By Ken Dollhopf

 

Rowing shells are among the fastest human powered boats, and there are some two hundred US colleges that have rowing teams.
When racing, a large men’s 8 rowing shell can go about 13.8 mph. This is Olympians. Normal club rowing is about 11.5 mph.

I have a company called Leribe that is focused on the US rowing market. We sell racing boats and systems for racing events. We offer boats for this market. The Wavewalks serve two specific needs:

Coaching launch: The S4 model coupled with an 8 HP outboard motor is perfect for this application, which requires a boat that produces a minimal wake. The S4 is being used as a coaches launch for training and also an officials “chase boat” for regatta racing. There was a lot of experimenting with motors in a number of water conditions but we have settled on the need for an 8hp motor.

Regatta Start: During racing there are usually 6 platforms that are anchored at the start and a person on these hold and adjust the racing boats prior to the start. The Wavewalk 500 R is a great option for these. Each regatta needs 6-8 of these boats.
The 500R’s are being used as stationary platforms for racing. An unconventional use undoubtedly. The key item here is that a person sits in each boat and then for each race the crew that is assigned the lane backs into the 500R and the person uses the split between the pontoons to align the bows of each boat to the starting line. As each racing boat may be a different length there is an official that uses radios and will tell each of the 6 500Rs to move their boat in or out until perfect alignment is achieved. Then the race may begin. This is repeated for each race on between 3 and 10 minute centers.
It is a unique use of the W500 R but it’s working.

More rowing with Ken »

By Captain Larry Jarboe

Wavewalk Adventures Key Largo

The S4 never stopped moving.

 

More Wavewalk adventures with Capn’ Larry »

 

 

By Chris Henderson

Well it was time for the Annual Family Fishing Day. Once again we went to Lake Devereaux and the trout were plentiful and willing. However, the weather was not so nice! We had squalls blowing through all day long. At times it was brutal wet and cold, and then 15 min. later it was sunny and warm! Crazy spring weather which is typical around here but this is the first time we have had it show up on family fishing day.

Used the S4 this year and the sheer ability to fish more people made it invaluable. I was in it all day. No motorized vessels on this lake so I just paddled which was fine even though the wind made it a challenge at times.

All worth it though to watch kids catch fish.

Enjoy

 

 

 

More fishing and outdoors fun with Chris »

We went out on the jetty for a bit and I shot a couple nice snapper. Candy cooked up the fillets.

I made this spray shield from Lexan. Before I bend it around I wanted to see how it does out wide like this.

I also finished my two tank holder for scuba diving. It just slipped right in. I painted plastic dip on top and on the bottom to keep it from sliding around, and cut a groove for the saddle bracket. It fits right in.

We tested the spray shield today.

Candy: -“I’m near the front and this is my current view. Jesse did an amazing job on the spray shield. Pretty much dry!” –

 

I ended up bending it around, and it works really good –

More Wavewalk S4 adventures with Jesse  and Candy »