Catamaran Kayak?

[TomBettle]

Specifically for our kayaking colleagues!

...And those toying with the idea of kayak fishing.

 

Hi Guys

 

As a result of an interesting discussion on another forum about mothership style fishing holidays I have been shown these.

 

http://www.wavewalk.com

 

Yes, I know they are pig ugly, but please can you give an honest appraisal of how you think they will operate against a traditional kayak.

Before slating them instantly, please look right round the site, from information about sitting positions to the choice of layouts for rod holders, fish finders etc etc.

 

Not for the purists, but they can also be fitted out with small electric outboards for trolling etc.

 

What I want to know is:

1) Are the benefits shown in the website just marketting hype or are they real?

2) Can you see a place for these for fishing from?

3) If they were priced in the same ballpark as a traditional Kayak would there be a possible market?

4) Anything else you may wish to add?

 

Please take your purist kayaking hat off whilst you look at the website. It needs a certain "outside of the box" approach.

 

Many thanks

Tom

[Paul J]

I like the idea of being able to stand up - a real advantage to fly fishers.

However, i like the hands free option that a hobie gives you ( kayak with pedals).

Will give more comments when i have time to read it properly

 

PJ

[TomBettle]

I like the idea of being able to stand up - a real advantage to fly fishers.

However, i like the hands free option that a hobie gives you ( kayak with pedals).

Will give more comments when i have time to read it properly

 

PJ

Thanks PJ for being constructive.

 

Anymore comments, good and bad will be very gratefully received.

I've scanned their website and it does look like the boats take a bit of getting used to, specifically if you are used to a tradtiional kayak... they go on to say that when you have grasped it, they have so many benefits.

It's these that I am not sure about.

 

If I was to get them in, the first batch would be bought with legendary big game skipper and former channel islander, Roddy Hayes http://www.legendlures.com

 

The first ones would be the basic touring version without any flush mount rod holders. This will give the user bags of storage in the hulls AND the option to add marine foam formed buoyancy into the hulls. Rod holders can still be surface mounted and fishfinders can either be 100% portable or come with shoot through transducers.

We are considering a custom made aluminium bracket to then take tallon fittings for rod holders, electric trolling motor, VHF antenna etc etc etc.

http://www.tallonmarine.com

 

It is still an idea, but if there is reality in the marketting and they are better than a traditional kayak or at least as good as, then I may well take the plunge and get a few.

 

Tom

[Paul D]

Always fancied one of these myself but noted the other day the company which was importing them seems to have disappeared ( they were next to the tip in Christchurch )

 

Craigcat

[Maverick Martin]

  ( they were next to the tip in Christchurch )

 

Craigcat

They must be a rubbish firm then sorry only joking

 

Martin

[Shropfisher]

While I think they could be very interesting, I don'r like the idea of standing up in them, I see lots of people standing up when fly fishing and I don't know why they do it, more risk of falling overboard, more rocking of the boat, and no extra casting distance. I suspect the Cat Kayak could take off but depends on cost.

[TomBettle]

While I think they could be very interesting, I don'r like the idea of standing up in them, I see lots of people standing up when fly fishing and I don't know why they do it, more risk of falling overboard, more rocking of the boat, and no extra casting distance. I suspect the Cat Kayak could take off but depends on cost.

Hi Shropshire

 

Hope you are well mate. Are you down here permanently yet?

 

Less than a Hobie, but more than a Prowler.

 

[plaicemat]

I'm afraid I can't agree with the 'no extra distance'. It is very difficult to double haul effectively whilst sitting down. It's different with a double handed salmon rod because one uses the boat to get in position but for covering the ground on the drift, standing up wins in the right conditions.

 

Terry.

[Shropfisher]

While I think they could be very interesting, I don'r like the idea of standing up in them, I see lots of people standing up when fly fishing and I don't know why they do it, more risk of falling overboard, more rocking of the boat, and no extra casting distance. I suspect the Cat Kayak could take off but depends on cost.

Hi Shropshire

 

Hope you are well mate. Are you down here permanently yet?

 

Less than a Hobie, but more than a Prowler.

Hi Tom, Not yet, housing market is dead in midlands, estate agents closing on a regular basis, so I am relying on 6 weekly trips down and staying at my daughters, But what a year.. had 2 seperate 2 weeks hols down in Poole, booked berth in Cobbs for a week of each, and got out once per holiday !!

Having more luck with Colin Penny on Flamer, a couple of good trips, but still lost a few to wind.

 

Hey Terry, you sound a seriously big guy if using a Salmon rod from a boat or Kayak, or am I miss reading it.

 

My fly line is 27 yards in length, and rarely have have more than a turn or two on the spool, from a boat or bank, I'm not one of these guys trying put out backing as well, never got on with shooting heads either, Personally found 25 plus yards is more than enough, unless dry fly fishing then 15 yards is more than enough.

