Native Watercraft ULTIMATE 14.5 User manual

ULTIMATE 14.5 OWNER’S MANUAL
Understanding your Ultimate 14.5:
Hull Materials
Features
Using Your Ultimate 14.5:
Initial Set Up
Removing and Re-installing the Seat
Changing from Tandem to Solo Seating
Changing from Solo to Tandem Seating
Transporting your Ultimate
Caring for your Ultimate
Storage Tips
Basic Gear:
Paddle
PFD
Sprayskirt
Boat Cover
Safety Equipment
Personal Gear

UNDERSTANDINGYOUR ULTIMATE 14.5
Hull Materials
Polyethylene
Rotationally molded boats are engineered to have sturdy hulls with maximum
impact and abrasion resistance. Superlinear® polyethylene can endure
extended exposure to both ultraviolet light and temperature variation, enabling
boats to be stored outdoors. When you are paddling Native Watercraft kayaks
made with Superlinear®polyethylene, you can focus on your paddling
experience knowing that your boat will perform for you on every trip.
Elite Composite® Kayaks
Beautiful and sleek, Native Watercraft elite Composite boats are crafted with
state-of-the art materials and a unique manufacturing process which utilizes
vacuum bagging techniques to eliminate all unnecessary non-structural weight.
They are light, stiff and able to accommodate the weight of paddlers and
recommended gear loads.
Features
Tunnel Hull (patented)
This signature tunnel hull is extraordinarily stable for being a single hull. It
creates a boat-wide platform that minimizes rocking when you redistribute
weight, and allows you to stand for long periods for scouting, poling or sight
fishing, with confidence.
With your feet positioned in a unique, lower position relative to your hips (in most
kayaks, your toes are at the same level as your hips), you experience the most
comfortable seating position available in today’s kayaks.
First Class Seating™ (patent pending)
This unique seating system supports you for hours of paddling, fishing, or simply
soaking up the sun. The seat pan shape matches that of the Tunnel Hull, which
allows it to slide forward and back easily, and provides extra rigidity for the hull.
Despite its structural integrity and adjustability it weighs only seven pounds. The
seat can be removed quickly, making the boat lighter and loading so much easier
than with other kayaks. Given the comfort and adjustability of its suspended seat
design, it may become your favorite beach or campground chair!
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Materials
~The anodized aluminum seat back reclines and the seat bottom can be
raised to provide extra under-thigh support. The slightly raised position of
the seat allows you to get a good look at where you’re paddling, and the
seat’s base serves as a tray to store items that you want to access
quickly.
~HiFlow™ 3-D Mesh (patent pending for watercraft)
This unique mesh breathes and drains easily, so you don’t have to sit in a
water puddle or on a soggy cushion. It is 100% recyclable and produced
using an environmentally-friendly process. Ozone-depleting cfcs
(chlorofluorocarbons) that are generally used in foam manufacturing have
been eliminated from the process.
~Textilene® Solar Screen Fabric
The fabric used to construct First Class Seats™will withstand five years of
daily sun exposure before it begins to break down. The light colored fabric
stays much cooler than traditional black seats or compression molded
seats.
Adapt-a-Track™ Outfitting
You boat is outfitted with a unique channel that is installed around the exterior of
the hull. This channel can be utilized to attach a wide variety of accessories, via
molded clips of different lengths that snap in, easily. Adapt-a-Track accessories
include spray skirts, paddle or pole holders, and stripping baskets.
To install an Adapt-a-Track clip-on accessory:
1. Place the accessory at the position on the boat where it will serve its
desired function.
2. Position the accessory’s clip flush against the boat hull, below the Adapt-
a-Track molded channel.
3. Hold the bottom of the clip with your fingers and pull up until you hear and
feel the clip lock into the channel.
To install an Adapt-a-Track accessory with a long (greater than 3”) clip-on
element:
1. Slide one end of the Adapt-a-Track clip molding onto the channel.
2. Thread the accessory onto the boat by sliding the rest of the clip-on
element into the desired position.
OR
1. Pull up on a short section of the accessory’s track to engage it. Repeat
this, one short section at a time, along the accessory item until it is
completely connected.
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Easy Foot™ Footbrace System
The Easy Foot™Footbrace System makes it easy to adjust your foot pad
position while seated. The foot pads are sized to specifically suit your boat.
To adjust an Easy Foot footbrace:
1. Unweight the pads.
2. Pull or push the adjustment bar until the footpad is in the desired position.
3. When you feel the footpad click into place on the track, let go of the
adjustment bar.
