Page 15 – STABLE KAYAKS AND MICROSKIFFS MADE BY WAVEWALK

Pleased

Drew Kirkpatrick

North Carolina

I think my son is quite pleased with himself 🙂

Boat Design: Looks Matter

We launched the S4 in 2017, so why did I write this article only now?
This is an important question, and I can think of two answers to it –

Since I started designing kayaks and boats, I have focused on functionality and performance, and aesthetics came after these primary considerations.
I have always thought that the way people perceive the beauty and appeal of a product stems first and foremost from the advantages it offers to them in terms of usage.
Compared to the first three series that Wavewalk produced, the S4 was a departure from this strict practical approach, as it incorporated a pointy bow that was not an absolute necessity in structural or usefulness terms. I designed it in order to make this boat more appealing, visually, namely more “sexy”.
When I designed the S4, I felt totally confident in its performance, however, I felt much less sure about the attractiveness of this design, which leads me to the second answer:
Technically speaking, the S4 is a continuation of the W700 and the previous generations of Wavewalk kayaks, all based on our patented invention, but visually, it was totally different, and unlike any other kayak, boat or microskiff out there.
Our clients and dealers have been enthusiastic about the S4 starting day one, but I felt that we could claim that it’s beautiful only after many people would express their appreciation of its looks, regardless of any technical merit it has, and based purely on aesthetics. This is a high hurdle to pass, and five years later, after talking to countless clients and reading countless emails and reviews, we can say that the S4 is a very attractive boat – the kind of boat that makes people stare at it in appreciation, and engage in conversations with its driver and passengers.

What makes the S4 microskiff look great?

It’s hard to summarize so many inputs that people have provided over the years, but nevertheless, I’ll try here –

The most obvious is the fact that the S4 is a bold and unusual design. It looks like no other boat out there, big or small. It is special in every way, but that in itself would have not been enough to make it look great without the other attributes that people perceive at first sight, namely those associated with performance: The S4 looks both fast and stable, as well as comfortable, and this first impression associates it with fun. More specifically, its catamaran hulls produce a reassuring effect of stability, its pointy bow signals that it’s built for speed, and its large size saddle seat evokes high performance jet-skis.
In addition, the S4 benefits from the following pleasant as well as intriguing visual attributes:

1. Simple, streamlined forms and surfaces – There are no accessories of any kind attached to any part of the S4.
2. A slender stern – Unlike other microskiffs and small motorboats that feature a wide and bulky stern, the two rear hull tips of the S4 are pointy, which makes them look more hydrodynamic.
3. Aggressive “in your face” bow – Together with the pointy nose, the front molded-in handles and other structural elements are reminding of the head of a big predatory fish, more specifically a shark or a ray, and the molded-in brackets of the saddle seat vaguely remind of the anatomy of a big and powerful fish. It’s almost as if the S4 radiates vital energy.
4. The slanted sides of the cockpit make it look smaller than its actual large size, and together with its narrow front end, they enhance the boat’s overall sporty look.
5. Viewed from above, the S4 sides are straight and parallel, a feature that can be observed in large racing catamaran motorboats. This creates an energetic, “no-nonsense” effect that’s not commonly found in small watercraft.

In sum, people love the S4 for its looks too, and looks matter.

Yoav

Do you have any questions for us?

DIY roof for my S4 microskiff (updated)

Jesse Stephenson

Florida

I made a top roof for my S4 microskiff. Taking it to Islamorada for a week of lobstering. We are also going to try to bully net for lobster from it one night while we’re there.

The trip went good. We dove out of it every day and came home with 23 lobster.
The roof made it a touch more tipsy when it was windy. Not bad though.
I am going to cut the rooftop off for the winter and keep the center console. I will make it so I can quickly mount the roof part when I need it.
Unfortunately I only took one pic of the boat and a few of me with the lobster.

