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Here’s a review of the Native Ultimate 12.
First a few stats:
Length: 12 feet, 1 inch.
Width: 30 inches
Weight: 49 pounds
Capacity: 350 pounds
Retail cost: $949
Here’s it is set up for fly fishing:
P1010545.jpg P1010547.jpg
I have owned this boat since April 2016 and I have taken it out at least 4 times as often as my Hobie Revo during the past 12 months. I still enjoy my Revo but I absolutely love the simplicity of the Ultimate. And most of all, I appreciate its light weight which allows me to transport it to and from my van and the water with ease.
You’ll notice in the photos above that the Ultimate looks a lot like a canoe. However, it has a unique hull design with a raised center channel on the floor that greatly aids its primary and secondary stability. I feel completely at ease in it and although it is rated for standing, I never do. That’s a personal angling choice, not because I cannot stand in it. Additionally, its sharp lines cut nicely through the water. It’s a fast kayak and it tracks beautifully.
The lawn-chair-style seat does not have a height adjustment. Note that on some Ultimate kayaks (the slightly larger and heavier FX version) the seat has a high/low position. However, I find the seat extremely comfortable as is. I can remain seated for 3 and 4 hour sessions with no discomfort. That was not always the case.
The Ultimate comes standard with small rectangular plastic blocks for foot pads. The blocks accommodate the balls of your feet but give your heels no support. The pads are adjustable with numerous discrete settings and I easily found the appropriate distance for my 33-inch inseam. However, I experienced some lower back discomfort until I replaced the standard foot pads with full foot pads offered as an option by Native. The optional pads support my entire foot and that has made a world of difference in my comfort. Hard to believe but true…
Another standard feature of the Ultimate is two factory-installed anchor trollies, one on each side of the boat. Although I rarely use an anchor, the trollies are a nice addition and they came in handy when I recently fished in a double-digit gusting wind at Unicorn Lake.
I have purposely kept this boat “unrigged”. It has never been drilled. It has no fish finder. It has no permanent rod holders. The only rod holders I use are attached to my milk crate with Scotty mounts. I have added two paddle clips on the gear-track on the right gunnel. Each gunnel has a factory installed gear track. I use the paddle clips only when I fly fish. When I fish with conventional tackle, I keep the paddle in my lap as I cast and retrieve
The Ultimate has no scuppers. It is a single hulled boat and hence it is a light boat. Since it lacks scuppers, I do not use it in big water. I have indeed crossed the Severn in it in choppy water. I was not at all concerned even when I took water over the bow. I know from experience by paddling the 14-foot version of the Ultimate in FL that it can take on a lot of water and remain afloat. But I will not challenge the Ultimate 12 that way. It is my small water boat. I use it in creeks and ponds and it is the perfect boat in my mind for that application.
Although Native Ultimates are commonly used in FL, I see very few of them here. My friend John Rentch has one but I know of no other Chesapeake anglers who own one. That’s understandable with the heavy emphasis on trolling here in the Bay. It would be ill-suited for that outside of tidal creeks.
But if you’re looking for a calm water, lightweight, comfortable boat, I believe the Ultimate 12 will meet your needs.
Summary:
Pros
Lightweight, easy to transport.
Stable and fast
Comfortable seating when equipped with full foot pads
Large deck area
Cons
No scuppers
Not suited for big water
Ultimate 2.jpg Ultimate 5.jpg
First a few stats:
Length: 12 feet, 1 inch.
Width: 30 inches
Weight: 49 pounds
Capacity: 350 pounds
Retail cost: $949
Here’s it is set up for fly fishing:
P1010545.jpg P1010547.jpg
I have owned this boat since April 2016 and I have taken it out at least 4 times as often as my Hobie Revo during the past 12 months. I still enjoy my Revo but I absolutely love the simplicity of the Ultimate. And most of all, I appreciate its light weight which allows me to transport it to and from my van and the water with ease.
You’ll notice in the photos above that the Ultimate looks a lot like a canoe. However, it has a unique hull design with a raised center channel on the floor that greatly aids its primary and secondary stability. I feel completely at ease in it and although it is rated for standing, I never do. That’s a personal angling choice, not because I cannot stand in it. Additionally, its sharp lines cut nicely through the water. It’s a fast kayak and it tracks beautifully.
The lawn-chair-style seat does not have a height adjustment. Note that on some Ultimate kayaks (the slightly larger and heavier FX version) the seat has a high/low position. However, I find the seat extremely comfortable as is. I can remain seated for 3 and 4 hour sessions with no discomfort. That was not always the case.
The Ultimate comes standard with small rectangular plastic blocks for foot pads. The blocks accommodate the balls of your feet but give your heels no support. The pads are adjustable with numerous discrete settings and I easily found the appropriate distance for my 33-inch inseam. However, I experienced some lower back discomfort until I replaced the standard foot pads with full foot pads offered as an option by Native. The optional pads support my entire foot and that has made a world of difference in my comfort. Hard to believe but true…
Another standard feature of the Ultimate is two factory-installed anchor trollies, one on each side of the boat. Although I rarely use an anchor, the trollies are a nice addition and they came in handy when I recently fished in a double-digit gusting wind at Unicorn Lake.
I have purposely kept this boat “unrigged”. It has never been drilled. It has no fish finder. It has no permanent rod holders. The only rod holders I use are attached to my milk crate with Scotty mounts. I have added two paddle clips on the gear-track on the right gunnel. Each gunnel has a factory installed gear track. I use the paddle clips only when I fly fish. When I fish with conventional tackle, I keep the paddle in my lap as I cast and retrieve
The Ultimate has no scuppers. It is a single hulled boat and hence it is a light boat. Since it lacks scuppers, I do not use it in big water. I have indeed crossed the Severn in it in choppy water. I was not at all concerned even when I took water over the bow. I know from experience by paddling the 14-foot version of the Ultimate in FL that it can take on a lot of water and remain afloat. But I will not challenge the Ultimate 12 that way. It is my small water boat. I use it in creeks and ponds and it is the perfect boat in my mind for that application.
Although Native Ultimates are commonly used in FL, I see very few of them here. My friend John Rentch has one but I know of no other Chesapeake anglers who own one. That’s understandable with the heavy emphasis on trolling here in the Bay. It would be ill-suited for that outside of tidal creeks.
But if you’re looking for a calm water, lightweight, comfortable boat, I believe the Ultimate 12 will meet your needs.
Summary:
Pros
Lightweight, easy to transport.
Stable and fast
Comfortable seating when equipped with full foot pads
Large deck area
Cons
No scuppers
Not suited for big water
Ultimate 2.jpg Ultimate 5.jpg
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