Heritage Red fish 12 advantage: made for fishing, comfortable seating. cons: a little heavy
Liquid Logic Manta Ray 12 advantage: DESIGNED for fishing. cons: don’t know if there are any
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Advantage: made for fishing . Cons: Cost
Native Ultimate 12: main advantage: high stability. Cool options. cons: no dry storage of any kind(without optional items)
Pelican Castaway 116 advantage: low cost. cons: resale?
Very good list. I’m not a big Pelican fan, but you can’t go wrong with any of the others.
was alway’s told…and it always has held true…You go cheap…you get cheap…If I were you…I’d wait and save some more money…or try the Pelican and see for sure you can live with it…couple hours on the water will surely let you know weather it’s the boat for you… 8)
I own a Hobie Outback…I also WILL own the Ultamate 14!!! For the wife and kiddies…Yep thats my excuse…and I’ma gonna stick to it. 8)
Love my ob though and it stays!
I think it’s gonna be the Native Ultimate 12.
Interesting, I’ve been watching this thread thinking I may get a kayak sometime next year. The Native Ultimate 12 was my choice also.
Now all I have to do is lose about 60 pounds so I can fit into it! 
At first glance it doesn’t look like much. Actually I dismissed it at first. After I got to checking into it, it looked better and better and better. Very versatile.
I look at the Ultimate 12 and I like the openness. Kind of a cross between Kayak and Canoe. It doesn’t have any water tight compartments but my use would likely be only day trips of 4 - 5 hours or so.
The openness would allow me to lay paddles, rods, equipment inside while I tend to other activities - like maybe photography etc. 
You can get covers for it that make it virtually water-tight.
Don’t buy your’s at Orvis. They want $1,600 for it!!! :shock:
The ultimate 12 comes in 3 different materials The tegris and composite are the lightest and most expensive
But, The composite hull only shaves off 5 lb’s…For the price difference…For myself…I see no real gain by going with it…I’d rather pocket the cash for gas to get me on the water and manage with the Wee extra bit of weight…
Really with ANY Yak…or canoe or similiar object of size…How much real difference are you really going to notice from the shaving of a mere 5 lbs…the overall bulk and cumbersome feel while loading and unloading is going to still be there…I do not Myself…See any gain from adding to the price that substantually(sp)…Again…This is solely My own opinion…