A year+ with a Native Ultimate

I've had the 12 foot Ultimate over a year now and thought I'd give some input.

I've fished ponds and lakes and a few streams in Arkansas with it.

It handles lakes and ponds just fine. It will handle about a Class 2 stream without much problem. You have to watch water coming over the bow and a middle skirt will help that a lot. I just have the bow skirt and got a fair amount of water over the bow in a rapid section last time out. No big deal but could be a big concern in real rough water.

It paddles well but on long sections can be a bit laborious. Nothing horrible, mind you but it isn't for long ventures in calm water. Well, not for me that is.

You can pack a good bit of stuff in there with you and get to most all of it just by reaching.

It is extremely stable(for a kayak). YOu can lean side to side without any fear of tipping.

Fishing from it is pretty easy but could stand to be a bit higher in the seat. You can easily make a seat riser to make this better and make comfort better for long paddle sections of water.

Taking the seat out and putting the seat in is a no-brainer. Very easy. The seat does make a nice chair if you wish to sit on the shore with it.

I haven't stood much in it but I've seen a lot of videos of this done. Seems pretty easy.

One thing to do for sure is to get a good rod holder/ strap system of some kind. Yup I've lost a rod already. Still pretty sick about it.

Get and USE a personal flotation device. I've not had any reason for it but I wear it. Even found myself wade fishing with it on after forgetting to take it off ;). I about had to rescue someone without it and glad I didn't have to.

This is a GREAT tool for reaching places others cannot........even from a boat. It's great for stream fishing for the same reason. You can reach spots wade fishermen cannot. You can paddle up some fairly quick-moving water too.

Any questions? Let it fly.

Thanks BBW.
I have wanted a U12 for some time now but have held off because of some concerns that I really cant seem to get an answer for.
I fish moving water, rivers. Everyone I have talked with mostly fishes these boats in calm water situations. I have concerns about how well this boat will handle class 1 & 2 rapids. I also fish some rivers with lots of rock gardens and at times the water can get shallow with channels in and around the boulder fields. I test-paddled a U12 back in the summer on a smaller, calm lake and I have no doubt the U12 is nimble enough to navigate these channels. With a little lean and an aggressive stroke with the paddle, the boat turned much better that I expected.
I realize most folks call these boats a kayak "hybrid" but to me, they are more of a canoe than a kayak, just with a few kayak-influenced features. The low gunwales concerns me as this boat is not self-bailing and I can see myself getting swamped in a rapid in one. I have some prized rods that I would cry over if I dumped the boat and lost them.
How well do you feel this boat will handle rivers with some mild class 1 and 2 rapids?

Thanks in advance!

Class 1 is no problem at all. Class 2 takes 'due diligence' on your part. It will handle some pretty rough stuff but...........

If you are familiar with any of these rivers I had no problem with them at all:

Arkansas:
-Little Red river from the dam to swinging bridge.
-All of Norfork river.
-Spring river from dam 3 to Riverside Resort
Tennessee:
-Caney Fork from Kirby to the Congo and back with 2 generators running.

I'd say it's downfalls are:
-water over the bow without a middle skirt on.
-high-angle lean overs
Water can enter the craft in those situations.

It is VERY stable in straight line rough stuff.

I've had mine for over a year and love it. You fellas' are right about a bow skirt; it would be a big help in moving water. I've taken a little water in Class II but not unmanageable. I leash all of my rods. Losing any of them would kill me and probably get me killed by the better half if I suddenly reported that I needed to replace them because I didn't secure them. You know the tune.

On flat water an Ultimate is a nice fishing vehicle and on rivers it tracks well. All in all, a pretty well-designed item.

BBW, have you been on the Buffalo?

Craig in windy Kansas

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Bad Wulff

I've had the 12 foot Ultimate over a year now and thought I'd give some input.

I've fished ponds and lakes and a few streams in Arkansas with it.

It handles lakes and ponds just fine. It will handle about a Class 2 stream without much problem. You have to watch water coming over the bow and a middle skirt will help that a lot. I just have the bow skirt and got a fair amount of water over the bow in a rapid section last time out. No big deal but could be a big concern in real rough water.

It paddles well but on long sections can be a bit laborious. Nothing horrible, mind you but it isn't for long ventures in calm water. Well, not for me that is.

You can pack a good bit of stuff in there with you and get to most all of it just by reaching.

It is extremely stable(for a kayak). YOu can lean side to side without any fear of tipping.

Fishing from it is pretty easy but could stand to be a bit higher in the seat. You can easily make a seat riser to make this better and make comfort better for long paddle sections of water.

Taking the seat out and putting the seat in is a no-brainer. Very easy. The seat does make a nice chair if you wish to sit on the shore with it.

I haven't stood much in it but I've seen a lot of videos of this done. Seems pretty easy.

One thing to do for sure is to get a good rod holder/ strap system of some kind. Yup I've lost a rod already. Still pretty sick about it.

Get and USE a personal flotation device. I've not had any reason for it but I wear it. Even found myself wade fishing with it on after forgetting to take it off ;). I about had to rescue someone without it and glad I didn't have to.

This is a GREAT tool for reaching places others cannot........even from a boat. It's great for stream fishing for the same reason. You can reach spots wade fishermen cannot. You can paddle up some fairly quick-moving water too.

Any questions? Let it fly.

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I purchased the seat riser and it's great. I highly recommend it.

I stand in my 14.5 most of the time. Really helps when fly fishing.

Glad you like your Ultimate. I've fished out of a lot of different kayaks, but the Ulti is the best ... by far.

cleep,

Welcome aboard!!