Biomechanical and Ergonomic Solutions to Kayak Fishing

U.S. Pat #6871608

Biomechanical and Ergonomic Solutions in Fishing Kayaks

1. The Problem

Ergonomics is a science also known as Human Factors Engineering.
The problem is simple, and sooner or later practically any kayaker and kayak fisherman faces it: Spending long hours paddling and fishing in or on top of an ordinary kayak (sit-in or sit-on-top) inevitably causes some circulation problems and leg numbness, occasional cramps, pain in your lower back, and often fatigue and discomfort in your shoulders and neck.
In fact, kayaking is so closely associated with back pain that kayakers commonly appear in TV ads for back pain relief patches and drugs...
After you begin seeking information about your problem and advice on ways to solve it you realize that the only thing that really works is paddling back to shore, standing up and performing the exercises that physiotherapists recommend for kayakers. In other words, there is no gear that you can outfit your ordinary kayak with that can provide an effective and long lasting solution to any of these symptoms simply because they occur as a result of you being seated in the L position - the traditional sitting position in kayaks.

2. The Root of the Problem - Being Seated In The Traditional, L Kayaking Position

The problem is caused by a combination of two things:
1. Being seated in a non ergonomic position to start with, and
2. Being unable to switch to any other position and release the stress that builds up in the critical pressure points in your body, especially in your legs and lower back.

Have you ever asked yourself why is it that the traditional, L kayaking position is used only in ordinary kayaks and in no other land, snow or water equipment? The answer is that it's because although the L position is the worst for you it's simply the only one that ordinary kayaks can offer.

Double Trouble: The Combined Effect of Horizontal and Vertical Pressure on Your Lower Back:

The L Position

The figure on the left shows the traditional L position used in all ordinary kayaks including both sit-in (SIK) and sit-on-top (SOT).
The pressure points in the lower back region can cause irritation and inflammation of the sciatic nerve (sciatica) felt as pain traveling from the lower region of your back down across your lower thigh.
Foot braces and other support for your feet increase the horizontal pressure that your legs exert on your lower back.
The back support and foot braces may hold you in your place and prevent you from falling backwards or slipping downward, but they also limit your freedom of movement, increase pressure on your lower back, cause leg numbness and cramps and result in increased fatigue.

In addition, sitting in the L position without being able to change our body position increases your fatigue and discomfort, and reduces both performance and fun.
Native people of the Arctic circle who were the first to make and paddle kayaks used neither back rests nor foot braces simply because they were accustomed to sitting on the floor with their legs stretched forward since infancy, unlike us modern Westerners who lose this ability in early childhood when we learn to sit on chairs.
Kayaking in the L position with no adequate support either back or feet is not a sensible solution for anglers who also have to spend hours casting from this low and uncomfortable position.

Food for thought:
If you had to perform some hard work or other physical activity in any position of your choice, would you even consider doing it sitting with your legs stretched forward like this?
Do you fish or do you know anybody who fishes seated in this position from shore or from any other type of fishing boat?

More food for thought:
Airplane coach seats are fairly comfortable - certainly more than regular kayak seats, but why is it that after some time most people feel uneasy sitting in them? The answer is that the limited space makes it difficult for you to change positions, which leads to the buildup of discomfort and fatigue to a point where many people feel they must stand up and stretch, and those who can afford it promise themselves to fly first class next time - if only for the extra legroom.

Long term effects
Not all damages are felt immediately. Sometimes it takes years for the damage to accumulate, and by then it might be too late to fix it. This is true for back and shoulder problems.

Read more about kayaking back pain and leg numbness

3. Search in the Right Direction

What do cross-country motorbikes, mountain bikes, horses, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and personal watercrafts (PWC) have in common? It's the Riding Position.
And what do skiing, surfing, water-skiing, dog sledding, snowboarding, windsurfing, skating and skateboarding have in common? -The Standing Position.
It's simply because the Riding and Standing positions are the best for you in both ergonomic and biomechanical terms, which means they offer best control and more power, and result in less fatigue and injuries.
When we need to make long efforts during motion we have more available power and better control standing or sitting with our legs lower than our upper body (biomechanical advantage), and we also feel more comfortable and less tired this way (ergonomic advantage).

4. Engineering the Optimal Solution

For a solution to be optimal fro you it should first offer you the best support to your physical effort to begin with, and in the case of fishing from kayaks it means maximal lateral stability. Then it must enable you to both paddle and fish in the most ergonomically advantageous positions, and give you the ability to switch between these positions anytime, which is exactly what the patented W Fishing Kayak offers you.
Freedom to Choose = Less Fatigue = Enhanced Comfort = More Fun and Healthier Kayak Fishing

Only the W solution departs radically from the L position and offers a new, comprehensive and effective approach to all ergonomic and biomechanical issues.