MICROSKIFFS

Wavewalk’s patented cartop microskiffs provide unrivaled stability, comfort, seaworthiness, performance, versatility and value –

S4 Microskiff

Portable & Seaworthy Catamaran MicroSkiff

S4 Microskiff Key Features and Benefits

Vessel Type: Patented, Multihull Boat (Catamaran) delivers utmost stability
L = 13 ft, W = 38″, H = 17″. Weight = 98 lbs (net).
Personal watercraft (PWC) saddle type seat for best balance and zero back pain.
Payload: Up to 600 lbs. Capacity: Up to 3 full-size adult passengers.
Fits outboard motor up to 6 HP.
Very shallow draft.
Most seaworthy in rough water.
Internal, built-in flotation.
Fish, paddle, and drive standing, and push-pole too, if you want.
Skiff’s front deck for stand up fishing. Fishing standing for all crew, up to three anglers.
Stabler than any kayak. Stabler than bigger boats, skiffs, and Jon boats.
One person can car-top.
Zero maintenance.
Spacious and comfortable cockpit with high free board to keep you and your gear dry.
260 gallons (34.7 cubic feet) of onboard storage space, comparable to a 16 ft Jon boat or skiff
17 mph top speed with powerful outboard motor.
Roto-molded High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) hull, for resilience and durability.
Colors (2025): White, Gator Green (Khaki)
Each S4 comes with a mounting plate for an outboard motor up to 6 HP
Price: $2,750 + free shipping to most addresses between Boston MA and Houston TX. 15% discount on factory pickup in Latta, SC.
Includes: mounting plate for motor up to 6 HP, standard.

More S4 Microskiff Info »

Watch S4 videos »

S4 owners REVIEWS »

Do you have any questions about the S4 Microskiff?

W720 Catamaran Kayak Skiff

Take the time to watch this Wavewalk 700 slideshow

W700 and W720 Key Features and Benefits

L = 12’10”, W = 31″, H = 17″, Weight = 85 lbs
Patented twin-hull (catamaran) offers utmost stability for its size.
Personal watercraft (PWC) saddle seat for optimal balancing capability, true comfort, and zero back pain.
Payload: Up to 400 lbs.
Compatible with an outboard gas motor up to 3 HP.
Internal, built-in flotation.
Paddle seated and standing, and push-pole if you want.
Stabler than any other kayak. Less stable than the S4.
Two anglers can fish standing in it.
Shallow draft.
Maintenance free.
Easy for one person to cartop.
Dry, spacious and comfortable cockpit.
Very large on board storage, suitable for long touring, camping and hunting expeditions.
Roto-molded High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) built, for resilience and durability.
Color (2024): White and Gator Green
W720 Price: $2,350 + free shipping to most addresses between Boston MA and Houston TX. 15% discount on factory pickup in Latta, SC.
The W720 comes with a mounting plate for motors up to 3 HP, standard.

More W720 Info »

W720 Full Specs »

W720 videos »

W720 owners REVIEWS »

Do you have any questions about this article?

No back pain, and no leg numbness

Wavewalk microskiffs feature a saddle seat that’s similar to the saddle of a personal watercraft (PWC) a.k.a. jet ski. When your legs straddle the high saddle seat, they support your balancing, control, paddling and fishing efforts, and you can switch anytime between several natural ergonomic positions.

Roomiest for passengers, with XL onboard storage

Wavewalk’s cartop microskiffs are the world’s roomiest, and they offer unmatched on-board storage .

Storage spece on board Wavewalk S4 skiff — Very large size cockpit, with plenty of onboard storage space

Wavewalk S4 tandem fishing kayak with 5 passengers on board — Chris hosting 4 young passengers on board his S4

4 passengers in motorized S4 kayak skiff — Jesse and his 3 passengers posing for an aerial photo with their S4

The Wavewalk’s unique high saddle provides sitting comfort for everyone, including toddlers, adults, big and heavy people, people with back problems and disabilities, and elderly people. More on kayak fishing trips with children » More about onboard storage »