Safety First
Never drink alcohol or take medication that might make you drowsy before and while kayak fishing.

Car Topping
You don't need a special kayak rack since the W Kayak fits on any car rack.
1.    Hoisting: Put your W Kayak alongside the vehicle. Grab the cockpit rim with both hands (the tip in bent inward) and lift the boat so it rests partly on your knee, then jerk your knee while swiftly lifting the boat up and push it forward over the car rack.
2.    Pushing up: Have one tip of the boat lean on the car rack and push upward and forward until the boat is  on top of the car.

Attaching a W Kayak to Your Vehicle

The easiest way to attach your W Kayak to the car rack is with its cockpit facing upward but you can also attach it with the cockpit opening facing sideways, which is useful when carrying two W kayaks. Use strong latches and reliable bungee cords to secure the boat to the car rack. Note: All plastic boats are sensitive to excessive heat - Make sure your W Kayak doesn't come in direct contact with metal parts heated by the sun.

Strapping a W kayak to a regular car rack

Downloading
1.   Direct: Stand beside the car and turn the boat on its side.  Slide the boat in your direction until it rests on your shoulder and left hand while your right hand holds it from above.  Before you begin carrying it check that it is balanced and won't tip forward or backward.
2.   To the ground:  Stand behind the vehicle and pull the boat in your direction until you can lower it to the ground.

Carrying (Portaging) - One Person

1.   On your shoulder (see 'Downloading') - For short and medium distances. 2.   Over your head with your head between the hulls and each hull supported by one of your shoulders and one of your hands - For short, medium an long distances. 3.   On your side: Hold the boat on its side with one hand gripping the cockpit rim in one hand supporting the lower hull - For short distances only. 4.    Dragging:  Attach a rope or a leash to the boat and pull it behind you.  This way you can portage for long distances and in difficult terrain.  If you don't drag it over asphalt, concrete or oyster beds the bottom of your W Kayak's will be only mildly scratched, in a way that will not affect its performance.  For short, medium and long distances. Also, see 'Transportation' section of the 'Outfitting' page.

Shoulder carrying a W kayak (W300)

Storing Your Fishing Gear Onboard
The W kayak offers you 10 cubic feet of dry and accessible storage space, which is more than any kayak does, including expedition style kayaks.
Take the time to think and experiment before you take any definitive action like drilling, cutting or buying new gear. Finding the optimal solution for placing and attaching your fishing gear in your W Fishing Kayak might require more than one fishing trip simply because you have much more storage space inside and outside the boat, and therefore more possibilities to consider, test and evaluate.
In general, it is advised to store heavier gear such as fish tank, battery etc. in lower places, and not to fill the cockpit with large size objects that may be attached on top of the hulls' tips in front or behind it.
You may want to read this website's 'Outfitting' section as well as customer stories.

Launching
1.   Regular:  Put the boat halfway in the water and facing forward.  Step into the cockpit from behind (no need to step in water) and install yourself on the saddle.   You can get the boat  to move forward by either placing a foot on the front part of the spray deflector and 'kick' and/or by pushing your paddle backward.
When the boat is sufficiently in you can pole and paddle forward.
Similarly, you can put-in standing.
2.   Surf launching: Standing in the water beside your W Kayak and lean over it while holding the two sides of the spray deflector.   Then hop inside and start paddling.
3.   Launching from a dock:   Hold the boat in parallel to the dock and carefully get inside, one leg after another.
4.   Seal launching (Warning: only for advanced paddlers):   Put the boat on a rock or a slope facing the water, position yourself in the back of the cockpit only in the Riding position, and slide down to the water while leaning backwards in order to minimize the impact.  It's possible to perform this trick from a dock or from a deck of a bigger boat.

You'd benefit from watching demo videos of various types of launching, including standing and surf launching.