The new, patented W Kayak re-distributes buoyancy from the boat's longitudinal axis to its two sides and thus offers maximal support to the kayak fisherman's balancing, control, steering, propulsion and fishing efforts.
The central part of the W Kayak- it's 'backbone', which joins the two hulls has the shape of a long, 14" high saddle. The W Kayaker can move back and forth on the saddle according to his/her need (e.g. surfing, taking out etc.) and he can also switch anytime between four ergonomic kayaking positions:

-Watch our demo movies

I. Riding (Mounted)

The Natural Position

Riding is the most stable and comfortable position, and it offers best control over your boat and the most leverage on your paddle.
In the Riding position your thighs, legs and feet are positioned directly below your body and take active part in all your efforts: Balancing, Control and Paddling.
Riding is the best position for beginning W Kayakers. It is also the best position in whitewater and surfing applications.

Fishing: Riding is the preferred position, rivaling only with standing. When you cast riding you have more power than sitting.

Riding (mounting) the W saddle

Your feet are in a direct line below your body

Riding a W Kayak is similar to mounting a pony:
Your upper body rests on the saddle and your thighs hold its sides, while each foot rests firmly on the bottom of a hull, as it would in a stirrup.

W fishing kayak -top view -Riding position

Your legs are on both sides of your body

II. Sitting

Leisure Positions

Sitting means having your legs positioned in front of your body. Sitting positions are less stable and powerful than Riding, and not recommended for beginning W Kayakers, or for paddling in moving water.
The sitting positions are good for relaxing on flat water.
Adding a back rest (lumbar support) is not necessary in the W kayak, and few W kayakers choose to outfit their boat with such an accessory.

Variations:
1. Regular sitting, which is similar to sitting in a canoe
2. Sitting with both legs stretched forward
3. Mixed: one leg in the regular position and the other stretched forward


Regular	Legs stretched forward

Regular sitting position

Sitting with legs stretched forward

III. Kneeling

For Seasoned Canoeists

A powerful paddling position, which is preferred by racing and whitewater canoeists.
In your W kayak the kneeling positions are good for racing and for paddling against strong wind and current. You can kneel on one knee ('High Kneel') or on both knees. You may use either a double blade or single blade paddle.
If your knees don't reach the bottom of the hulls you can use padding as seen in the right side image

Fishing: While Kneeling doesn't offer any particular advantage when casting using the 'High Kneel' can make a difference when you're struggling with a strong fish and you need extra power.

"High Kneel"

IV. Standing

New Dimension in Paddling and Fishing

Standup paddling is easier than it looks -You can paddle standing with your legs parallel or in diagonal, and with the knees either straight or bent (similar to skiing).
You can paddle on both sides of the boat or just on one side- in parallel and with a J stroke.
After some practicing you can try to paddle standing in moving water and in the surf. In such conditions it's recommended to have your feet pointing a little sideways for additional stability.

Fishing: Standing is a natural, preferred position that offers both leverage and height. If you find it hard to fight a strong fish and balance the boat while standing you can switch to riding instantly and effortlessly.

NOTE: Very tall, heavy and elderly people could face a longer learning period.

W Fishing Kayak - top view -Standing position

Stand up paddling

V. Side Saddle

The W Kayak As a Floating Bench

You can sit in this new position in the 2008 and 2009 models due to their lower spray deflector.
Side Saddle is practical as a static fishing position in shallow water.
You can also paddle short distances in this position, and adjust your kayak's position.

Read more about this new position

VI. Riding Over

Riding over with feet out of the water

Read more about this position

'Fun in The Sun'

You can ride over 2008 and 2009 Wavewalk kayaks.
Riding over is basically a static position for relaxation and fishing, although it allows for some paddling over short distances.

Riding over with feet dangling in the water

VII. Additional Positions

Mixed Riding and Sitting

You can paddle and fish with one leg in the Riding position and the other leg placed forward in the regular sitting position, or entirely stretched forward.
Such positions are quite powerful, and can be useful for counteracting a lateral current or wind, and as yet more options for reducing fatigue in long trips.

Sitting in fishing kayak with one leg forward

Riding with one leg stretching forward

One Leg Folded on the Saddle Top

This position can be pretty comfortable when you spend time in one place and need to operate a fishing rod or a camera on one side of the boat.
It is also useful when two people paddle in tandem using single blade (canoe) paddle - each on a different side of the boat.

Sitting with one leg folded over the saddle top

Both Legs in One Hull

Since this position is not particularly efficient for paddling it can be useful on flat water, mainly when the boat is static and occupied by two people, each facing a different side of the boat, e.g. when fishing, bird watching or photographing.

Sitting position in fishing kayak - one leg bent

Both feet in one hull

The Key to Super Stability

Nothing Compares

Stability is key to comfort - The patented W Kayak offers unmatched stability trough a unique combination of three factors:

The boat's buoyancy is sensibly distributed along its sides, instead of being wasted along its central, longitudinal axis.
The passengers make natural use of their legs and feet to balance themselves by shifting their weight from one leg to another, and they apply this weight directly to the bottom of the hulls -below waterline, thus creating an effect of 'dynamic ballast'.
The immersed profiles of the boat's twin hulls act as multiple 'Hard Chines', thus offering a high level of lateral resistance and enhanced initial (primary) stability.

Cross Section of W Fishing Kayak

This figure shows a cross section of
the W Kayak hulls at a 200 lb load.

