microskiff cat – Page 86 – STABLE KAYAKS AND MICROSKIFFS MADE BY WAVEWALK

Dog on Board – Dog Platform

Updated 09/01/2025

We sometimes get questions about taking a dog on board Wavewalk kayaks and microskiffs, since people want to take their dog on paddling, camping, photography and fishing trips, while others use a retriever on their hunting trips.

Both the W720 kayak-skiff and the S4 Microskiff can take dogs of any size on board, without any problem, even in rough water.
The difference between the two is that the S4 is both more roomy and more stable, and even a large-size dog can fit in one of its 13 inch wide hulls without it leading to any balancing or stability problem.

Tips: Before outfitting your kayak or boat with a dog platform, check if your dog actually needs one. If you decide to make a dog platform, think about a lightweight structure that would be easy to attach and detach, instead of something heavy and permanent.

Labrador dog on S4 microskiff dog platform — S4 platform for 80 lbs Labrador, by Horst Merkle, Indiana

Retriever dog on board W720 duck hunting kayak — Duck hunter paddling his W720 kayak loaded with decoys, birds, and hunting gear, with his retriever dog enjoying this ride in rough water

Cartop skiff with two small dogs on board — S4 skiff with two Havanese dogs on board. Photo: Linda Hollabaugh, Texas

dog platform for hunting kayak boat — Platform for carrying hunting dogs on a Wavewalk S4, created by Austin Rykbost, SC

Wavewalk S4 cartop skiff outfitted with a pair of swivel seats, and a dog standing on its front deck

dog platform for wavewalk 700 kayak — Huckleberry sitting on the W720 dog platform made by Brandon Hall

ok-I-think-i'm-going-to-check-this-fish — Zena on board a Wavewalk 700 – “Dog platform? What dog platform??”…

Cute dog standing in the cockpit of a Wavewalk S4 fishing kayak — Small dog standing inside the cockpit of a Wavewalk S4

Do you have any questions for us?

Fly fishing standing in my Wavewalk 500 kayak

By Bill Davenport

Howdy,
My professional photographer friend fell through, but my girlfriend got some pretty good pictures. Taken this Sat. morning on the estuary by the mouth of the Eel River.
This was the first time that I really got to give the leg brace a workout.
The only thing I can think of that would look good on the W500 now would be a Honda 2 horse. (Or a 42 inch bass.)
I was hoping to get a fish on while she was shooting, oh well. . .Bill

Paddling this W500 Kayak against the wind is easy (video)

By Jeff McGovern

The W500 goes into the wind much easier than any kayak or canoe I’ve used in the past. A steady good walking clip can be attained and kept up for as long as it takes to reach your destination.
When heading in there was another kayak I overtook on the way, a [tandem SOT fishing kayak] with two folks paddling. Didn’t start the camera until I was just about past them so I missed getting them on screen. I was up the ramp and to my truck before they made it to the camp. The W500 is very easy into the wind, it’s just a matter of keeping the strokes a little shorter and lower. Progress is easy and you’re not worn out at all.

Making Sushi on board a W fishing kayak (video)

We first published this incredible video as part of Sungjin’s story about his tandem offshore fishing trip in his motorized kayak. The movie shows Sungjin’s fishing buddy filleting a fish on board the kayak that he and Sungjin fish from, and making sushi for a meal both fishermen eat on board.

Following a phone conversation with a client from North Carolina who plans to go on a similar fishing trip with his brother (no motor – just paddling), I remembered this gem and decided to republish as a stand alone story:

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.