Paddling

You don't ride a chopper the way you ride a dirt bike, and canoeing is different from kayaking in a number of ways.  in paddling there are some similarities between canoeing and W kayaking, and other things that W kayaking shares with regular kayaking.  In addition, there are also things that are unique to W kayaking. It is important to keep this in mind before you begin paddling your W Kayak in order to improve both your experience and performance. Getting started:  It is advised to get used to the boat on flat water before venturing to moving water. As a beginner always make sure you are in the Riding (Mounted) position: Riding (Mounted) - The Best Position For Learning, Balancing and Controlling Your W Kayak: Beginning W Kayakers should start in the Riding position, that is with their legs and feet on both sides of the saddle in a direct line below their upper body (see picture on the right). Riding is the stablest position and it offers best control over the boat. This is especially true if you don't have good canoeing experience and you're not used to balancing a boat with your legs.  Your experience with regular kayaks (SIK or SOT) may help you in some ways but it does not guarantee that you'll learn faster because of the differences between ordinary kayaking and W kayaking. Riding is also very comfortable once you get to used to it. The Riding or 'Mounted' position is particularly stable and effective because you are gripping the saddle with your hips, and all the muscles in your legs from your feet through your ankles, knees and hips can deliver quick, accurate and powerful reactions. Riding is a position that's comfortable enough to allow horse riders to travel for thousands of miles during many months. In past centuries, a cavalry man would throw javelins, shoot arrows or slash his enemies with his saber - all while being mounted on his horse's saddle, while a cowboy would use his lasso to catch and control cattle from the same powerful position. Some W kayakers say that when you're beginning to paddle in the riding position it helps to imagine you're on horseback and your feet are in the stirrups as it focuses your attention on properly using your legs for balance, and later for getting more power in your paddling and casting. Balancing: The right way to balance yourself in your W kayak is to hold the paddle with both hands and use your hips, thighs, knees, ankles and feet to respond to the boat's lateral movement by gently shifting weight from one leg to the other and keeping your upper body centered. Leaning with your hand on the spray deflector is not practical. Also, unlike in ordinary kayaks keeping one of your paddle's blades in the water is not recommended for balancing your W Kayak since it is better if you get used from the beginning to rely on your lower body to perform this task. Do not confuse Riding (mounting) with Sitting - In the Sitting position your legs are positioned in front of you - see Figure 2.  Sitting is not a recommended position for beginning W kayakers. For more information on the different paddling positions go to the ergonomics section.  Getting used to the W Kayak is personal and can take from a few minutes to several hours. It's advised not to try to rush things and not to expect to become an expert W kayaker after one paddling session - for many people it takes more time. There is a lot you can achieve with a W kayak that you can't achieve with a regular kayak, and it's only natural to need some time to learn it. Paddling Styles You can paddle your W Fishing Kayak solo or in tandem, with double blade ('Kayak') and single blade ('Canoe') paddles.  Generally, W kayaking and W canoeing (i.e. paddling a W kayak with a canoe paddle) have some similarities with traditional kayaking and canoeing, and they are easier to master since the boat is stabler and tracks better than monohull canoes and kayaks.  For some people the transition is almost immediate, and others need to spend some time practicing in order to become proficient W kayakers or W canoeists. Traditional kayakers would benefit from their experience in using a double blade paddle and their knowledge in strokes that are 'sliding' sideways.  Canoeists will benefit from their experience in applying their body weight on the paddle in order to gain additional power and from their J-stroke capabilities. The better you understand the differences and similarities between the boats you know and your new W Fishing Kayak the easier and faster your learning is likely to be. Please feel free to contact us if you need more information: contact us

Figure 1 Riding, or 'Mounted' Position Your legs are on your sides and deliver optimal stability, power and control Figure 2 The Sitting Position Your legs are in front of you and therefore can deliver less stability, power and control

Positioning Yourself Along the Saddle
You can move forward and backward along the saddle according to your needs and according to circumstances. 
For example, when paddling against eddies and waves you can sit in the back of the cockpit and by that lift the bow, which will make paddling easier.
For more details visit this website's surf and ocean section.

Poling
You'll find that poling your W fishing Kayak in shallow water is easy. We recommend that you pole using a long and sturdy paddle such as our Wavewalk PSP, or a poling pole.  The advantage of a longer, sturdy paddle is the fact you can use it for both poling and paddling.

Rudderless Steering I - Leaning Into the Turn

You don't need a rudder in order to turn sharply in your W Kayak:  Turning is very easy if you lean into the turn and paddle on the exterior side.  Caution: Since this is an unusual thing in paddling it is advised that you first get used to controlling and balancing the boat before you start leaning it into the turn.  It is advised to do it carefully and gradually. Getting used to turning by leaning into the turn is personal and can take anything between a few minutes to several hours. You can lean into the turn in all positions but you can lean more effectively in the Riding, Kneeling and Standing positions, and less in the Sitting position. By the time you start practicing leaning into the turn you'll probably know that beginning in the Riding position is best for you. The ability to lean on one hull and paddle alongside the other hull is also useful when paddling in the surf.  For more information visit this website's surf and ocean section.