Learn More About Stability

Watch our demo movies

5. Casting, and Fighting Fish

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

When fighting powerful fish you want to be in full control of your kayak, and the W kayak offers you all the means for it. Read More

6. The Cockpit - A Place To Be In, And Work In

Your kayak's cockpit has other functions besides protecting you and offering you optimal comfort:
It is also a workplace in which you store your gear and handle it.
In the W kayak all the gear you need is within arm's reach, and there's no chance of it going overboard since in case it slips out of your hand it would end at the bottom of one of the hulls, where it will be easy for you to find and reach it.

Paddler Size and Additional Considerations

This information is taken from our Product Info page

General Limitations
Exceptionally tall and/or very heavy people, and/or people with certain physical disabilities can find it more difficult to paddle traditional canoes and kayaks.
Similarly, such people might experience some difficulties in W Kayaking that most people won't experience.
This is especially true for people with severely injured or disabled knees because of the important role the legs have in all W Kayaking positions.

Tandem

This picture shows two large size adults paddling the 2009 Wavewalk kayak in tandem, on flat water.
The bow paddle is 6'3" tall (190 cm), and weighs 245 lb. (111 kg)
The stern paddler is 6' tall (183), and weighs 195 lb. (88 kg)
Their life jackets, clothes, shoes, paddles and gear add 30 lb. (14 kg)
Total load: 470 lb. (213 kg)
The estimated draft is about 11"

WARNING: The W-kayak in this picture is overloaded, and only two experienced W-kayakers like the ones featuring here can paddle it safely. You should not expect to be able to paddle in tandem in such conditions before becoming a seasoned W-kayaker.
Any attempt to paddle this boat in tandem with two adult paddlers of any size before both of them have gained considerable W-kayaking practice is unsafe.

W Kayak Data
The following tables are offered in order to help you evaluate the likelihood of the W Kayak being appropriate for you and for the applications you are planning for it. The numbers are not absolute and represent our best estimate based on on experience. If you have questions regarding these or other issues please call us at 1-617-916-2250 or email us to WaveWalk
You may find this information useful is understanding and assessing the likelihood of other kayaks and canoes being fit for you and your needs.

Other factors play significant roles in the overall quality of W kayakers' experience. Such factors can be:
NEGATIVE: Older age, Lack of experience in Canoeing, Balance problems, Knee problems, Gender (Male)*
POSITIVE: Younger age, Previous experience in Canoeing, Good balance, Good physical condition, Gender (Female)*
* Note: Generally, men's Center of Gravity (CG) is higher than that of women of similar height.

I. Estimates for Your Height and Weight As Factors in Your W Kayaking Experience

	HEIGHT
WEIGHT

5'10" (178 cm)

6' (183 cm)

6'2" (188 cm)

6'4" (193 cm)

6'6" (198 cm)

240 lb (109 kg)

230 lb (104 kg)

220 lb (100 kg)

210 lb (95 kg)

II. Recommendations For Types of Load and Total Loads As Function of Number of Passengers, Passenger Physical Attributes, Gear Weight and Paddling Environment

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
Total Number of Passengers on Board	Maximum Recommended Weight of Heaviest Passenger on Board	Maximum Recommended Height of Tallest Passenger on Board	Total Maximum Recommended Combined Weight of All Passengers on Board	Total Maximum Gear Weight Recommended With Maximum Recommended Combined Weight of All Passengers (D)	Total Maximum Recommended Weight on Board - Passengers Plus Gear (DE) for Flatwater	Total Maximum Recommended Weight on Board - Passengers Plus Gear (D+E) for Moving Water
1 Passenger	240 lb (113 kg)	6' 6" (198 cm)	240 lb (113 kg)	70 lb (32 kg)	310 lb (145 kg)	280 lb (127 kg)
2 Passengers	220 lb (109 kg)	6' 4" (193 cm)	270 lb (122 kg)	50 lb (23 kg)	320 lb (145 kg)	280 lb (127 kg)
3 Passengers	200 lb (91 kg)	6' 2" (188 cm)	290 lb (132 kg)	20 lb (91 kg)	310 lb (141 kg)	280 lb (127 kg)

**Note: It is assumed that the passengers are generally fit to paddle canoes and kayaks, that heavy gear is stored mostly in the bottom of the hulls, and that water and weather conditions are not extreme i.e. storms, whitewater, heavy surf etc.

If you have questions regarding these or other issues please call us at 1-617-916-2250 or email us to WaveWalk

W Kayak - Draft As Function of Load:

Note: This figure shows the boat's draft and freeboard as function of load, but one has to be aware that a small boat such as a canoe, kayak or W kayak reacts very differently when loaded with gear than it does when loaded with passengers, especially if the heavy gear is stored at the bottom of the hulls - below waterline.

When the boat is heavily loaded it is recommended to paddle it in the Riding position, which offers the highest degree of stability and control, and a biomechanical advantage in paddling (see above paragraphs)

Please feel free to contact us if you need more information
Email: WaveWalk or call 1-617-916-2250