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For you in the know experienced in Native Ultimate's....

Whats the paddling & fishing differences in an Ultimate 12 and a 14.. specs are simple enough length and weight plus the ability in the 14 to do solo or tandem...


Does anyone know what makes the Ultimate 12 weigh 49 pounds, five pounds more than the Ultimate 12 Basic weighing in at 44 pounds ?

I opted for the 14 over the 12 just purely for the extra length. I can't compare the performance between the two on the water since I have never paddle the 12. I figure the additional length would get me more glide per stroke and room for another passenger. I've had my 3 y.o. and my 10 year old (one at a time of course) in the 14 and that was fine. I would not put an adult in the boat to use as a tandem.

I've had both boats. The U12 is very nimble. Great for small creeks and other tight quarters. It is not a boat that you are going to want to paddle very far. Its a dog, and doesn't really maintain momentum. The U14 turns slower, but paddles very well. With a rudder, it is nimble enough for me to navigate in small spaces.

It is my understanding that the difference between the U12 and the U12 basic is that the basic does not come with adapt-a-track accessory rails, elbow and thigh pads, or the easy foot braces. I'm not sure that I believe those things add up to 5lbs, but I would imagine thats the difference in weight.

The 12 wobbles back and forth a bit when paddling. They used to have a retractable skeg to help with that problem however they were usually stuck if not constantly maintained. Not sure they still have it on the new ones.

I find the 14 much easier to stand in. And Chris is right, the 12 doesn't paddle anywhere near as well as the 14.

What Chris and Rik wrote.

I paddle the U-12 basic to which I added a rudder and that really helps with tracking.
As an 'old timer', the 50 lbs. was most attractive to me.
As to the weight difference the seat in the basic is not quite the same. It only has one layer of material where the U-12 Model with all the accessories also has a double layer of seat material thus a little more weight.
The U-14 is more stable because the body width is longer.

I have owned both...and I echo what Rik and Chris both said as well. The only thing I might add was that the 14 on a drift is slower(good thing) than the 12. I also wouldn't advise using the 14 as a tandem for anything other than a small child.

How do the Native Ultimate compare to the Nucaone Frontier 12. Have been considering both of these boats.

Joe, everything I've heard about the Frontier is that it's only truly mobile with a trolling motor. At 41" wide I think it would be awkward with even a 260 cm paddle.

MLB01 wrote:How do the Native Ultimate compare to the Nucaone Frontier 12. Have been considering both of these boats.

There is little comparison between the Native Ultimate and the NuCanoe except maybe the debate of either being SOT vs SIN.... You can stand in either but I would not want to paddle a NuCanoe very far or load/unload from backyard to car top to water and back.