Three Wavewalk S4 attached together to form a super stable drive & dive platform, and each paddled separately by three tandem crews of mangrove anglers.
Larry offers guided fishing and diving trips in the Key Largo and the areas that surround it »
Wavewalk’s motto Launch, Go, Fish and Beach Anywhere is a reality for many Wavewalk owners.
Carrying a Wavewalk 500 or 700 just by dragging it on the ground anywhere is easy, and it’s feasible even with a 6 HP outboard motor attached to the kayak, as we demonstrated in this movie »
However, the S4 being heavier than the W500 and W700, we thought it would be nice to have a wheel cart for it, for when we have the 59 lbs 6 HP outboard motor attached to it, and we want to launch and beach in difficult spots, namely beaches that require carrying the boat over asphalt or on difficult terrain, especially steep and rocky slopes. The heavier the fishing, diving or camping gear carried on board the S4 skiff kayak, the more justified is the use of a wheel cart to carry it.
While most 38″ wide canoe trolleys would have fit this requirement, we wanted a wheel cart that we could store on board, inside one of the hulls, so we designed one –
We outfitted the wheel cart with a folding leg that assures that the cart will be in the right angle to receive the boat.
Loading the boat is done simply by pulling it onto the wheel cart. The user can decide where they prefer to have the wheel cart located relatively to the boat. A boat with a heavy motor attached to it would require the wheel cart to be located further towards the stern.
It’s possible to upload the boat on this wheel cart from the bow or from the stern, depending on circumstances. Uploading from the stern makes it easier to place the close to the stern, which puts the boat in a good position for mounting the motor on it, as well as for carrying it with the motor attached to it.
When stored on board, this wheel cart protrudes into the front part of the cockpit, and this could restrict the space available for a second passenger. In such case, this wheel cart can be attached on top of the front deck, and stored under it if one of the passengers wants to stand on the deck and use it as a casting platform.
The 38″ long and 6″ wide horizontal main board is made from 3/4″ plywood, and so is the narrow reinforcement beam under it.
All wooden parts are coated with urethane.
We covered with Goop all the screws in the L brackets that could come in contact with the underside of the hulls.
The vertical side boards are made from 1/2″ plywood.
The wheels are 7″ in diameter.
The axles are made from a standard 3 ft long 1/2″ diameter steel tube cut in two.
Rhode Island
It has a 3.5 gallon tank that fits perfectly in the 9 inches wide gunnel, and a hand bilge pump.
The maiden voyage was extremely lot of fun. Took it out by myself.
The outboard had a 9 inch prop, and it went way too fast. I’m going to calm it down. I’ll put a smaller diameter propeller on it, so it doesn’t go as fast. I think it was going between 5 and 6 miles an hour at idle.
It was pretty choppy but the boat handled it really well. A little scary at first, then I fine tuned it and brought the trim down.
I just ordered a handle extension.
Wavewalk did it again! I thought the 700 was the best there could be, until we got our first S4, what a great craft to motorize.
In my opinion, this craft is the Ultimate in small craft versatility. It lends itself to any kind of propulsion, paddles, electric trolling motor, and especially a small gas outboard. This thing handles like a dream. She wants to track nice and straight until you turn her, then she can turn on a dime. Now I truly didn’t get a lot of time on the water with her, because we sold her already. Bob wanted her so bad he drove up to PA. from West Virginia to get her. He is in love with his new craft, and the custom rigging we did for him.
Read more about Joe’s fishing trips and rigging tips »
The following pictures shows how effective is a T extension for a pickup truck bed.
Photo: Larry Jarboe
