fly. My Fishing Buddy is an outstanding fly tier and she tied up some flies that we saw online called “crappie candy”. I like candy so, I’m hoping the little fishees like candy too. We’ll see.

  7. After having experienced -9 F here in MA last week (with strong winds…) 68 F sounds very promising! 🙂

    Yoav

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