Homer, Alaska
I just got the W500 boat yesterday and finished my loading deck last night. These pics are at low tide so I’m waiting for the water to come up so I can launch this thing. I’m so excited and I have lots of local folks interested in it. I’ll keep you posted and thank you again for all your help.
More from Pat in Homer, Alaska »
This instructional video shows a quick and easy way to upload this catamaran kayak on top of a midsize and large size SUVs from the vehicle’s side.
Note that it’s possible to upload this boat on top of cars and smaller SUVs either from the vehicle’s front, or from its rear end.
Outboard motor and fishing gear should go in the back of your vehicle before you start car topping your boat. Although the paddle fits in the hulls, we recommend putting it inside the car as well.
Protect the car’s roof with a big towel, and do the same for the door.
Attach a short rope between the two front eyelets. This extra handle will come handy at a certain point, when you lift the boat up.
You want to use the eyelets on the sides of the front and the rear ends of the W700 cockpit as leads for the ropes or straps that you’ll use to attach it to the roof rack. It’s easier to get the rope through these eyelets while the boat is still on the ground, before you upload it. Common buckle straps are inexpensive and easy to use, and they work perfectly.
WA State
The versatility of the W700 means that it gets used for multiple things from having fun at the lake to seriously pursuing fish. Being able to attach and detach features is definitely a plus. In that light people have been using the holes located in the saddle of the W700. Here is an idea that I had that may help and further such innovation.
Try using PVC test plug fitting, (about $4.50 any place that carries pvc fittings) or some other mechanical plug. As you tighten the wing nut the two sides are compressed forcing the rubber o-ring to squish against the sides of tube. Just one will provide some grip but I wanted a much tighter stronger connection from deeper into the hole. I have seen some other more industrial plugs which I have no real source for but might even be superior to what I have. But I went with what was at hand and purchased four at my local big box hardware store and a longer 5/16 carriage bolt. Simply insert them into the hole and tighten it down. Once tightened down it was secure enough to lift the boat.
In this instance it is for a small deck that will host a Scotty rod holder for my downrigger. I have industrial strength Velcro on the front to prevent any lateral movement. If one really wanted to prevent that, or if you wanted to make a larger deck you could expand it to cover two of the holes. I could also imagine a small piece of plywood spanning two of the holes might be an ideal way to attach a seat or a pot puller for shrimp or crabbing.
Wavewalk owners are innovators, so I hope this would allow them to go a step further with their innovations.
Tight lines,
Chris
Melbourne, Australia
I haven’t been in a lot of kayaks before.
I’ve been out with my wavewalk a couple of times, even caught a fish. Stood up, paddled, good fun.
It was tough paddling against the wind and waves, but I’m very happy with it, and it can do much more than in the conditions I took it out in.
Will take it out again sometime when the wind isn’t too strong. I want to get the motor on board as well, but one step at a time. I need to get an anchor, how do I attach it?
Very happy with it. I feel very safe and happy in the wavewalk.
I have been working on outfitting my 700 for fishing and other activities.
Here’s a few pictures I thought you may enjoy.
Note Railblaza base mounts on transom. Console set up for rod holder, GPS/phone holder, and GoPro mount.
The noodle sections attached to the cockpit edges in front of the seat are notched on top so I can lay the paddle crosswise when fishing and want it close at hand.
The two noodles outside at rear they are just overkill and used as bumpers on docks and helped protect the boat when in the bed of my truck. They’re not in the way attached to pad eyes, and thought I could feed them to a gator 😀 if needed.
