Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

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Uncle Tommy
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Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Uncle Tommy »

Well, I had some fun on the open Gulf this Tuesday and Thursday and the windcast looked favorable enough to sneak in one more trip this morning. Little did I know that Mexico had declared war on St. Petersburg and had been sending a barrage of small rolling waves all through the night. The Gulf was mirror out beyond them and it would simply be a matter of timing to slip by while they weren't looking.

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Apparently, this white boy can't dance. Waited a couple minutes for an opening and jumped in the saddle. Took a couple paddle strokes and immediately saw a small swell slowly growing out in front of me. By the time we got together it had just started to break at the crest. Leaned back to push the bow up, but it punched through the top of the still small wave and the ocean joined me in the cockpit. If you've ever had a gallon of water in an Ultimate, you know how differently it handles. This was more like 20 gallons. Still afloat. Still maneuverable (kinda). Now the options start racing each other.

Punch through and bilge past the breakers

Turn around and abort

Back-paddle and abort

Abandon ship and abort

That's the order they came through my mind and that's the order in which I attempted to rectify the situation. All of this transpired in the space of perhaps 10 seconds as the unstoppable list to Port made the final decision for me.

Aside from the now patently obvious poor decision to launch, everything else went as best as could be expected. My wallet and telephone were in a dry-box which was tethered to the seat. My pliers and lip-grip were properly secured. And I managed to keep both my flyrod and lit cigar out of the drink. I did lose a cup of Joe and my ego is quite seriously bruised.

In all seriousness, it is a lesson well-learned and worth remembering. Please learn from my mistake. These glorified bathtubs are not built for the open Gulf. I hope all you Tarpon Cowboys will rethink your boat of choice. You can mark my words: I will not use this boat at the beach come Tarpon Season. Time to find a sit-on-top in which I can stand.

UT

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JoeS
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by JoeS »

Glad Your Ok......It could have been a LOT Worse........
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Mark R
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Mark R »

And those are little waves, glad you're all right....minus a cuppajoe!
I wondered about that, I kinda like having some floatation under me butt!
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22acrowd
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by 22acrowd »

n00b

And yeah, non-self bailing kayaks aren't my first choice for gulf fishing.
Todd
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Todd »

Rookies :roll: :wink:
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Rik »

The best lesson seems to always be learned the hard way. Those "hybrid kayaks", more properly called funny shaped canoes, are damn heavy when they're full of water. I have personal knowledge of that. I now look at the waves before I take it out of the truck. Those waves would have sent me to my favorite breakfast spot.
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Manning
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Manning »

Glad it all worked out okay in the end. I loved my Ultimate, but it's ability to get swamped moved me to get the Slayer. I can only afford one boat so it is sit-on not sit-in for me.
Being out on the water in the kayak is the prize. Catching fish is the bonus.

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Vlap
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Vlap »

Same reason I moved to a Slayer.
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jbdba01
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by jbdba01 »

Perhaps a cheap SOT is in order. I know a guy who has two...he'll part with an older Tarpon 14 for $800.
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Tide1on »

Maybe it should be "Black Tip-over Tommy" instead of "Black Tip Tommy"! :lol:

All kidding aside... Glad you're alright!
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shamus
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by shamus »

Was it a cigar worth saving ?
On a serious note:
I've noticed that even when beaching on a good day the Native takes on a fair amount of water.
I've thought of either adding a new boat to the garage or just making a change.
What are the suggestions for a new boat with the following criteria:
Weight - I just don't want to lug around a heavy yak.
Standing - Not a big deal for me I don't enjoy standing in a kayak, just a swim waiting to happen
Seat- Love the seat in the native
Storage- Just needs room for a crate I've learned to down size my gear.
Color- Yellow ( I like a fast kayak)
Paddling-The Tarpon 160 was my ideal kayak for speed- seat sucked.
So what's out there gentlemen?
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Rik
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Rik »

Native Ultimate 14
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krash
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by krash »

You can stand in an OK Ultra 4.7 and they will take to the surf, now ho much you want for that Native ?
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Skeeter
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Skeeter »

Shamus wrote: Paddling-The Tarpon 160 was my ideal kayak for speed- seat sucked.
So what's out there gentlemen?
I'm pretty happy with my Tarpon Ride. Always fished from the T120 before and the Ride is more stable, dryer, tracks better, much better seat, and seems to be a little quicker. Never fished out of the 160 so cant compare to that.
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Heywood
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by Heywood »

Glad it worked out Tommy.

Don't worry about standing, it seems faster is better. That way you can cut off your friends before they have a chance to cast. Just sayin.........


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DaveR
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Re: Native Ultimate Paddlers - A Cautionary Tale

Post by DaveR »

Any time you want to borrow my Versa Board Bill it's yours. Same seat. Weighs less. I know you don't stand much but it's a breeze. Lemme know.
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