Kayak racer and fitness enthusiast in Charlottesville, VA. Flat water & downriver. I have a weird fondness for old-school boats.
View all posts by Dave The Kayaker
8 Comments
Bob, I still have that mold (Barracuda K-2) if you are truly interested. I know how many Doug sold and how challenging that boat would be to paddle, requiring two highly skilled paddlers, so the Bullitt K-2 just makes much more sense to keep in the catalog for most mere mortals. The Barracuda was a bit of an oddball and not too many people actually bought it after pressuring Doug into designing a tandem Thunderbolt, which is what the Barracuda is/was. And when the Thunderbolt became the Thunderbolt-X it made even less sense. I like to say it this way, Doug had some molds on the first floor of the barn because he knew he’d be building more and then there were the molds in the hayloft. The Barracuda K-2 had definitely been in the hayloft for years.
Hello Dave and good luck in your new endeavor! It’s sad to see Doug retire but glad to see his boats will live on. I’ve known Doug for a long time, been to his shop 7-8 times, each visit a joy, and had the good fortune to paddle with him once! I was fortunate enough to buy his personal Bullitt K2 last year (was foolish enough to sell my first one). In addition to the Bullitt I currently own an EFT (second one), Thunderbolt, X-Par Missile (second one). Previous boats were an XR5 downriver boat and Seafarer Sprint. Like you I absolutely love WSBS boats! Each boat a work of art in my opinion, and they paddle better than they look if that’s possible! Yup, I’m a fan!
Jon, send some pictures to me at dave -at~davethekayaker.com and I can help you identify the boat. Just from the fact it is ~15′ tells me it it probably a Solander, Dart XR/XR5, RPM Special, River 81/82, Leiser King, or Super Tourist.
Hi,
Glad to see the business continue. I just acquired a well used 15’ kayak and would love to restore it as best as possible. The tag on the inside is a little worse for wear so other than knowing it is a WSBS I have no idea what model I have.
Thanks
Jon
Jeff, thank you for the words of encouragement. I’ve got a few changes in mind, based on feedback from others and online chatter over the years. I’ve read it all. It is somewhat surreal. I used to think to myself, “If Doug did just this one thing or made just that one change then….” and now I find myself in the position to execute those exact changes. I’m getting the rest of the molds down here in VA early next week. I have no idea what the future holds but I’m pretty darn sure it is going to be fun. I’m placing an order on Turning Point Boatworks for a Delta kayak first, and then a Marauder to have as demo boats. From there it will depend on who contacts me and what they want. Joey is the right guy to help me realize my vision. We just need a few orders to validate the market for these boats to get the ball rolling. I’m truly driven by the belief that these boats designs are so good they needed to be saved and preserved.
Dave, good luck with the new endeavor. I’ve had an EFT and now a Thunderbolt. Please upgrade the seating adjustments – it’s very tedious at best presently. I heard through Joey about the boats and saw the molds in his shop.
Great to hear the boats will continue to be made and by a quality builder!
I am always looking for a used WSBS wave piercer or EFT but always miss out to a quick buyer. I talked with Doug Bushnell a few times on the phone, he seemed like a nice guy!
Good luck with your new adventure! Bob a kayaker in Maine
Dave The Kayaker | The new home of West Side Boat Shop kayaks 
Bob, I still have that mold (Barracuda K-2) if you are truly interested. I know how many Doug sold and how challenging that boat would be to paddle, requiring two highly skilled paddlers, so the Bullitt K-2 just makes much more sense to keep in the catalog for most mere mortals. The Barracuda was a bit of an oddball and not too many people actually bought it after pressuring Doug into designing a tandem Thunderbolt, which is what the Barracuda is/was. And when the Thunderbolt became the Thunderbolt-X it made even less sense. I like to say it this way, Doug had some molds on the first floor of the barn because he knew he’d be building more and then there were the molds in the hayloft. The Barracuda K-2 had definitely been in the hayloft for years.
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I always thought my friends and I should have bought Doug’s two-man Thunderbolt. Good luck Dave ! Bob a kayaker in Montana.
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Hello Dave and good luck in your new endeavor! It’s sad to see Doug retire but glad to see his boats will live on. I’ve known Doug for a long time, been to his shop 7-8 times, each visit a joy, and had the good fortune to paddle with him once! I was fortunate enough to buy his personal Bullitt K2 last year (was foolish enough to sell my first one). In addition to the Bullitt I currently own an EFT (second one), Thunderbolt, X-Par Missile (second one). Previous boats were an XR5 downriver boat and Seafarer Sprint. Like you I absolutely love WSBS boats! Each boat a work of art in my opinion, and they paddle better than they look if that’s possible! Yup, I’m a fan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jon, send some pictures to me at dave -at~davethekayaker.com and I can help you identify the boat. Just from the fact it is ~15′ tells me it it probably a Solander, Dart XR/XR5, RPM Special, River 81/82, Leiser King, or Super Tourist.
LikeLike
Hi,
Glad to see the business continue. I just acquired a well used 15’ kayak and would love to restore it as best as possible. The tag on the inside is a little worse for wear so other than knowing it is a WSBS I have no idea what model I have.
Thanks
Jon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeff, thank you for the words of encouragement. I’ve got a few changes in mind, based on feedback from others and online chatter over the years. I’ve read it all. It is somewhat surreal. I used to think to myself, “If Doug did just this one thing or made just that one change then….” and now I find myself in the position to execute those exact changes. I’m getting the rest of the molds down here in VA early next week. I have no idea what the future holds but I’m pretty darn sure it is going to be fun. I’m placing an order on Turning Point Boatworks for a Delta kayak first, and then a Marauder to have as demo boats. From there it will depend on who contacts me and what they want. Joey is the right guy to help me realize my vision. We just need a few orders to validate the market for these boats to get the ball rolling. I’m truly driven by the belief that these boats designs are so good they needed to be saved and preserved.
LikeLike
Dave, good luck with the new endeavor. I’ve had an EFT and now a Thunderbolt. Please upgrade the seating adjustments – it’s very tedious at best presently. I heard through Joey about the boats and saw the molds in his shop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to hear the boats will continue to be made and by a quality builder!
I am always looking for a used WSBS wave piercer or EFT but always miss out to a quick buyer. I talked with Doug Bushnell a few times on the phone, he seemed like a nice guy!
Good luck with your new adventure! Bob a kayaker in Maine
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