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
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.
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.

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.

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 - watch demo video
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.

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. First, it is advised to get used to the boat on flat water before venturing to moving water. Best Position For 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 offers best control over the boat (watch demo video). 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. 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. Don't confuse Riding with Sitting - In the Sitting position your legs are positioned in front of you - see picture below. 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. Paddling Styles You can paddle your W 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 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 'sliding' sideways strokes.  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. Generally, the better you understand the differences and similarities between the boats you know and your new W Kayak the easier and faster your learning is likely to be. Please feel free to contact us if you need more information: Email WaveWalk or call 1-617-916-2250

The Riding Position - Your legs are on your sides   The Sitting Position Your legs are in front of you

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 Surfing section.

Rudderless Turning - Lean 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 details visit this website's Surfing section.

Leaning Into the Turn-  Watch Demo Video

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 Kayak Skiing section.

Entering Your W Kayak From Deep Water

To enter your W 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 you legs to help you balance the boat.   Doing it slowly and carefully is better than trying to rush things.  When your chest and belly go over the back side of the quasi flexible spray deflector it will give way to you  - That's what it it's designed to do.  After you have gone forward enough on top of the saddle 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 won't be in your way. Practicing will improve your deep water entry skills. Step 1: Hoist yourself on top of the hulls Step 2: Slowly crawl on top of the cockpit Step 3: Lower your legs into the hulls View Video 5.6 MB

Shallow Water I - Going Over Obstacles When you feel or see a submerged object (e.g. a sunken tree trunk) that's preventing you from going forward you can try and go over it:   Raise the bow as much as possible by positioning yourself in the rear part of the cockpit and leaning backward, and paddle and/or pole as hard as you can.  When you feel your boat can't go further 'up' move as forward as possible on the saddle and try to tip your boat to the over side of the underwater obstacle by pushing with your paddle.

Watch the Demo Video

Shallow Water II - Going Back In Case You Can't Turn
If you get stuck in a narrow passage or very shallow water and you can neither keep going forward nor turn your boat around you can simply turn inside the cockpit and face 'backward' and paddle back in the direction you came from.  The W Kayak is totally symmetrical so you won't even feel the difference.

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 Kayak you can drain it using a small bucket, a hand operated bilge pump or an electric bilge pump. 
When the W Kayak is on dry land you drain it in a few seconds just 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.
Watch demo video
Similarly, you can take out on thick ice but it requires good paddling skills and some practicing. For more information visit this website's Ice Paddling section.

Tandem (Two Adults)
-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.


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
You will find the W Kayak offers many possibilities and is very easy to outfit.  For more information please visit this website's Outfitting page.