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| From Carp on the Fly |
The Ultimate 14.5 Solo (in Camo of course) from Native Watercraft is a kayak designed for the fly fisherman. You can stand up in it. Seriously! Only the best!
This photo is of my Ultimate 12.
Native Watercraft puts out one amazing line of boats for fishing.
I have the Multisport version of the Ultimate 14.5 with the “Propel” pedal-powered motor. It is a sit-inside as opposed to a sit-on-top kayak. You can easily stand and fish. Mine has the rudder package installed which makes it easy to track when it is really windy. I’ve added all of the features from the Angler’s package separately (rod holders, anchor trolley, etc.). I also added a color fish finder, spray skirts on the stern and bow as well as a Yak Attack visibility pole with light and flag.
I really love the Ultimate 14.5 Propel and I probably should give it a four star rating but I’ll tell you about the Ultimate 12 which I already know deserves five stars!
After using the 14.5 Propel for a year, I decided to buy a second kayak (you know, for Tracy) and now she has the Ultimate 12 (the camo colored one, of course) without the Propel system.
I went with a 12 ft. version for the second boat rather than the 14.5 for a few reasons:
- I already had a 14.5 ft. version. If I was only going to own one, I would buy the Ultimate 14.5 Solo.
- Sometimes you just want to go get out on the water by yourself without anyone helping get the yak off the top of the truck and the 14.5 is approaching “too heavy” for one person. At about 65 lbs., I can lift it by myself but I can see that it would be much easier if it were the U12 and 10 lbs. lighter. I haven’t really needed the additional speed or space that the 14.5 affords for the waters that I fish.
- The propel unit (pedals on a trolling motor – very cool) is an amazing feature when you are sitting down, moving about and fishing at the same time. When you are standing and sight fishing, there is a lot of stuff between your feet to tangle a fly line. Most of the places I’ve fished recently have been without the Propel unit and I just poled or paddled.
In any case, this is an ingenious boat design and unbelievably stable for standing (and of course, sitting).
I highly recommend that you check out the Ultimate line of kayaks from Native Watercraft in person. Buy the Propel Multisport model if you just want to own the fanciest “pedal boat” around!
