reviews

Waterstrider Inflatable Boat

Reviewed by Scott Richmond

Waterstrider Inflatable Boat. $1,595 retail. Available direct from the manufacturer; see website.

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n the last ten years, fly anglers have taken to pontoon boats like . . . well, like ducks to water. Versatile and practical, they are an inexpensive alternative to a driftboat. Many fly anglers see a pontoon boat as the answer to their prayers.

What's the question?

But if pontoon boats are the answer, what was the question? For the kind of fishing I do, the question is: "How do I safely access good fishing places without spooking the fish?" Those three issues--safety, access, and stealth--are forefront in any watercraft decision I make. After that, issues like price come into play.

But if I can't satisfy the first three issues, I figure I'm wasting my money no matter how much or how little I pay for a boat.

Consider the Alternative

There is an alternative to the beloved 'toon, an alternative that most fly fishers aren't aware of or haven't seriously considered: the frameless inflatable.

Frameless inflatables take two basic shapes: kayak-like and raft-like. Frameless inflatables have most of the same advantages of a pontoon boat, but they weigh half as much and can be stored in a smaller space. Those can be big advantages, especially if you're trying to backpack to some secret steelhead run that the driftboat guys can't reach, or if you're trying to get your boat up and down a steep bank.

I've owned a frameless inflatable--the Dave Scadden Escalade (see Escalade Inflatable Boat)--for about five years. For the kind of fishing I do, I prefer it to my old pontoon boat.

The Waterstrider is another take on the frameless inflatable, and in my mind it gets best-of-breed honors. Below is why I give this boat such high marks, as it relates to the three issues--safety, access, and stealth--mentioned above.

Safety

1. The Waterstrider is perfectly balanced and rides well in the water. This makes it highly maneuverable. It spins on a dime without being squirrelly, and it rows quickly in rough water or smooth. Being quick and maneuverable is the key to keeping yourself out of trouble when you're in whitewater.
2. The boat holds 17 cubic feet of air, so it's got the buoyancy to keep you and your gear afloat and mobile in rough water.
3. The oars are pinned, so you can't lose them unless you work really hard at it. Further, they lay flat on the side of the boat without extra strapping. That means you can quickly get them out of the way when you're fishing and drifting; an oar left in the water while drifting can strike a submerged rock, turning the handle into a blunt weapon aimed at your head or your throat--not good! This boat's easy-put-down oars help you avoid that problem. But getting the oars out of the way is only one part of the equation. The other part is being able to quickly get them back into action so you can avoid an upcoming obstacle. It takes about two seconds to grab the Waterstrider's oars and start rowing again.
4. Heavy-duty fabric. The Waterstrider is made from tough cloth that is coated with an alloy of PVC and urethane. Seams are one-inch wide and welded. They are sealed on the inside with 3/4 inch urethane tape. There is a rub strip on the outside that helps protect the seams.
5. In other words, the Waterstrider has a hide like a rhinoceros and will last for years.
6. Three air chambers. The boat has front and back chambers, so if you should puncture one, you will stay afloat. Further, the seat is inflated, so you've got additional buoyancy.
7. Internal baffles help balance the air pressure between the two main chambers. This keeps the boat sufficiently rigid so it performs as it should.
8. The Waterstrider is not open at the front, so you can't fall out of it as easily as you might with a pontoon boat.
9. "Real" valves. High quality valves are used for all three chambers.
10. Light weight. Because the boat is light weight (see below) you can portage around the roughest rapids, terrain permitting.

Access

1. Because it has no metal frame, the Waterstrider is nearly half the weight of a pontoon boat. That means you can get it up and down steep banks far more easily than a pontoon boat. Also , you can carry it longer distances--such as into a mountain lake or to a secret steelhead run--than you could a 50-pound pontoon boat.
2. The Waterstrider packs into a small space. That means you can take it with you on an airplane to New Zealand, Alaska, the Bahamas or where ever. Further, you can carry it in the trunk of a gas-efficient small car instead of loading it into a pickup truck or buying a trailer. You can inflate or deflate the boat in less than ten minutes. Once inflated, the only other assembly is to attach the oars.
3. The storage bag has backstraps. You can pack this boat into the bag, toss in the two-piece oars, the pump, and your gear. Put it on your back like a backpack, and you're off. Total weight: under 35 pounds. Further, the storage bag is a dry bag, so you when you're at your destination, you put your gear into it, clip it to the boat in back (D-rings and clips provided in just the right places), and you're good to go down the river for a day . . . or several nights.
4. This boat's maneuverability and the quick access to the oars means you can easily propel it with a pair of flippers, kick-boat style, and fish while drifting; when needed, put down the rod and pick up the oars.
5. You can stop the boat midriver, if the current is not too strong and the water is not too deep. Just stand up and start casting. Because the boat surrounds you, it's not going anywhere. When you're done fishing, sit down and be on your way to the next hot spot.

