Today our molders ‘broke in’ the Teflon of the S4 mold.
They molded a few hulls from low grade material, and assembled a mock S4 to see that everything works well.
And it does: The mold works perfectly, the S4 parts fit together nicely, and everything is cool. We did it! 🙂
We’ll start shipping S4 orders next week.
Here are some first images of the assembled test unit – Note that the molders didn’t bother to apply the W logo to this test part, or trim it along the parting line and cockpit opening, because next week they’ll send it the grinder.
Note that when mounted on an actual S4 boat, the mounting plate will be attached to the rear end of the cockpit by means of two 3/8″ bolts.
First S4 twin-hull (test unit) sits in Wavewalk’s assembly area. The actual S4 product will feature a W logo on each side of the stand-up casting platfromView from a rear angle. The rear carry handles and mounting plate are visible, and the front saddle bracket can be perceived too, with a little effort.Front view with the casting platform and front carry handles. The rear saddle bracket is visible, and so is the mounting plate.Rear view with the rear carry handles, the mounting plate that fits perfectly inside the molded-in mount, and the front saddle bracket that’s barely visible.
Following a busy Wavewalk weekend, my own refrigerator had no fresh fish fillets for the grill pan. Though I, personally, like grunt flesh, my wife has been clamoring for snapper. So, while she went dancing in Miami, I threw the last of Sunday’s bait in the W700 and motored to my consistent snapper hole. Yes, she is a most fortunate woman.
After limiting out on legal size Mangrove Snappers, something grabbed my bait and took off down the creek.
The 8 lb. test Cajun Red line proved its abrasive resistance as drag screamed and the line went round the bend rubbing on mangrove roots. I yanked up the stakeout pole, threw it in the bottom of my trusty Wavewalk steed, and went for a ride with the big fish in charge of towing.
Actually, I was not sure it was a fish. The brute fought more like a snapping turtle. Away went the Wavewalk, pulled by the tide and a little submarine.
I worked that critter out of those tangled roots with a kayak style Ricky Rod and skill that can only be obtained from years of chasing fish. (Truth is, a blind squirrel will find an acorn once in a while.)
Somewhere, between handling the line and my balance as I bumped like a pinball back and forth across the little creek, I did manage to pull a waterproof camera from the Harbor Freight ammo box. The picture is not great but it sure is colorful.
Well, a new fish got added to my “Caught in this Life” list: a big old honker Rainbow Parrotfish.
They eat them in the Bahamas. I let this one go. Plenty of snapper for Mama.
And a couple grunts for Papa.
I am very pleased about the Wavewalk 700 .
It is a very easy craft to get in and out of.
It is a very stable craft for older people to feel safe in.
Easy to transport.
As an retired Canadian Outfitter and Guide for fishing and hunting, there is definite use and purpose for the Wavewalk in my outdoor activities, leaving the other four canoes, three kayaks and one twelve foot aluminum boat at home that I already had.
Last fall I used it for fishing and goose hunting with my gun dog.
I got my wife out, in the Wavewalk, this last fall –
We have some great videos with a go-pro but can’t seem to post them on you tube for some reason?
The ice believe it or not is still on the lakes this spring.
I was ice fishing for Lake Trout three weeks ago.
Lots of work to do this spring.
Tear down the old cabin (Had it from 1966, until now), and build a four seasons home in the bush, one hundred miles from where we are now living.
Will have to sneak in some kind of time, somewhere for the Wavewalk, but don’t know where this spring?
Our aluminum boat
A friend I met years ago
Curious fox…
The only thing I am having trouble with the Wavewalk is, that here in Canada, the plumbing pipe sizes don’t match the American plumbing pipe size holes, in the seat to make accessories for the craft at this time.
I am sure at some point in time, after building our home in the bush, I will find away to get the right size plastic pipe, and stand attachments for bolting onto the plywood to make all my ideas I have in mind.
Too bad I am retired now from Outfitting American clients, because they could have brought some pipe and attachments up with them, when they came up hunting and fishing with me.
The S4 tooling (cast aluminum rotational mold) arrived to the molding plant early last week.
Out molders opened it and inspected it, and concluded that (quote) “it’s a beautiful mold” 🙂
We think so too, but the difference is that they’re in place and they know what they’re talking about 😀
They want to add a couple of things to the tooling in order to meet our special technical requirements, and hopefully they’ll start producing boats later this week.
They apologized for the slow pace of getting the S4 into a production mode, but they are very busy people, and we’re happy for them, because they are also very nice people who do a great job for us molding our boats that very few others could.
We’re getting many inquiries about the S4, including compliments 🙂
So… we’ll have to try and keep being patient.
Nah, it’s impossible for a guy like me! I can’t wait to see the first S4 boats coming out of this tooling, and start shooting videos with the unit that we’ll get here.
And last but not least, we apologize to our S4 clients for this delay. You guys must be very impatient too! 🙂
The easterly trade wind has been blowing hard for more than a week.
This is Spring Break in South Florida. Many of the local tour, fishing and diving boats that take people to the reef and blue water have to turn away customers because of the 6-8′ waves that are pounding the reef line.
There has been some seriously lost business and most disappointed vacationers.
In Key Largo, we have had wonderfully productive trips fishing our Wavewalk W700 tandem kayaks in the narrow creeks that flow through the dense mangrove forest here in the heart of Pennekamp Park. Because of the tight quarters and many non-combustion zones where internal combustion motors are prohibited, many of these areas rarely see a fisherman.
This weekend, two groups booked Wavewalk kayak fishing adventures with me –
Issac brought Julio, Daniel, and Darren for a Good Friday afternoon trip. They caught about 30-40 lbs. of keeper fish (Mangrove Snappers, Bluestriped Grunts, and Sailors Choice). I filleted out and boxed enough fish for a panko fried fish platter with black beans and rice that they had cooked up at the Blackwater Siren Restaurant before leaving our island. And, they had a big bag of fish for a big fish fry in Miami.
April who was raised and worked in the Keys, brought her son Keith Jr. and crew Kevin and Joey on Easter Sunday. After a most slow start to the day, we found fish way up Smugglers Run (a creek named for the infamous Keys past when “Save the Bales” was the slogan of the day.).
Those new kayak Ricky Rods got a real workout dragging fish from beneath the mangrove roots. April caught the most fish but everyone got their share including the pelicans who got a bucketful.
We really had to travel some distance to find the calmest possible conditions but we ended an all day trip having caught over 100 fish.
Everyone who tours or fishes with me in the Wavewalk portable boats is amazed how comfortable and stable these vessels are compared to conventional kayaks.
It is not too hard being the best fishing kayak guide in South Florida with the best fishing kayaks that are available, anywhere.
