The good folks at Economy Tackle in Sarasota let me use a Native Ultimate 14 from their rental fleet this past weekend. I've owned several other kayaks and canoes but none of them impressed me enough to want to keep them in my fleet. None of them were worthy of replacing one of my old style Tarpon 16's.

Well, this boat will likely become part of my fleet (hear that Santa?)

I can see myself owning one of these boats. I doubt I'd use it for a long haul, as that is something the Tarpon 16 does very well, but for those regular days of a few miles, it is hard to beat.



I'd been told by many that they have the finest seat out there. I'd have to agree. 60 seconds after sitting in it the first time, I was convinced. It is fairly adjustable and like sitting in a lounge chair. I found myself wishing it had some sort of head support attachment so I could lean back and take a nap.

After a little over an hour, I did not have that loud voice from my lower back warning me that I need to get out and stretch for 15 minutes. When in a kayak, that voice yells every hour like clockwork.

For all you 'regular' guys who can only chuckle when that lean 22 year old talks about how easy it is to stand in (insert kayak brand here), this boat is standable by a guy like me. DaveR took some pics, hopefully he will post them. I was reasonably comfortable and only had to exercise one Emergency Exit From Standing Position that resulted in a rather resounding plop into the seat. I'm sure that after a few more trips I'd be much steadier.



The paddling did take some getting used to after many years paddling kayaks. With the sides being a bit higher, you do have to adjust your arms to keep from hitting the sides. I also found that a higher angle stroke performed better.

One thing I'd like is a way to raise the seat at times. Maybe Native has something for this. When just drifting some mangroves fishing, it would be nice to be up about gunnel height.

Also, do they make a rudder for this boat?

Rudder is available.......
www.nativewatercraft.com

That's a good thing. I'm spoiled.

The link does not show a rudder for the Ultimate. Others in the line , yes.
I would like to hear opinions on the Magic. A rudder kit exists for it.
I have a 14-5 Ultimate & 2nd Ricks comments.

Rik, talk to Noles. He designed something that lifted the seat. Might be what you are looking for.

There is both a rudder, and a seat riser available from Native. They may not be listed on the website posted, but the dealer should be able to get them for you. They are a bit pricey though.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

True...but it worked.

These Ultimates are the baddest in the land! I started with a U-12, then upgraded to the U-14.5. The seats on these things are ass candy!

I want to get the 14.5 Ultimate one day.

When all else is considered I think it is the best design out there. Attributes of canoe and kayak, great quality, great accessories, great seat, if I ever made a change it would be to one of those, I would like to see them come out with the 14.5 in Tegris to make it even lighter.

Glad to hear you liked it Rik, I too am looking into getting one.

Anyone have any good rigging ideas for rod holders?

For rod holders, I would use the famous milk crate with some rod holders attached to it or I would consider custom building rod holders for it. The reason that I want one of these kayaks is due to not having scuppers that will crack and leak.

While that may be one reason I certainly wouldn't put it anywhere near the top of the list. I have owned many kayaks, from multiple manufacturers and have yet to have this problem.
Stability and comfort are what I like about this craft. If Rik is comfortable and can stand in the thing that's two biggies. He's not comfortable in anything much less than an easy chair and his body shape.... Well let's just say like many of us he don't wear 30" jeans any more and standing in kayaks ain't as easy as it is for the less round. Now it's easy to build a kayak that's easy to stand in but it's a bit of a barge to paddle. (Hello Malibu) Rik didn't seem to slow much in the Native compared to his normal cruising speed in the t160. If I could I'd pick one up tomorrow. No doubt.

I have owned many kayaks from four different manufacturers and have never had a scupper leak.

See mine in rigged boats. Not sure if its good, but it works for me.

http://paddle-fishing-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=24898&highlight=native

I have since modified my forward rod holder with a piece of bungee cord from foot bracket to foot bracket which holds the tube down so that I don't need to remove it when I put it on my van and it also allows me to slip a small tackle box under it.

I saw some else (I think Mudfoot) post a pic using a small "L" bracket and a hose clamp to keep the thwart tube from rotating, I'll see if I can find the pic.

I have had a few myself without any scupper leaks.....My guess is most leaks are coming from people using the scupper as a stake-out pole slot and scupper carts will damage the scupper as well.... just my 2 cents..............

I just "stole" a 14.5 tandem off Craig's List a couple months ago. It is indeed the best paddle craft I have ever used, and I have tried a LOT of them. Some thoughts:

1) raising the seat sounds like a good idea, but tends to make the kayak significantly more "tipsy". I fish the passes at night a lot, so this didn't work very well for me

2) Standing is only the beginning. You can actually turn 360 degrees (while fighting a snook intent on ducking under the nearby dock) and not have a problem

3) Water from paddle-splash tends to accumulate in the channels at the bottom, which soaks the underside of my pants. This is the only downside I've encountered so far. Installed a foam pad in the back so my gear stays nice and dry.

4) Don't waste money on the rudder. Learn to paddle straight!

I didn't mean to raise it all the time. Yes, it will get tippier as you raise it. In some situations, a raised seat would be very nice. Look at the WS Commander. They designed in a raised 'seat' for those times when you can sit up higher.



It isn't while paddling when the rudder would come in handy. It is while drifting a flat, working a mangrove edge, etc. Those times when you are fishing but need to give the boat some direction.

Uh-oh...now there's a blast from the past. Can you tippytoe across the flats with one of these?

Says the man without a rudder on his kayak.

You will find having a rudder on your kayak, with the type of fishing we do in Florida, is a necessity. I will never own another kayak without a rudder, and I know how to paddle straight.

Hhmmm....looks like I opened a can of worms with my rudder comment. I'm the new guy here so I will defer to those with more experience on this. Let's just say my Ultimate 14.5 tracks like a dream (paddling or drifting) and I don't plan to clutter it up with a rudder (or any other line-snagging extra) any time soon.

¿Like deees?

Damn, Teamshaft3, you've got everything but the kitchen sink in there!
(Or is that what's in the big gray tub?)

Ah, yes. The proper deference. We like that around here.

The rudder thing, or the "crutch" as it has been described in the past, is one of those things that gets discussed over and over and over. It's right along the lines of whether to feather your paddle or not.