First impression
We received the Wave Quad in February, and found ourselves just staring at this big box.  It was still winter, and it didn't make sense to pull it out and put it together through March and April, as the weather was just plain nasty here in Michigan. We waited patiently, and finally opened it up in May.

It was worth the wait.  But more on that later. First, putting it together.

The directions on these types of things can be either great or really, really bad.  In this case, the WaveQuad comes with great directions, including photos that made it it really easy to follow each step. One of the things I noticed when I opened the box was the color of the pontoons. The images I had seen before we received it made it seem that the color is burnt orange but the color is really brighter and nicer color orange. The other observation was the actual four tubes the boat has (two tubes stitched together on each side)making it a really stable and safe ride. The frame and stitching is really well done and nothing looks or feels cheap. The Wave Quad has a nice storage bag and a stripping apron and they can be mounted on the frame as you see fit. The frame is easy to put together and has a black matte finish. The feet on the frame are very adjustable. There is storage on the back of the frame for a small cooler etc. You will need to have, or get your hands on a pump that will fit the connector to fill the four air chambers on the pontoon.  If you don't have a pump, plan on spending 20 dollars or more on one. I also purchased some cotter pins as I did not want the oars to pop out inadvertently (pain it the ass!) and not knowing if they float or not.

Now that the pontoon was ready to go we needed some good weather to use it.

On The Water
I setup a trip to Hewes Lake with a friend of mine for some black crappie fishing. We met at 6:30 in the evening off the exit and my friend followed me to the lake. When we got there I was in for a big shock. The road that goes to the lake was closed with a gate and was not due to be opened until the last Friday in May! I really forgot how long it would take to get down to the lake as I had just driven down to the launch in years past but it looked far on the GPS and the Wave Quad weighs 58lbs fine for two people to carry but it would be tough if it was just me and no help from a cart. The fishing was cold rainy but a black crappie to the Wave Quad so no skunk on the maiden voyage.

No pain in the ass here!
The one thing that really scares me and can be a deal breaker is, how do I feel  while I am fishing and how do I feel after.  No, I am not talking about a mental thing (I always enjoy being on the water!); it's a physical thing. I have sat on kayaks, canoes, pontoons, etc and have gotten very uncomfortable with pain in my back or shifting my ass around to get comfortable. It's just like buying a car or truck and that first long car ride that affirms your purchase or makes you want to hang a for sale sign when you feel like a pretzel. The Wave Quad's seat is a hard frame with a mesh covering, and the seat back folds down but is not adjustable... so it's got to be right.

The seat on this thing, it turns out, is really very comfortable, and I did not find myself shifting or wadding up a jacket for lumbar support. No shifting around and just to give some perspective I'm 6'2"  and 225lb and I loved support and comfort of the Wave Quad's seat and that's a big plus as a day on the water should not involve a trip to the chiropractor after! (Just a note, I have spent quite a few hours since my first trip to Hewes lake and actually spent the day fishing and shooting some shots on Saubee lake for this review, in fact I am fishing the whole season on the Wave Quad and will update the review if needed!)

A 58lb Dragonfly
A real surprise is how maneuverable the Wave Quad is on the water. It turns fast and is very responsive to a change in course. Great speed using the oars going in a forward or backward  direction with very little fatigue on your arms. I really have not clocked the speed with GPS yet as I just have had real fun moving around the water but I would venture its around 5 mph.

Packing Up
The Wave Quad is not a small pontoon ride at all, it more like a full size luxury car. It has rings fore and aft on the pontoons to strap it dawn. If your uncomfortable with it strapped to the roof of the car you can deflate the tubes, and disconnect on half of the frame. I actually loaded the Wave Quad in a van and found that I could have it ready to go on the water in about 10 minutes and back in the van in 5 minutes, its much like a nascar pit stop you just get faster and better at packing and unpacking as you do it.

Specifications:
Inflated Size: 63" x 8'
Tube Diameter: 11"
Fabric: 1200 PC / 500 PVC
Material Weight: 30
AireCell Material: Vinyl
Seam Construction: Sewn
Warranty: 1 Year
Valve Type: 4-Summit
Weight: 58 lb.
Load Capacity: 375 lb.
Frame: 8-pc Steel
Anchor System: n/a
Motor Mount: n/a
Oar Type: 6' 2-piece

Extra stuff you may want, but not included: Pump; cotter pins; anchor, size extra small (optional); Rod holder (optional).

The Verdict:
This ride is big, roomy, fast, comfortable, safe and very maneuverable, just a few of the thoughts that popped into my head when taking the Wave Quad out each trip on the water. The Wave Quad is very easy to set up and has plenty of storage of your fishing gear. It's not really that expensive at $650.00USD, as there certainly are more expensive pontoons that are not as nicely constructed.

Pick up this stillwater ride and you will have a real winner!