| JUNE 2008 -- ULTIMATE™ VS. MAGIC MODEL COMPARISON PART I | |
I have discussed the pros and cons of sit inside kayaks versus sit on top kayaks. I would like to revisit this topic because I've been get asked a lot of questions about the Native Watercraft Ultimate™ from those who consider them to be sit inside kayaks. They are quite different than both sit inside and sit on top kayaks. Others want to compare the Ultimate™ to a canoe. The Ultimate™ is really a combination of some of the best features of all three types of watercraft. It is for this reason that we are beginning to refer to the Ultimate™ as a ‘hybrid’ kayak. Ultimate™ – The Ultimate™ kayak is a hybrid of sit inside kayak and canoe designs. |
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| Advantages • Stability: The biggest advantage to a sit inside is that it is a more stable fishing platform than a sit on top. The reason for this is the fact that you are sitting or standing in the bottom of the boat and your center of gravity is therefore low. The deck on a sit on top has to be above the water line in order to self-bail: you are sitting or standing on a raised deck which raises your center of gravity higher and can reduce the stability of your fishing platform. • Tunnel Hull™ for Stability: The biggest distinguishing feature of the Ultimate™ design is its tunnel hull. The stability is even greater when you are standing because your feet are in the wells on either side of the tunnel: they are actually below the water's surface and your center of gravity is lower than it |
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| would be in a traditional canoe or sit inside kayak. Standing allows you to increase your visibility tremendously and allows you to see fish that you would not have seen in a sitting position. Standing up also allows you to pole the Ultimate™ very effectively with one of our poling paddles. Stability could be increased by adding more beam or width to a hull, but you would reduce the performance and your ability to paddle efficiently with a double bladed kayak paddle. • The Tunnel Hull™ for Tracking: The Tunnel Hull™ helps the kayak to track or travel in a straight line with a minimal amount of effort. When you are drifting over fishing areas trying to cover the area to your best ability the Tunnel Hull™ will drift more slowly than will a boat with a flat bottom hull, giving you more time to fish an area. |
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| • Reduced Profile: When fishing from canoes I had the problem of the wind blowing me of course and out of position. The high sides and upturned bow of a canoe was not necessary for most of the places that I was fishing. The low profile of the Ultimate™ provides a wind-resistant fishing platform. • Adapt-a-trak: The lower profile and freeboard of the Ultimate™makes it susceptible to breaking waves in open water. You can remove water that comes aboard easily with a sponge, bailing bucket or pump. You can also keep water out of the boat with Adapt-a- |
 CLICK HERE TO SEE ULTIMATE™ SPRAY SKIRTS |
| Trak™ outfitting system spray skirts by snapping them on as needed. The large selection addresses any condition you might encounter. You can fully skirt the Ultimate™ to provide coverage similar to a touring kayak. The Adapt-A-Trak™ system also allows you to attach a large selection of accessories by just snapping them in place. CLICK HERE TO SEE ULTIMATE™ SPRAY SKIRTS. | |
| • Storage Area: One of the features that I really enjoyed about a canoe was its vast amount of storage and gear carrying capacity. The openness of the canoe allowed easy access to all of the gear and fishing tackle. These features were incorporated into the Ultimate™ adding to its unique stability. You can turn around in your seat or sit side saddle with your feet and legs over the side to easily retrieve your gear or fish from that position. • Easy Foot™ System: Since I fish barefooted most of |
 CLICK HERE TO SEE ULTIMATE™ SPRAY SKIRTS |
| the time, having comfortable feet means a lot to me. The broad surface of an Easy Foot™ footpad supports the whole foot and makes a big difference in comfort when compared to traditional small foot pads, and you can adjust them easily from your seat by an extension rod. These features combine to relieve lower leg fatigue. The fact that the heels of your feet are in a line below your hips reduces the pressure on your back and reduces back fatigue, as well. When I am fly-fishing I can remove the foot rests easily to create an even better snag-free area for stripping my fly line. • First Class™ Seating: After design and performance, the next most important feature of a kayak to me is the seat. Think about it: unlike a bigger boat where you can get up, move around and stretch you are married to your kayak seat. Seat comfort can therefore make the difference between a great day and a miserable one. |
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| The following are a few features of First Class™ Seating: 1. Removable: The seat is removable and can be transported separately to lighten the weight of your kayak by seven pounds 2. Multi-use: The seat can be used as a beach or camp chair. It can be moved easily to different positions for comfort, making it easy to transform the Ultimate™ 14.5 Tandem to a true solo, or vise versa. 3. Material: The seat is constructed from environmentally safe fabric in a light color that does not absorb heat like darker fabrics and lasts longer in the sun. It drains, ventilates, and cushions which translates into you not sitting in water, keeping cooler because of ventilation, and having a more comfortable seat because of the ventilated padding. Most of all, you have multiple adjustments to increase your comfort level. These seats are made in the same factory as the Ultimate…in USA! I have received a lot of questions about the Native Watercraft Magic model kayaks and had intended to discuss and compare them with the Ultimate™ models. I will save that for next month. |
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