Leaning Into the Turn-  Watch Demo Video (W300) Note how far backwards the paddle reaches at the end of the stroke

Rudderless Steering II - Tracking In Strong Wind
You can move fore and aft along the saddle, and thus displace your W kayak's center of gravity (CG).
The heavier end will tend to point into the wind, while the lighter end will tend to trail.
With occasional, minor adjustments of your position along the saddle, you'll be able to track perfectly.
See full article about tracking in strong wind >>
The article features an online instructional movie.


Standup Paddling ('Kayak Skiing')
To learn how to paddle standing adults need a paddle that's longer than ordinary kayak or canoe paddles.
Our company offers two 9 ft (270 cm) paddles (see Product Info section).
Children, teenagers and some people may find it as easy as paddling in lower positions but for most adult paddlers Kayak Skiing is a skill that can take some time to acquire, like any other skill.
It is advised to begin practicing Kayak Skiing on flat water before venturing in moving water.
To learn more about Kayak Skiing visit this website's Kayaking Standing section.

Scouting
Scouting is best done on flat water while paddling in the standing position. 
Since scouting is usually done at a slow speed without much maneuvering it is advantageous to learn how to paddle on one side of your kayak using a canoeing style J stroke to keep tracking.

Anchoring
You can easily drop an anchor is in the space between the hulls' tips in front or behind the cockpit - according to your fishing needs.
You can also make an adjustable anchor trolley system as shown in this website's 'outfitting' section.
If you fish in a stream you can use a lightweight anchor to slow your drifting downstream or a heavy anchor to keep your boat in place.
For more tips and information check our Anchors section.

The W Kayak offers you the ability to throw to longer distances, which presents two advantages:
1.   Being able to cover more water from a stationary position before you need to move your kayak
2.   Some fish species can sense the presence of your kayak nearby and therefore are better caught from a distance.

For more information visit our website's Shallow Water Fishing section

You can cast to longer distances with any gear from the powerful riding position.
The standing position is also good for casting to longer distances.
Casting from the sitting position is less powerful, although it still enables better casting than the traditional kayaking position does.

Net

You will find that netting smaller catch is very easy, and by gripping the fish through the net the hooks can be removed with minimal damage to the fish.  As for bigger fish, dropping them in one of the hulls will assure that they don't slip away and will give you the possibility to deal with them on your own terms. Photo: Jeff McGovern

Keeping Your Catch Fresh
When you fish in the ocean it's not recommended that you keep the fish you caught dangling on a string over the side of your kayak since sharks may snack on them.  Similarly, you should avoid doing so when fishing in freshwater in places where alligators are found.
You can keep your catch fresh at the bottom of your W fishing kayak's hulls either in a thermally insulated bag with containing ice, a thin cooler or at the bottom of a tall plastic bin serving as a fish tank, as shown in this website's 'outfitting' section. 


Entering Your W Fishing Kayak From Deep Water

To enter your W Fishing Kayak from deep water you need to position yourself behind it and grab the hulls' two tips. Hoist yourself upward and start crawling upward and forward with your legs positioned on both sides of the boat. Use your legs to help you balance the boat. Doing it slowly and carefully is better than trying to rush things.  After you have going forward enough over the cockpit just let your legs drop into the hulls, and position yourself in the stable Riding position. It is possible to perform this entry without help from other people if you do it slowly and carefully. Obviously, it is easier if someone can help you balance the boat by holding one or both handles in the bow. Before you go back into the cockpit make sure the paddle isn't in your way. Practicing will improve your deep water entry skills. This demo video shows particularly hard conditions for reentry: both moving water and no help from others (W300). Watch flat water W500 kayak reentry movie contributed by a NY W kayaker

Shallow Water
Your W Fishing Fishing Kayak offers some exceptional advantages in shallow water, so we've dedicated a special section of this website to shallow water fishing

Surf And Ocean
This website has a special section dedicated to surf launching, surf playing, paddling, surfing and beaching in this challenging, fun environment. Please visit our our surf & ocean page.

