Inflatable Fishing Rafts
WS24X Water Strider® Kick Boat

For prices go to Incept's Products Catalogue

Click here for a story of a solo 4-day trip on NZ's wilderness Rangitikei River 

Incept Water Strider® Kick Boats provide the ability to fish a wide range of waters effectively, individually and safely, with extreme portability and ease of setup.

With a Water Strider® you can row using drift boat techniques on swift waters, you can hold position with over-the-boot fins leaving your hands free for fishing, you can stand in shallow waters at a moment's notice, you can cast to just about any point you want, and you can fish the fringes from the water side where fish perceive you floating and less of a threat.

See a larger photo of the Water Strider.

Incept inflatable Water Striders® pack down into light, compact airline baggage including oars, backrest, stripping apron and pump - with room in the carry bag for fins, waders and more.  You can take your boat with you any place in the world and have the comfort of your own familiar boat on new and unfamiliar waters.

Water Strider chosen by Field & Stream Mag

for their 2005

Best of the Best Awards for Fishing Craft!

Fishing with the Water Strider raft has opened up a whole new range of fishing opportunities as well as tactics. I can now reach places I could never hike to and position myself for the absolutely most productive presentations. My son and I each have one, and it is a great way for us to fish together. We've used it to float and camp along rivers. I feel very safe and comfortable in it and highly recommend it to all fisherman - Mark K., California

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE WS24X Water Strider:

Inflation Valves - The raft air valve system is an industry-standard commercial Halkey-Roberts valve that will stand up to many years of dependable use.

Air Ride Seat    - This is at the heart of Water Strider’s success. Developed in 1998 to replace the original board seat, and patented, the air-ride seat is superbly comfortable, it is self bailing and under service conditions it adds 60 kg flotation to the raft for load carrying capacity and safety. Because the raft sits higher in the water you ride over more just-submerged obstacles, you get more stability and you get significantly better performance – speed in calm water, and maneuverability in fast water. These benefits are important because they give you more tolerance in difficult situations. Because the air-ride seat is inflatable, the raft packs down significantly smaller and lighter.

Equipment Straps - Two equipment straps alongside the seat are fitted to keep your gear in your boat and out of your way for quick-water maneuvering. You can slip your fully rigged rod under a strap at a moment’s notice, navigate a rapid and be back on the job fishing again without missing a cast.

Oar Locks        - The oar locks are designed to hold the oars captive with stainless steel pins to prevent oar loss and keep the oar blades at the right angle at all times.  Stowing the oars so they are not dragging in the water when not in use is as simple as reaching forward and giving the grips a little twist. The oar retaining nuts are attached with robust lanyards.

See a larger photo of the Water Strider in action

Incept back-packable inflatable kick boats do not need trucks, trailers or roof racks, there are no storage problems, and traveling in public transport and small aircraft is a breeze.

Taking just minutes to set up or pack away, the Water Strider float tube is perfect for day trips and for multi-day expeditions. They make fishing far more productive and more fun. Wilderness rivers, ponds and lakes are accessible, safe, exciting and fun.

"This is the only kick boat that fills all the needs of the fly fisherman whether lakes or rivers, I've tried them all and the Water Strider raft is the only craft on the market worth my money and time. So lightweight you can take it anywhere in the world, with a set up time of just a few minutes."  - Dennis Black (founder Umpqua Feather Merchants,  Oregon)

3-piece Oars    - Another Incept design, these oars are of double strength anodized tubing and have two slip joints so each piece is short enough to pack down with the boat inside the back-pack carry bag. The oar blades are exceptionally strong and will not break.

Stainless D-rings - D-rings (and all metal fittings) are made of stainless steel and you don’t have to worry about the effects of salt water. There are 12 D-rings fitted. Large D’s at bow and stern allow attachment of mooring lines. They also are used for tying down expedition gear together with the two D’s in front of the footrest, the two D’s on top of the stern tube and the two rear D’s on the internal carry handles. The three D’s at stern are also used to secure the optional motor mount, and the two D’s on top of the stern tube fit the two snaphooks fitted to the included dry-bag.

Handles            - There are strong rubber handles fitted to the boat either side of the seat and placed for optimal balance when lifting the raft – you just stand up and move it around.