Stealth

1. The low profile means you can get much closer to the fish than you could with a driftboat or even most pontoon boats.
2. The absence of a metal frame means there is little to clunk and make fish-alerting noises.

Other Considerations

1. There are 12 stainless steel D-rings for attaching gear. No steel is truly "stainless," and you need to wash off saltwater and other corrosives. But it's going to last longer than non-stainless.
2. It's possible to flip this boat if you go over a rock backwards; your weight is downstream, and the front end will tip up as you drop over the rock. Of course, you can do the same thing in a pontoon boat, too.
3. Rubber handles are at the balance point. This means you can pick the boat up with one hand and carry it at your side, or you can step into the boat and pick it up with both hands and walk to the water, like you might with a float tube.
4. The seat is inflatable and comfortable. The backrest is also inflatable and its position can be adjusted so your legs fit properly on the footrest strap.
5. There is no anchor system. However, due to the ability to stop the boat midriver--when shallow enough and slow enough--then stand up and fish with the boat around you, you will seldom miss an anchor system.
6. Pontoon boats have a solid plastic seat that is comfortable and has a firm backrest. Further, it's higher and your legs will spend less time in cold water. The Waterstrider's seat and backrest are inflatable. I don't find this a disadvantage, and the Waterstrider's lower seat means a lower, more stealthy profile. But your legs might get colder if you leave them in the water.
7. There are no gear bags like you see next to the seat of a pontoon boat. However, with some careful packing and gear storage you probably won't find this to be a problem.
8. There is a similar boat on the market, the Watermaster. It was designed by Dave Inks, who left Watermaster to start Waterstrider. Are you confused yet? The Watermaster has a solid board under the seat, which means more weight, less comfort, and one less inflation chamber. You might stand on the board to fish, but I can't recommend that; it just invites a quick swim.
9. The Waterstrider measures 92 inches long by 49 inches wide. The front air tube is 13 inches in diameter, and rear tube is 17 inches. There is a 31 inch opening in front. Two-piece oars are 60 inches long. Maximum recommended load is 515 pounds. The boat and oars together weigh 28 pounds. You can get a motor mount for it, but I didn't try that.

The Rub

With all these advantages, why don't you see more Waterstriders around? Only 200 or so are sold each year.

Part of the answer is distribution. Most fly shops are not willing to take it on due to the price and the skinny margin. Another problem--the biggest problem--is cost. The Waterstrider retails at $1395, which is a few hundred dollars more than a good quality pontoon boat such as the Bucks Bronco or Outcast PAC 800, but comparable to high-end pontoon boats.

If you're a 30-something Westflyer with a big mortgage on the house that holds the pregnant wife and the two pre-schoolers, you might have a tough time justifying even an entry-level $400 pontoon boat, let alone a Waterstrider.

On the other end of the spectrum, a highly paid lawyer, executive, or doctor might prefer to hire a guide instead of buying a boat; after a stressful week of minding other people's business, it might be nice to be on the receiving end of the care equation.

I think this boat is best suited to an adventurous angler who wants to do his or her own trip, knows something about rowing in whitewater, can afford the extra money over a pontoon boat, and sees the advantages. If you like to travel, it's ideal.

When considering the cost, remember to include all the factors. For instance, the Waterstrider is a complete package, including oars, pump, patch kit, dry bag, and fins; most boats are going to charge extra for everything but the oars. Another factor is that you can transport it with a smaller car--maybe you don't need the twelve-miles-to-the-gallon pickup truck after all.

In Conclusion

Waterstrider has an extensive website at www.waterstrider.com. You'll find lots of details, photos, tips, and even videos of the boat in action. You can order the boat direct from the website, or contact Dave Inks, the owner.

I won't say this boat is for everybody. You have to look at how you fish as well as your bank account. But I will say that it is a no-compromise, very versatile boat that is well worth the money if you fit the right profile.

Bottom Line: Top watercraft for stealth, safety, and portability.  Reviewer Rating: 5

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 05/07/2006.

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Front view showing backrest, open space for kicking, inflatable seat

Front view with stipping apron in place, oars out, and dry bag stowed behind the seat.

Rear view showing cargo area behind the seat.

One way to portage: just pick up the boat ans carry it.

The Waterstrider (under user's knees) makes a compact package for traveling.

Boat, pump, fins, and fish gear are in the dry bag, which doubles as a backpack.