Icy Water
Paddling and fishing in rivers, ponds and lakes that are partially covered with ice presents some challenges, and requires special safety measures. For information on these subjects visit our website's icy water section.

Draining
Normally the interior of the boat stays dry, and if some rain or spray gets in it is drained to the bottom of the hulls where it does not bother you.
Similarly to other small boats, when you're on the water in your W Fishing Kayak you can drain it using a small bucket, a hand operated bilge pump or an electric bilge pump. 
When the W Fishing Kayak is on dry land you drain it in no time just by grabbing the handles and overturning it.

Beaching
When beaching (taking out) you normally don't have to step in water:  When paddling to shore position yourself in the back of the cockpit - This will raise the bow and make it easy for you to advance high enough on dry ground.  When stepping out from the boat do it from the front so you don't have to get your feet wet.
Similarly, you can take out on thick ice but it requires good paddling skills and some practicing. For more information visit this website's icy water section.

Tandem (Two Adults)

• Paddling in Tandem

-Two children weighing less than 100 lb each can hardly be considered a real tandem in terms of the special challenges facing two full size paddlers i.e. adults.
Paddling any boat in tandem is always a challenge, and so is paddling a W Kayak in tandem.
Before anything, do not attempt to paddle a W Kayak in tandem unless at least one of the two paddlers is an experienced W Kayaker.  The experienced paddler should preferably ride in the back of the cockpit, where he/she can see what the new paddler is doing, instruct him/her and compensate for errors if necessary.
Paddling a W Kayak in tandem is not recommended if one of the paddlers weighs over 200 lb, and if the total weight of both paddlers exceeds 300 lb.
Do not paddle in tandem in any position other than Riding, which is the stablest, and offers best control. 
It is advised that the heavier paddler ride in the back of the cockpit and the lighter paddler ride in the front.
Do not attempt to paddle in tandem standing unless you weigh less than 150 lb and so does your paddling partner.
Do not attempt to paddle a W Kayak in tandem at sea or on moving water unless you've gained considerable experience in W Kayaking in general, and in tandem W Kayaking in particular.
You and your padding partner can paddle a W Kayak in tandem using either two canoe paddles, one canoe paddle and one kayak paddle, or two kayak paddles -What really matters is your teamwork, ability to understand each other and your individual paddling skills.
Note:  The W kayak is a small vessel, and like any other vessel it becomes slower and less stable when overloaded. You need to take into consideration these factors when planning any tandem activity with your W Kayak.
Also, beaching in tandem is more difficult than solo because you can no longer raise the bow effectively.
W kayaking can be a lot of fun if performed correctly and safely.

• Fishing in Tandem

Generally, it is not advised for two people to sit in a small boat and fish together since this is an accident prone situation.  This is especially true for young and inexperienced fishermen.
It is possible for two people fishing together from the cockpit of a W fishing kayak to have one fisherman face the bow while the other faces the stern.  This leaves more room in front of each of them for casting and reeling the fish in, but in any case both fishermen will not be free in their actions and they must be very careful in everything they do and constantly aware of their partner's actions. 
It is possible to paddle this way for short distances but only if the front passenger (I.E. the one facing forward) is paddling.  Since the W fishing kayak is totally symmetrical from bow to stern the two passengers can take turns in paddling.  For example: while the one at the bow is paddling forward the other that's facing backward can cast or troll providing he/she does it carefully.
Turning inside the cockpit is easier for lightweight passengers, but heavier passengers can learn to do it too after some practicing.  It is important to do it in full coordination with the other passenger.
It is best for people fishing and/or paddling in tandem to do so in the riding position, which is stabler than sitting.
It is not advised to stand in the boat while two are fishing from it.

Storage, Maintenance and Repair
The W Kayak requires no maintenance, and you can store it outside in cold and hot weather.
The W Kayak is rotationally molded from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which is stronger, more durable and more resilient than other materials used in kayaks and canoes.  This is why it is unlikely to get damaged but it also makes it difficult to repair so it is not advised that you try and perform repairs by yourself without first consulting with us.

Outfitting and Rigging
You will find that your W Fishing Kayak offers many possibilities and is very easy to outfit.  For more information please visit this website's outfitting and rigging page.

Please feel free to contact us if you need more information