Whoohooo got my kayak!

Kayak finally came in, so now it is on to the rigging!

I got a Wavewalk W500.  I will be installing all the essentials over the next couple of weeks.  It floats great in the yard right now (someone make water noises) but I hope to get it in the water on a local lake to do all the fun stress testing.  Like filling it with water, flipping it and righting it in deep water, and reentry etc.  Fun swimming day planned while the weather is hot.

As to rod holders,  which do you recommend the Scotty slide track or the ram rail? 

One of the reasons I chose the Wavewalk was because I bow hunt for ducks. This design will work well for that as well as for fishing.

Now to figure out how to afford all the "needs" when it comes to rigging!

Funky looking boat.  But hey, if it does what you need who the hell cares!

Nice man! Can't wait to see some your kills posted. I'm glad you didn't just buy a curtain kayak just because most people have them, but you got one that suits your needs! It's also cool to see one that I haven't seen yet.

Bow hunting for ducks?  Your hardcore.

Thanks,

All boats are a compromise somewhere. but I think this is going to be a pretty versatile boat for me.

Ducks with a bow is a kick.  I have duck hunted for 33 years, and never had more fun killing less ducks.  Thing is I can hunt spots that shotgun hunters can't.   After this brief picture I will return to fishing related matters. 

Thanks,

All boats are a compromise somewhere. but I think this is going to be a pretty versatile boat for me.

Ducks with a bow is a kick.  I have duck hunted for 33 years, and never had more fun killing less ducks.  Thing is I can hunt spots that shotgun hunters can't.   After this brief picture I will return to fishing related matters. 

You sir, are a testament to those dedicated to doing things the hard way.  I like your style.

I would personally go with Scotty holders with the amount of deck space you have.  They have recently come out with some new doodads  that fit in their holders that are quite nice.  But that's just my.

Thanks!

I have scottys for my other boat, so was leaning there anyway just because of the multiple use.  Still debating whether to go with a flush mount, or rail.  The advantage of the flush mount is being able to back it better so I don't stress the kayak with 40lb chinook.  (hope springs eternal)

I have watched the demo and read the material about that kayak before - interesting stuff. Let us know how it goes for you. I am especially interested in how it does in the surf. From what I read it's a very efficient hull at speed too.

Man I could totally see a net catch bag draped between to the front hulls.  Or even a mini trampoline to give more deck storage.

There is actually an amazing amount of room inside the cockpit. I too am interested in how it does in surf.  The fact that it is not self bailing has some interesting implications. But in practice that may not actually be that important.  We will see.

I am going to start off on the lake and then look for a nice windy snotty day on the Purdy Spit.  I am still assembling my immersion gear.  Man are drysuits expensive.  Probably going with the waders/Dry top before getting to aggressive with salty trips.  As well as practicing deep water recovery with the gear I typically wear.  This site has been awesome at making me aware of the safety issues I need to think through.

I will be sure to update this post as I get it out on the water.

Wow! Did you get that widgeon on the wing? Awesome stuff.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks!

Nope it was much more challenging than that!!
 I had to get them to land and then shot a smaller target of a widgeon bobbing in the waves at 35 yards.   Shooting them on the wing is an unwritten rule for shotgun hunters to insure a sporting chance of escape by the prey.  It also has a better chance of killing the bird quickly vs. just winging it.  Shooting it on the water with archery actually gives the bird PLENTY of chance of escape and requires the extra sporting difficulty of landing them in the decoys.  I would have limited out half way through the day using a shotgun in the places I bow hunt, but was often skunked with a bow.

The other thing shooting them on the water does is insure arrow retrieval.  I shoot standard arrows with a G3 SHG and they float feathers up in the water and I just paddle over and pick them up.  I have used the same 6 arrows for three years.  They skip but don't go to far. 

Bow hunting is silent and ends up being much more "neighborhood friendly" to the rich folk who build their houses around every square inch of shoreline in WA state.  They can usually influence politicians to affect no guns, or no shooting zones, but no hunting zones is a MUCH steeper hill to climb.  So some of the places I hunt are no shooting zones but it is legal to hunt there.  I have the spots to myself.

I think this new kayak will really make my life much more fun and my hunts more successful.  I get out on the water today after work!!!

Got some rigging done.  I still have the front rod holders to install. I will be putting on Scotty through hull rod holders, but they did not have the one hole saw I needed at Home Depot.  Always the way it goes.

I picked up a simple Garmin depth finder off of craigslist and that will get installed today after work. I am trying my hardest to get this boat rigged and in the water for salmon before they are all up the steams.

 





Still determining exactly where to put the motor mount.  I am not sure I am going to install it but just checking to be sure it does not interfere with the poles.



This is the first test run.  You can sit it on the beach, and just scoot right into the water.  Dry entry!:tu