Native Watercraft Ultimate Kayak Review
After the little mishap the other morning with the kayak bouncing along on the shoulder of Route 295, I figured it was time to do the review post of my Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 Kayak I’ve been paddling this summer. (sorry no pictures of the kayak on the interstate, I was too busy dodging morning rush hour traffic.)
So far it has been a great summer paddling and casting local waters in my Ultimate 12 Kayak
Back in May I caught the first snakehead of the summer in my new Ultimate. Since then I have logged at least one day a week in the seat of my Ultimate 12 Kayak and I’m here to tell you that the seat is first class. Literally,the seat is from First-Class Seating. Straight from their website – First-Class Seating stakes its claim as the most comfortable kayak seat for its incredible back support and unique elevated dry ride. It starts with HiFlow™ 3D suspension mesh stretched over aluminum frame. That’s how First-Class Seating moves with you and ventilates. Recline to suit your comfort and activity. What’s more, the sun can’t damage or fade the solar screen fabric. And remove the seat to lighten your kayak when loading.
So yea, the kayak fell off the back of the truck. I drug it behind the truck for a hundred feet, then it slid off to the shoulder of the road. Once I had it back on to the truck, I went to work never really investigating the damage. That evening I joined a few friends for some Bass and Snakehead fishing. Even though the boat did not look damaged except for a few scratches, I was a little worried as I floated the Ultimate kayak and looked for leaks. I found none and have fished twice since that morning and have yet to find any damage to the boat.
Unloading the easy way.
When I purchased the Ultimate 12 last winter, I had been searching for a solo canoe. One I could fish and hunt out of and still be easy to handle both in and out of the water. The 16 foot canoe is a pleasure to waterfowl hunt out of, but is a little much for a solo paddler to load and unload and maneuver on the river. The 10 foot kayak is perfect for paddling around exploring back creeks and playing in the river, but leaves me needing more cargo space for anything more than a small tackle bag and one fishing rod.
The solo canoes in the 12 foot range I reviewed all seemed to be more geared toward paddling fast water, then I came across the Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 videos on youtube and I had to get one. My chance came when I found one on craigslist. I sold a few things in the shed and with snow still on the ground I became an owner of an Ultimate 12 kayak.
The first chance I had to get it wet was on a trip to Portsmouth Island in North Carolina. I explored the sound side of the island, wanting to try out the kayak in the surf but the high waves and cold water kept me back on the calmer waters of the sound. From my first paddle I was impressed, the boat handled like a kayak, but holds gear like a canoe.
Oh, and there was the kayak surfing while on Portsmouth island.
Since then I have paddled from tidal waters of the lower Potomac River to the upper reaches of the Monocacy, almost weekly, catching largemouth, smallmouth bass and snakeheads. Oh yea, there was that catfishing trip too.
The big advantage to the Ultimate kayaks is the side rail and the ability to rig the boat to your own personality, but as I prefer to keep things as simple as I can, the only thing I have added to the boat so far is one fishing rod holder. I do like the tunnel hull and how it places my feet lower than my torso and combining that with the comfy seat, I can fish hour after hour without getting uncomfortable. Now, one thing I have not mastered is standing in the boat. They claim it can be fished while standing and maybe it is a little easier in the 14 footer than the shorter 12 footer, but I’ve just not tried a whole lot. In my 16 foot canoe, I stand and fish regularly, so I’m not unfamiliar with standing in canoes, I’ll try next time I’m alone and no one is around.
I realize, my product reviews are often not very technical, I guess that’s cause I’m not very technical. What I do know is that I have found a kayak that fits my needs. It is comfortable, has plenty of room for my gear, does not get blow around in the wind like a canoe, and I can easily load it on the truck by myself. If you in the market for a boat that paddles like a kayak and packs gear like a canoe, go check out the Native Watercraft’s Ultimate kayak.
