Looking to add a single person raft to my fleet. Debating between the Outcast Clearwater and the Water Master Kodiak.. Anyone that has rowed both and wouldn’t mind giving some feedback would be appreciated. Located in SW MT. Looking for something to get me down the smaller rivers and creeks. Already have a drift boat so just looking for a skinny water adventures.
Water Master Vs Outcast
- Thread starter MT406
- Start date
There are threads about the Watermaster in the Watercraft/Sonar forum. https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/water-master-kodiak-review.7737/unread. There are discussions of several NRS boats there as well. Use the search function and you will find other discussions of the Outcast and Water Master boats.
I’ve had a WM for quite a few years. Before it I had a pontoon. Sitting high in a pontoon kicking was often noisy, breaking the top of the water with my fins. The WM seat sits lower and my feet are deeper in the water. The OC seat sits level with the top of the tubes, pretty high. Both have a lot of surface tension and are sluggish to row compared to a pontoon. Both are awkward to get in and out of with fins. Once in, the WM is very stable, I imagine the OC is too. Hope this little bit helps…
I have an OC and like sitting up higher . Could be my shit casting. On windy days, I can move much better , with longer oats, than the low rider WM. Plus, I can put a lot of stuff in the outcast.
If you can, try both and see what you prefer.
The ym is much lighter depending on what you have to haul it around.
I also have an older Xtreme , packable boat, if anyone is interested . Have packed it into Bobby, Merry, Lenice and nunnally, and other basin lakes .
Just depends on what you like.
If you can, try both and see what you prefer.
The ym is much lighter depending on what you have to haul it around.
I also have an older Xtreme , packable boat, if anyone is interested . Have packed it into Bobby, Merry, Lenice and nunnally, and other basin lakes .
Just depends on what you like.
I've floated my WM Kodiak all over the Madison. But you can take it down much smaller (as well as larger) streams.
I love being able to just stand up inside my Watermaster and make some casts without getting it to shore and hauling it up on the beach. When you stand it swivels and points stern downstream and the seat provides a built in "stripping basket." When you are finished with the spot just sit down and be on your way. When floating a steelhead river that enables me to hit a bunch of little buckets and seams that most just float on by and provides access to some undisturbed fish that have not had endless intruders waved in their face.
update
Finally was able to take the WM for a spin this evening. Completely satisfied with this purchase. The fold in oars are an excellent idea and come in handy. Had minimal gear and my dog riding in the back. 300lbs and mostly drafting in 4-5 inches of water. Very nimble in moving water. I think my only upgrades are a small seat cushion, yeti sidekick for the backseat and a Fishpond 2 piece rod tube.
Finally was able to take the WM for a spin this evening. Completely satisfied with this purchase. The fold in oars are an excellent idea and come in handy. Had minimal gear and my dog riding in the back. 300lbs and mostly drafting in 4-5 inches of water. Very nimble in moving water. I think my only upgrades are a small seat cushion, yeti sidekick for the backseat and a Fishpond 2 piece rod tube.
Yes to that! I use a 1" thick gardener's kneeling pad, and it adds the additional comfort the stock WM seat lacks.
I got the WM high back kayak seat option for my Kodiak and added a Surf to Summit GTS kayak seat pack with a water resistant storage pouch that fastens securely to the seat back. It has 2 vertical rod holders on the sides. I use the port side rod holder for a medium Measure Net. The length of the MN handle and net bag are perfect for the height of the WM seat off the water, but not so long that it gets in the way of casting or rowing while in the seat holder.
I also velcro'd an inflatable hiking sit pad to the seat bottom for some padding but it's slippery with waders and see that inexpensive kayak seat pads are now available.
I also velcro'd an inflatable hiking sit pad to the seat bottom for some padding but it's slippery with waders and see that inexpensive kayak seat pads are now available.
Oddly enough, I use my boat cushion as a gardening kneeling pad.
I made 7 ft rod tubes out of 2" pvc that would accommodate a 13 1/2 ft spey rod broken in half. Cut a slot out of one end so the reel would slide into it and used a piece of velcro with adhesive on one side going around the pvc from one edge of the slot to the other then a piece of two sided velcro around it behind the reel to hold the rod and reel inside the tube. Left the rod rigged with a fly so I could take it out assemble and be fishing in less than a couple minutes. Used that set up for many trips fishing for steelhead in BC and never found a downside. A tube was strapped along both sides of my Watermaster to enable me to carry two rod/reel combos..
Dumb Questions?
Did you mount the rod tubes with the reel near the stern or the bow?
Did you use the oar straps to secure the rod tubes or additional straps.
If separate straps for the rod tubes, did the tubes have slits cut in them to thread the straps through?
Were 7 ft rod tubes cumbersome? Did you think about making them 2-piece & joining them in the center to strap to the raft?
I have a Redington 2 rod with reel case that I can strap to either my WM or Flycraft. It holds up to 9' rods taken down into 2 pieces.