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JIM Mc
W Kayak Fisherman
Norfolk (England), UK
Video: Jim and
Harriet's W Kayak Trip
-Click
to watch video
"I live in the middle of the Norfolk Broads, a series of inland man-made lakes dug in the 17th century for peat extraction (a natural fuel). These were gradually linked to the rivers to allow easy transport of the peat. A tranquil and beautiful wetland (lots of mosquitoes though), and we are only ten miles from the sea.
I'll get happy with the W Kayak on the Broads, then progress to the sea. Best thing is I don't need to haul a trailer around as the W will go on top of the car.
It will be used in the sea and I plan to mount a small outboard as a contingency, and an anchor system between hulls at the front."
"I recently had an inflatable SOT kayak, great fun and very maneuverable but not ideal for fishing - wet, no storage and nowhere to put the rods or kit - and obviously a bit vulnerable to hooks. I looked long and hard at conventional fishing SOTs but when I hit your website I was convinced. The W kayak ticks all the boxes - plus I can take (one of) the kids out if its calm enough."
Jim tells about repairing the crack in his W Kayak :
-"Based on experience, one can always do a better job than the professionals, even if sometimes it takes a bit longer. I made the repairs, as per your (Wavewalk's) guidance. Welded the outside then the inside of the crack, then used the largest piece of spare PE you supplied and patched on the inside. Took a couple of hours and a couple of attempts - had to reduce the patch as the bottom was too close to the bottom of the hull and I was afraid of melting through it."
Jim's first time in his W Kayak:
-"Just been down to our local lake for an hour and a half. Great fun. Easy to launch, a bit wobbly for the first minute then fine. Sat in the riding position and glided over the water."
And second time:
-"My youngest Harriet (almost 11) and I then went out for a couple of hours on the lake. I took a short video on the little Pentax snapper. Got 3 1/2 knots on the GPS, not bad given my paddling technique needs some work and my daughter was slightly in the way. Max depth is around 7 feet - technology is marvelous!"
Jim's W kayak is an F2 model equipped with a RAP-340 deck mounted rod holder in the front.
"I fitted my depth finder transponder, shoot through hull, using Sikolene 291 retained with a plastic container with the bottom cut out, just into the starboard rear leg. No hull penetration required and minimal loss of sensitivity. Then fitted the GPS/Depth Sounder display on the front end of the "seat" inside the cockpit."
Jim's kayak had an accident that required him to weld and patch it, which he performed masterfully with minimal instruction from us. The mark is visible on the lower part of the hull's side.
BTW, the car is an Alfa Romeo - a sporty Italian brand...
Sailing has always been popular in England