Stripping Apron - The stripping apron attaches to four Velcro pads and stretches across your knees. The edges are folded over and form a basket to hold your line from slipping into the water around your legs – or anything else for that matter. And it is very handy for holding a snack when you’re having too much fun to get off the water.

Foot Rest         - A foot-strap snaps onto the raft for getting your legs out of the water for rowing
Back Rest         - An inflatable, adjustable backrest is provided for comfort and back support while floating.

Carry Bag         - The carry bag doubles as a large back-packable dry bag. When not protecting your Water Strider raft off the river it is clipped to the raft on the river and holds up to 90 L of your equipment secure and dry, even when immersed (make sure the bag is closed properly before trying this!).

See a larger photo of a stand-up-and-carry

Download an Incept Water Strider brochure in PDF. 1.0MB

Check out these Incept Kick Raft advantages:

• FOLDABLE  Fully featured, expedition tough fishing rafts fold into airline baggage!

• COMFORT  Adjustable inflatable seat and backrest

• CARGO       You can carry the kitchen sink! Capacity for a large drybag both front and rear.

• LINE SUPPORTS  Plenty of attachments for tethers etc

• COLOURS  Available in red or grey

• SAFETY  3 separate air compartments + backrest. In the unlikely event of a puncture you can still navigate to shore for a field repair.

• ACCESSORIES  3-piece split oars, back rest, stripping apron, foot rest, Bravo 1 bellows foot pump, carry bag (which is also a large drybag with shoulder straps), owner's manual and repair kit included

Doug Mould on the Rangitikei River, last trip, 4 days in January 2007. Doug owned a prototype tube we built in 1992 and which was retrofitted more recently with the latest developments. He was regarded as the best fisherman in the area and was a close friend. He passed away a few weeks after this photo was taken. So long, Doug.

WARRANTY

Incept WS24X kick boats in non-commercial use are guaranteed for a period of five years from the date of purchase. Any manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship found during the warranty period will be made good by Incept Marine Ltd at no cost, provided only that the boat is returned to the nearest world-wide Incept repair station, freight paid one way. Call the dealer from whom you purchased the boat, or Incept, for details.

Incept Inflatable Technology

Design experience, expert craftsmanship & the world's best processes and materials makes Incept a world class choice.

WS24X Construction & Materials

• Incept Water Strider® inflatable fishing rafts are constructed from a heavy duty, light weight, polyurethane-alloy boat material designed by a leading world supplier specifically for Incept for this craft. It has 1100 dtex Polyester reinforcing, is exceptionally strong and hard wearing, and is UV protected to withstand extreme exposures.

• All air chambers are 100% heat welded and sealed.

• D-ring and rope-holder fittings are welded.

Incept Marine Ltd is a New Zealand based manufacturer and international supplier of world class inflatable boats, inflatable rafts, kayaks and canoes to multiple market sectors.

Incept’s inflatable boats are designed by professional engineers who are boating enthusiasts, to achieve optimal waterline shape and exceptional handling. In fact, during the design stage, so much emphasis is placed on performance that ease of production comes second - at our expense!  If it doesn’t work in the water, it doesn’t get made at Incept.

The kick boat designer gave special attention to stability, and to increase buoyancy fitted a patented rear seat-deck-floor shaped in such a way that part of it dips into the water. Because this adds 60 kg / 130 lbs of buoyancy, the raft rides higher and it is a major contributor to speed and performance. The uniquely shaped sponson and inflatable deck are carefully integrated resulting in long life, excellent performance,  good stability, good tracking and top handling qualities. The WA24X cannot be swamped and is amazingly responsive and forgiving in rapids.

We have never heard of an Incept owner, anywhere, who does not think Incept boats are the best performing in their class, period.

The ability to sneak up close on big fish is amazing - best fishing purchase I've ever made.  Really increased my enjoyment of the sport (which I didn't think was possible).  - Tom H., Falls Church, Virginia

Solo trip on the wilderness headwaters of New Zealand's Rangitikei River, Kaimanawa State Forest Park, summer 2007. Early morning photo by Bill Grice, Wanganui NZ.  "I have just got back from a most enjoyable four day trip down the Rangitikei ... For the trip I used my Water Strider, bloody brilliant."

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