I was lucky enough to get a couple rides on the new WDK Rok hull. My buddy Riverrat put one together recently, running a 85mm PV stock stroke lamey. Correct me if I'm wrong on that Riverrat.
I'll start off by saying that I've seen a TON of videos of the newer generation purpose built skis, and had decided I that they were the way to go. It's doubtful that a guy like me is going to have any kind of crazy power plant in the near future, so a purpose built lightweight hull sounds ideal. Especially considering how rare it is for me to hit waves of any sort. I hope to change that in a few years, but for now, it's 99% flat water for me. Just run a solid mild (by comparison) engine in one of these little boats, and have a great time. The problem with this, is all the videos and reviews show that these boats aren't easy to hop on, get comfortable, and ride. All the reviews I've read, and heard from personal friends, say that they take some serious getting used to. Even then you can't just go ride it like you would your superjet. The reviews say that they ride nose high, don't turn great, don't cruise well, but they bf like a mofo.
When I first saw the Rok, I was majorly impressed with the quality. Everything looked top notch, very solid. My first thought was "Damn this thing is going to kick my ass." I've only ridden a handful of A/M hulls that weren't basically S/J clones, and they have all had crazy tendencies that you have to adjust too, and a 15 minute ride was nowhere near enough.
When I took off, I couldn't do anything but just laugh at how nutty the ride was. I've never been able to launch that high off the tiniest waves. The first time I rode it, we had about 1-2' of wind chop in the river. I could creep up to waves, grab a fistful, and go to the moon. The first thing I noticed was the recovery time in comparison to my -3" superjet. When I land completely tail first, it takes a second, sometimes a couple attempts, to get back going on a plane. The Rok after some of the craziest landings was able to right itself and continue ripping in absolutely no time, with my feet still locked in the holds. There was very little learning curve. Withing about 5-6 minutes of riding, I felt comfortable, and was riding very hard with no unexpected crazy tosses. I didn't feel like I was on a purpose built boat. I really didn't even notice that I was on a tiny boat (except for the crazy air and power) until I looked down and could actually see how little it was underneath me.
My second ride on the Rok, I did a couple plate to plates, and several 3/4's+ rolls. Way more air than I was used to on the rolls, a couple days on this boat and they would be insane! I was amazed at how responsive the ski was even in the air to my body movements. Seems like on the superjet, I go into a roll and just hang on. On the Rok, every thing I did in the air made a crazy difference in how the ski rolled/landed.
I got one other ride in the next couple days where it was a lot calmer, and was able to just go rip around without the waves and was very impressed with how the ski carved for such a small boat. I remember coming back in and telling Riverrat that "I'm really trying hard to find something I don't like about this boat, and I can't seem to."
The only thing I would want to do different is to have a little somthing different on the nose, and I think Riverrat would agree. I've never spoken with WDK, and I've heard that there is something in the works for that so my one complaint doesn't really even count.
I will say that I have never personally ridden any of the other new gen small boats, so I can't really compare. Seems this ski was the best of both worlds offering the small light boat that a decent plant can really push around, and also the stable platform you need for everyday rec riding.
Basically, I want one. Someday..
I'll start off by saying that I've seen a TON of videos of the newer generation purpose built skis, and had decided I that they were the way to go. It's doubtful that a guy like me is going to have any kind of crazy power plant in the near future, so a purpose built lightweight hull sounds ideal. Especially considering how rare it is for me to hit waves of any sort. I hope to change that in a few years, but for now, it's 99% flat water for me. Just run a solid mild (by comparison) engine in one of these little boats, and have a great time. The problem with this, is all the videos and reviews show that these boats aren't easy to hop on, get comfortable, and ride. All the reviews I've read, and heard from personal friends, say that they take some serious getting used to. Even then you can't just go ride it like you would your superjet. The reviews say that they ride nose high, don't turn great, don't cruise well, but they bf like a mofo.
When I first saw the Rok, I was majorly impressed with the quality. Everything looked top notch, very solid. My first thought was "Damn this thing is going to kick my ass." I've only ridden a handful of A/M hulls that weren't basically S/J clones, and they have all had crazy tendencies that you have to adjust too, and a 15 minute ride was nowhere near enough.
When I took off, I couldn't do anything but just laugh at how nutty the ride was. I've never been able to launch that high off the tiniest waves. The first time I rode it, we had about 1-2' of wind chop in the river. I could creep up to waves, grab a fistful, and go to the moon. The first thing I noticed was the recovery time in comparison to my -3" superjet. When I land completely tail first, it takes a second, sometimes a couple attempts, to get back going on a plane. The Rok after some of the craziest landings was able to right itself and continue ripping in absolutely no time, with my feet still locked in the holds. There was very little learning curve. Withing about 5-6 minutes of riding, I felt comfortable, and was riding very hard with no unexpected crazy tosses. I didn't feel like I was on a purpose built boat. I really didn't even notice that I was on a tiny boat (except for the crazy air and power) until I looked down and could actually see how little it was underneath me.
My second ride on the Rok, I did a couple plate to plates, and several 3/4's+ rolls. Way more air than I was used to on the rolls, a couple days on this boat and they would be insane! I was amazed at how responsive the ski was even in the air to my body movements. Seems like on the superjet, I go into a roll and just hang on. On the Rok, every thing I did in the air made a crazy difference in how the ski rolled/landed.
I got one other ride in the next couple days where it was a lot calmer, and was able to just go rip around without the waves and was very impressed with how the ski carved for such a small boat. I remember coming back in and telling Riverrat that "I'm really trying hard to find something I don't like about this boat, and I can't seem to."
The only thing I would want to do different is to have a little somthing different on the nose, and I think Riverrat would agree. I've never spoken with WDK, and I've heard that there is something in the works for that so my one complaint doesn't really even count.
I will say that I have never personally ridden any of the other new gen small boats, so I can't really compare. Seems this ski was the best of both worlds offering the small light boat that a decent plant can really push around, and also the stable platform you need for everyday rec riding.
Basically, I want one. Someday..
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