 

 

[plaicemat]

That is salmon fishing from a boat on big rivers like the Spey where one is trying to cover the water. With stalking on a river or lake, I would agree that it is rare to use a lot of line. However, with chuck it and chance it styles of fishing which, from a boat, bass fishing is essentially, unless there is evidence of bait fish, the more water covered per drift, the greater the chance of a take. IMHO. Of course, it is more than possible I don't have your expertise, in which case I can only say this is what works for me.

 

Terry.

[TomBettle]

I am still hoping for some more comments.

To that point, the manufacturer spotted a bit of traffic from here to his site and slightly tongue in cheek wanted to point out that Paul's comments were not about the same product.

 

The Wavewalk is definitely not two surfboards strapped together!

 

More interestingly another site is being fairly critical of them, but possibly based on misconceptions from experience of day to day kayaking.

To try and counter / answer some of those questions, the owner of the firm, Yoav, sent me the following email which has some interesting reviews and comments. I ams ure he won't mind me copying it here.

 

Any more input would be very welcome.

Cheers

Tom

 

PS: The slightly critical tone is not aimed at anyone here, more that the people responding from the other site had not bothered to look at the differences between the Wavewalk and a standard Kayak.

 

 

Hi Tom,

 

While going through our website's logs we stumbled upon your online discussion with some local kayak fishermen about our w-kayak.

Unlike yourself, these people apparently didn't take the time to study what we say and show on our website, and their reaction seems to be just a psychological knee-jerk.

 

One point they raised is the 'lumbar support', or lack thereof in our boat.

Some of our customers installed seats (I.E. back support) in their w-boats just as they got them. However, none of them actually uses those seats, as basically there is no need for it.

The reason for that being that our own legs support us better than any backrest, standing and riding, and as a matter of fact it's the ordinary kayaks' back rest that's at the root of kayakers' back pains (see detailed discussion in our website's 'Ergonomics' section).

 

Here are a few testimonials from customers who had suffered from kayaking back problems before switching to our boat ('kayak', whatever):

http://wavewalk.com/Fishing_Kayak_Review_15.html

http://www.wavewalk.com/Expert_kayak_fisherman_01.html

http://wavewalk.com/Kayak_Review_13.html

http://www.wavewalk.com/Kayak_Review_07.html

 

And by the way, I believe I've noticed a certain anti-American nuance in some of the posts, and my reaction to that is:

1. Americans invented kayaking as a sport (OK, some Canadians were involved too...)

2. Americans invented the sit-on-top (SOT) 'kayak' (well, at least as a product)

3. Americans invented kayak fishing as a sport (well, 'outdoor activity'...)

4. Americans invented the fishing kayak as concept and product, and created most of the hype related to it (e.g. 'lumbar support')

 

You are welcome to quote me if you feel like spending more time arguing with those guys...

 

BTW, our w-boat is a kayak only by name, for marketing purpose (Internet search engines etc.). In reality it's a totally new small-boat concept that got us a US utility patent.

This concept surpasses the traditional (sit-in) and SOT kayak concepts in every aspect, and I believe our website proves it to those who take the time to go through it.

 

And since you don't seem to be afraid of the word 'boat', I thought you may be interested to visit this other website: http://micronautical.com/

 

Yoav

 

PS-- As you can see, we're totally committed to supporting our customers, even overseas...

Edited October 25, 2008 by TomBettle

[Zzippy]

Hiya Tom.

I read on Anglers afloat you were after an honest opinion of the wavewalker.

I looked into the wavewalker about 1 year ago,In my honest opinion it would be suited to Lakes and harbours where you dont have to paddle too far.I know on the website it shows people playing in the surf and going through waves,thats ok for a short time and for people that want to have fun.But there are sit on top kayaks that do exactly that and probably cheaper too.

I wouldn't like to paddle long distances in it for the following reasons.

1...The paddle is too long and would soon wear you out

2...The Boat is too high out of the water and would catch the wind making it hard to steer.

3...If you capsized at sea,I think it would be hard to get back in and to drain the water out.

There are probably alot of other points but someone with alot more experience would need to answer that.

On Anglers net there are alot of people that would probably give more details.

I started off with a Ocean Kayak caper just over 3 years ago,but that was hard work doing long distances because off its length and width.So I went to a Prowler15 which was narrower and longer.But that had its bad points.

I know have the Scupper Pro which is 14.5 foot long and only 26" across.Its made for long distances and touring.Its excellent at cutting through chop.I have done trips to the Needles,Southbourne Rough and Christchurch ledge.I dont think I would paddle a Wave walker out to those marks.

I dont honestly think there is a market for them in this country.Well not for fishing from.But they would probably be ok as a hire product for the tourists to use on the beach in the summer.

That is just my honest opinion.I will probably get slatted by the sellers of Wavewalker,but Hey ho,I say what I think.

I hope that has helped a bit Tom

All the best.

Zzippy