Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 Propel

What can you say about the kayak that has the most patents in the history of the sport? First, it’s probably one of the best kayaks available for families, fishing, and just plain fun on the water. It’s also a new design, so you don’t see very many out there….yet.

Specs:

Length: 12′1″

Width: 30″

Depth: 12“

Weight: 58 lbs (plus propel unit)

Material: Roto-molded Polyethylene (roto-molded equals strong and light)

Pros:

• The Ultimate has a split hull (tunnel hull)… kind of like a catamaran, but better. The Split hull reduces the wetted surface and displaces less water than traditional kayaks. Less water displaced from the hull makes the boat faster and more efficient. Boats that have more displacement, have more drag…Thus requiring more energy to move the boat. The Ultimate’s split hull results in a much lighter boat in the water,when compared to traditional displacement hulls. Its no surprise that the hull shape is just faster and more efficient than traditional kayak hulls. What does mean? You can go further and carry more gear, with less effort in an Ultimate.
  
• For the gear head…the Ultimate has a seat like no other. The aluminum frame supports a UV resistant mesh that cushions, drains water, and ventilates air. Its 100% adjustable to the paddler and is one of the few seats that can claim to be all day comfortable. This is a seat that allows you to do long trips. The seat also adapts to how you load the boat. It unlocks and slides forward, or reverses. No matter how the boat is loaded, slide the seat and trim the boat appropriately. For example….if you load the boat to heavy in the stern, your bow will rise and make it hard to track. In the Ultimate you just slide the seat forward a little more forward and bam!…perfect trim, no pushing water or getting blown around in the wind. If you have ever owned a canoe with fixed seats, and taken a child out on a lake, you know what I mean.  For camping, release the seat out of the boat and you got your camp chair. Just one less thing you don’t have to bring on over nighters!
  
• The Ultimate series also come with an Adapt-A-Trak gear attachment channel on the outside of the boat. The “AAT” is a J channel that gear can be clipped into. Its there to attach things like  spray covers, paddle holders, rod holders, tie downs, fishing accessories…even a cooler for cold or hot drinks!
  
• The Ultimate 12 Propel is a multi-use kayak. You can paddle it like a regular kayak, or add a Native Propel unit and pedal. The pedals turn a shaft driven prop under the boat at a 1 to 10 ratio. For every one turn of the cranks, the propeller spins 10 times. This is a single gear set up and once you get going and up to speed (15 to 20 revolutions of the cranks) you can spin easily all day with larger muscle groups and leave the paddlers in the dust!
  
  
• If you are  fisherman, the benefit is that you can move the boat forward and in reverse with your pedals, control the boat with the one finger rudder control, and have one hand free for rod/reel. A huge difference with other pedal kayaks is that the Ultimate 12 Propel can be pedaled in reverse. Again for the fisherman, the boat’s angle and position can be controlled regardless of current, wind, drift, and easily without an anchor.
  
• Comfort patents? Yep. The Ultimate’s split hull increases the boat depth for your feet. Increasing the foot room and keeping the heel well below the bottom of the seat.  This increases blood flow through knees and ankles and keeps your feet warmer and from falling asleep. The Foot rest are over sized and give a large footprint of support unlike simple pegs. The deck of the boat is open style like a canoe. Its easy to get in and out of like a canoe but comfortable because you and sit just like in a kayak.
  
• For those with any shoulder or upper body issues, this might be just the boat to get you on the water. Let your legs do all the work, and control the rudder with one finger!
  

Cons:

• Just because it’s a propeller that spins fast, doesn’t mean you are going to be able to overcome the small displacement a kayak makes in the water. The boats speed tops out at 3-4 knots, about as fast as you can paddle a comparable kayak 12 feet long and 30 inches wide. You cant pull a water skier.

The verdict:

• The first time I paddled the Ultimate I knew it would be stable, I had seen other fisherman standing up with ease but I had no Idea how light on the surface of the water the boat would feel. It turns with ease, and getting the boat up to speed was and an effortless exercise gentle fwd strokes. But it can carry as much gear as a Canoe. It’s the prefect balance of canoe/kayak hybrid. Blending Capacity, Comfort, speed and stability, it’s the ultimate watercraft.

• 4-way Stunner Stretch material stretchable across back, shoulders and sleeves
• Entrant Dermizax 3-layer waterproof/breathable membrane
• Allows twice the amount of water vapor (sweat) to escape
• Lightweight, windproof and waterproof up to 40psi
• Gasket neck and wrist with Velcro closures for a tight seal
• Double-chimney waist closure with Velcro adjustability.
• 3M Solas reflective strips and logos
• RF welded pockets with laser-cut drain holes

The ExtraSport Xpert Flex Plus Drytop is a comfortable top suitable for use in a variety of applications including whitewater kayaking, rafting, touring in windy and/or cold conditions and jsut about anytime that you would want to be 100% dry.

Pros:
Quite a few CKS staff have worn this dry top while paddling. I have yet to hear one negative

Cons:

The Verdict:

Fabric: 70 x 75-denier 3-layer TriTon™
Waterproof & Breathable: Yes
Neck Closure: GlideSkin™ gasket
Wrist Closures: Latex gaskets with 4-way stretch neoprene over-cuffs
Waist System: Double-tunnel with hook-and-loop closure
Pockets: Left Shoulder

Most recreational kayakers, rafters, IK’ers, and touring paddlers will find that a quality waterproof/breathable splash tops fit the bill for about 90% of their time spent in the water. Splash tops, by nature keep you mostly dry in most consitions.  There are exceptions however.  The NRS Stampede is a semi-dry top suitable for use during these expetions. It would thrive in cold weather touring, heavy duty whitewater IK’ing, class V rafting, expedition kayaking off the coast of Washington in the WInter and just about any time that you want to be really warm and dry……without having to wear full dry top.

