Native Watercraft Ultimate 12
Reviewed by
MrsMustard
+577
December 11, 2013
Lightweight, stable hybrid kayak with a comfortable seat that can be used in lakes, rivers, or oceans. Great kayak for a female who may not otherwise be able to lift a kayak onto a car on her own. Can hold a lot of gear but also has a lot of leg room.
Pros
- Stability - very hard to tip
- Comfortable seat
- Lightweight - around 40 lbs without seat
Cons
- Not self-bailing
- Wide which makes it semi-difficult to paddle
- Seat hard to remove and put back in
I received this kayak a few years ago as a birthday gift from my husband. We had researched kayaks together and I wanted something that I would be able to lift onto my car on my own so that I could go kayaking whenever I wanted. With the seat removed, the kayak is around 40 lbs which is a reasonable weight to lift.
The first time I used it I was amazed at how comfortable the seat was. It can also be removed and used as a beach chair! It has tracks that it slides in and out of and they can be a bit tricky but not impossible. The seat is also adjustable so you can sit up or recline. There are also adjustable footrests inside the kayak for varying leg lengths.
Because it is built sort of like a one-man canoe, you sit inside and closer to the water which, for me, made paddling a little harder as I kept hitting the paddle on the side of the boat. The interior is very spacious with more than enough room for gear and dry bags.
The first placed I used the kayak was on rivers in South Carolina with very little current. Paddling this kayak on flat water is very easy. However, its stability comes from the fact that it is wider than most touring kayaks which can make it easy to get caught in a current.
Paddling against the current in this kayak is slightly more difficult than in a longer, thinner kayak. I have also used this kayak in the ocean, which does not seem to be the best environment for it. There is no self-bailing feature. so if a wave comes over the side, you have to bail by hand.
I have had this kayak for 5 years now and while it lives in my garage most of the time, it holds up very well. It has no fading and hardly any scratches other than normal wear and tear. The seat also holds up very well and is just as comfortable as the day I got it.
Source: received it as a personal gift
