If anyone knows of a solid used watermaster for sale shoot me a PM...cheers

Good choice Keith!

Ya BFD, ton of research and think this is the most versatile boat made for what I like to do. Way expensive new but they dont come up used too much so we shall see...

I agree, they are a good choice. If a Wilderness Access or .....( dang, I can't think of the third brand) come up for sale too, they're good boats. Very similar in design.

Sam

Water Strider is the other brand.

Water Master, Wilderness Access and Water Strider are very tough to find in the classifieds. Being very expensive new, everybody keeps them probably because they know it would be tough to sell these inflatables used and get a back reasonable amount for what they paid for them. Plus, who ever has one of these inflatables, seems to really like them a lot. Another reason these inflatables are not resold a lot.

I've been using an original WM for many years now and it's still going strong.

Just make sure to keep your inflatables wiped down with some type of UV inhibitor to extend their life. Mcnett UV Tech, 303 Aerospace Protectant are two of the better ones.

Any experience with the oar system on real rivers? I am hesitant on the WM and the new Scadden Outlaws due to the rack n pinion oar system. Keeps the weight down but look iffy when you need to really get some hard pulls in...

I like the WM oar lock set up a lot. The old style Tote-N-Float had some problems of their oar locks being ripped off from aggressive rowing, but I've never had any issues with the WM oar lock set up though. The oars locking and laying flat out of the way when not in use, is a nice feature of the WM oar lock set up. The oars being perfectly set for immediate rowing with no adjusting is sweet also. When you need to squeeze through tight spots just fold the oars in, then fold them back out to continue rowing again, instead of sliding the oars in, then out, that is done with a traditional oar lock set up sometimes.

If you find an original WM that came with the more plastic oar blade oars, they will break with some abuse. I would recommend to get a set and a spare, of the newer standard duty, non breakable oar blade, WM oars.

Summerrun,

I sold my used WM Grizzly to a friend this winter, as I ran into a chance to pick up a NIB Kodiak for a steep discount from a guy who bought out stock from a retailer who was discontinuing them in Tenn. (TMI)

Anyway, you can get upgraded oars, Carlisle I think. I've never had any problems, but I haven't used it on the Sol Duc or Calawah. I've been rowing an Achilles LT2 since 1985 with no problems, and it's oars are less skookum than WM's. I've been down nearly every steelhead river in WA with them, so if you have any doubts, let's talk. I've been through boulder gardens on the Quinault, Queets, Clearwater, Hoh, Grand Ronde, etc., so I have high confidence that they'll take on water that I'm shy of. I'm thinking of a multi-day on the Deschutes that I haven't done in 20+ years.

The guy I sold my Grizzly to promptly broke an oar blade, but this guy is hellish hard on all gear, so I don't know if it was just one of those things that could happen to anyone, or if it was inevitable for him.

Sg

I was the dude that broke the oar. Honestly, I would opt out of the heavier oars. They are nice to row, but if you highside a rock with the blade, it won't bend out and will probably break the oarloak (as they have post style oarlocks). It's simple enough to carry a spare oar, but replacing an lock is much harder and probably isn't a field repair.

Thanks. I knew some one would bail me out.

Has any one ever tore off the oar locks on these boat trying to get out of a pickle?

Feedback I have seen is NO but alot of these WM guys are primary lake fishermen. The new Scadden Outlaw is where I am now leaning, a bit cheaper than WM, lifetime warranty, 1/2 the weight, 800 lb capacity, very whitewater worthy with the upgraded oars, better storage and anchor abilities from what I can see.

They seem to come up for sale about a month after you've bought one

Bout time you find a keeper don't you think

if you get a Scadden boat that isn't missing parts, or needs repairs within the first month or two, or gets parts that are for a different boat, you will be the first person I've heard of that got what they ordered. Scadden is well know for having worse customer service than Skookum.

Side note. I was driving home last night about 10:30 and about a block from my house I noticed two punks walking down the sidewalk carrying my WM Kodiak. Took it from my back yard. I drove by a little way before realizing what I just saw and pulled over to chase the MF'ers down 84th in Edmonds. Caught the first one in about 3 blocks and pile drived him into the concrete. Left him there to catch the guy up front but couldn't. I kept thinking the whole time there is a reason I've played keeper most of my life. El Gato doesn't have the high end speedof some of my teammates. F'ers!

Summerun, I'd hold off and buy a WM. Scadden has a horrible reputation for delivering what he sells.

If you want to borrow my Kodiak for a week or so that would be fine with me.

Wntrrn,

That story makes my blood boil! Did you end up with the first punk still in your possession after pile driving him? I was thinking you could cut off his ears and fingers until he gave up his buddy so as to make sure they both get what they have coming.

I've also heard mixed reports on Scaddens, some good, some bad.

Sg

The video on the WM site is nice, makes the boat look really comfortable. The only problems, as I see it, it that there is no drink holder and no place for a pillow for a nap.


Nice boats.

hmmm...i know about the "issues" and I dont like his frame boats that much but the new outlaw really has features that I like much more than the WM. Lotsa BS from Scadden for sure and I know for a fact all his boats are not class 5 rated like he claims and the carrying capacity claims seem a bit far fetched as well. glad u piledrove the punks and got your boat back and i very well might take u up on that offer as its time to start chasing summers on the fly...cheers

There are Watermasters available for demo on the WashingtonFlyfishing website.
FYI

I saw that, that is a really cool gear demo deal they have going over there. I am biting the bullet knowing I will probably get iffy service from Scadden but planning on the end product being a boat better than the WM, we shall see.

Resurrection time has cometh......

What was the outcome of this old thread ? I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a like new WM Kodiak.

Yes/no, or ??


c/22

Sounds like another trip to the OP, with a stop in PA, to break one in is in order dude.