Pros:
The NRS Stampede is a great value, especially when it is on sale for 124.95!. The nice thing about semi-dry tops is that they work almost as well as dry tops, but they are much easier to put un, especially over your head. The neck gasket is made of neoprene  (NRS calls it Glideskin), which is will keep water out in all but the wettest situations (lots of rolling, playboating or swimming in the water). It is really easy to put on, unlke alot of rubber gasketed dry tops.  The wrist gaskets are made of rubber, with the same neoprene Glideskin overfuffs. The jacket itself is made from a waterproof/ultra-breathable (more so than the Endurance splash jacket) nylon fabric called Triton. It’s comfortable to wear, and allows for a full range of movement.

Cons:
The Stampede semi-dry top is considerably more expensive than a standard splash top. The MRSP of is $190, which is not outragesly expensive, but it is quite a bit more than the standard $100 splash jacket. For paddlers who plan on using this top for inflatable kayaking, rafting and paddlesports that do not require a spray skirt — the double tunnel waist is completely unnecessary. The pinstriped fabric is somewhat unconventional……….but thought to be rather slimming by some of the CKS staff.

The Verdict:
The Stampede is a great semi-dry top for situations that require more than just the standard splash top. The neck and wrist gaskets keep out much more water than standard velcro splash top openings. Part of the cost however, comes form the price of building the double tunnel waist so be prepared to pay a little more  for this top. NRS builds high quality tops for a reasonable price, so if you don’t mind pin stripes the Stampede may be for you.

The IR Zephyr splash jacket is a high performance, entry level splash top.  Besides being waterproof as well as breathable, the Zephyr is also extremely comfortable to wear. It has 2 layers of fabric (the interior has a soft microfiber lining), wheras traditional splash jackets are made from only layer of nylon.  If comfort and range of motion are priorities, the Zephyr is the jacket for you.

Pros:
The best things about this jacket are it’s comfort and durability, and the  amount of features for the price. Since the Zephyr is a 2-layer splash top, it can be worn with layers underneath or as the only layer.  It is very comfortable as the only layer because of the microfiber lining next to the skin. The microfiber also contains Tinsoan antimicrobial that inhibits the growth of bacteria (i.e.-mold and mildew). The outer layer is very supple. This is the type of jacket that can be worn for long perionds of time. The neck and wrist gaskets have velcro hooks, and keep most of the water out. IR uses ergonomic seams, which mean that this jacket would be great for active, high energy paddlers. Lastly, the waist shock cord is integrated into the top, creating a cleaner look.

Fabric: 40 X 40-denier ripstop WaveTex
Waterproof & Breathable: Yes
Neck Closure: Adjustable hook-and-loop
Wrist Closures: Adjustable hook-and-loop
Waist System: Shock-cord adjustment
Pockets: One shoulder pocket

Layering is a very important and essential part of boating.  Wearing either too much or too little on the river can literally ruin your day. The more active you are, the more you perspire.  The best way to be comfortable on the river is to release the heat and perspiration that your core generates during aerobic activity - by wearing a breathable outer layer.  The NRS Endurance jacket is a low priced (about $75), high quality waterproof / breathable shell (splash jacket) that will work well for a variety of uses, and won’t break the bank.

Pros:
The durability, effectiveness, style, fit and features of this jacket are all noteworthy.  The Endurance is constructed with name brand top of the line materials. The ripstop WaveTex material is waterproof, and breathable. The interior seams are taped, which helps minimize leakage. There is a Teflon coating on the outside of the jacket that helps preserve the waterproof fabric, as well as helps to extend the shelf life of the jacket. The wrists and neck openings are fitted with a Velcro strap and neoprene cuffs to keep the splash out. There is a storage pocket with a water resistant zipper on the left arm big enough for a few energy bars, and a durable shock cord that adjusts the fit on the waist. The Endurance jacket is also available in bright colors, which is great for river safety. It is available in a wide range of sizes (2XS-4XL).

Cons:
The Endurance is more of an entry level jacket (with an entry level price) , when compared to others like the IR Zephyr, or NRS Stampede. It is built well, but does not have as many features as the above mentioned. The neck and wrist openings do reasonable job of keeping water out, but do not work as well as The Stampede’s vulcanized neck gasket, or the wrists and neck of the IR Zephyr. You would not want to whitewater kayak in this jacket. The lack of neck and wrist gaskets would allow water to pour into the neck and wrist areas of the body. Another downside of The Endurance is that it only has one layer of fabric, compared to The Zephyr, which has a microfiber lining too (click here to read The Zephyr review). The mesh lining is MUCH more comfortable when the jacket is worn against the skin. If you paddle with a Farmer John/Jane or a short sleeved shirt, The Endurance will feel sticky against your arms compared to The Zephyr top which is actually supposed to be worn against the skin.

The Verdict:

The Endurance is a great jacket for the price. It serves it’s purpose well, but may come up short for people logging in lots of days in the water.  This top would be great for a family who wants to go on rafting and IK trips in the summer,  and does not want to spend too much money.  If your looking to paddle in cooler weather, or think that you may be in  very wet conditions (class III/IV big water for example), you may want to think about getting a jacket with more protection on the neck and wrists.

Overall, this jacket is a great entry level value, and will last a long time. There are better jackets out there, but they cost more too.