Comfort and Convenience
-Ergonomically-designed carry handles are attached to the front and rear
ends of your kayak to allow you to carry your end with ease, even when
the boat is loaded. They can be fasted with gear storage bungee to stay
out of the way (particularly great when you’re worried about stray fly
fishing lines).
-Padded arm rests make paddling, angling, and relaxing easier on your
elbows.
-Cup holders provide convenient access to your drinks which help you
ward off dehydration.
-Utility trays hold small items that need temporary storage.
-Secure your bags or crates in the rear storage area of the Ultimate 14.5
Tandem by hooking the rear bungee and the tether from the rear fixed
thwart.
-For anglers, a slight depression in the profile of boat thwarts provides
convenient temporary parking spaces for your rod when you need to rest it
“somewhere,” for a moment.
Ultimate 14.5 Skeg
The skeg on the Ultimate 14.5 provides sure tracking in both wind or chop and
when the boat is loaded. It deploys and retracts smoothly and easily. If you
encounter a rock or an unanticipated shallow bottom, the Ultimate skeg will
retract on its own.
To deploy the skeg:
1. While seated, slide the Skeg Control Knob toward the rear (stern) of the
Ultimate.
To retract the skeg:
1. While seated, push the Skeg Control Knob toward the bow (front) of the
Ultimate.
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Rudder (optional)
The rudder comes secured to the boat with a bungee. When you release this
your rudder will be available and your footbraces will be freed to direct the rudder
position.
To lower the rudder:
1. Look for the rope on the deck that is used to raise and lower the rudder. It
features two barrel knots.
2. Grab the barrel knot that is farthest aft (toward the stern) and pull it
forward.
3. Adjust your footbraces so that your knees are comfortably bent and you
can exert a reasonable amount of force on the footbraces before your
knees are completely straightened / extended.
4. You should now be able to steer to the right or left by applying pressure on
the right or left footbrace, respectively.
To retract the rudder:
1. Check to be sure the rudder is centered behind the boat by positioning
both your footbraces at the same distance from you.
2. Look again to the rope on the deck that features two barrel knots. Choose
the knot that is farthest aft, and pull it forward. Your rudder should exit the
water easily and land in the ‘vee’ notch of the rudder holder.
3. When you’re ready to load up your boat, re-secure the rudder with the
bungee as it was when you started out.
Drain Plug
Drain plugs installed in the stern end of the boat allow you to empty water easily
and quickly. To empty water from your boat using the drain plug, unscrew the
plug and pull it away from the boat. Turn the kayak so that the cockpit is facing
the ground, and lift the bow up to allow the water to exit the boat. When you’ve
emptied the boat, don’t forget to screw the drain plug back in!
USINGYOUR ULTIMATE 14.5
Initial Set Up:
Your Ultimate 14.5 has arrived from the factory in either a solo (for a single
paddler) or a tandem (for two paddlers) configuration. Each First Class Seat™ is
shipped unattached to the boat, so you will need to install the seats before
paddling.
1. Slide the seat toward the stern, making sure the seat pan fits under the
side clips, until the back of the seat pan is approximately six inches in front
of the thwart.
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2. Hook the rear attachment bungee to the seat back tension bungee.
3. Adjust the seat for your comfort.
oSeat Position -- Adjust the seat retainer straps (one on each side)
so that the seat does not slide forward or backward unexpectedly.
oSeat Back -- For a more erect position, tighten the side straps by
pulling the free strap ends toward the front of the boat. For a more
relaxed position, sit up so that the side straps are supporting you,
but not stretched tight. Gently pull the rounded end of each strap
buckle up and away from the strap. The strap will lengthen and
loosen until you’ve found your desired position.
oSeat Bottom -- From your seated position, raise your thighs by
drawing your feet in and leaning back a bit. With one hand, lift the
front edge of the seat up to take the weight off the adjustment bar
underneath you. With your other hand, reposition the adjustment
bar in one of its three positions.
**If you are going to paddle the boat solo, you can slide the seat forward slightly to trim the boat a
bit.
Removing and Re-installing the Seat:
1. Remove the seat:
a. unbuckle the side straps
b. turn the seat ninety (90) degrees one way or the other
c. slide it forward until the seat pan releases from its clips
d. lift out
2. Re-install a First Class Seat™:
a. lower the seat down into the boat well
b. with the seat back facing one side or the other, rotate the seat
ninety degrees to face forward
c. press down on the seat bottom so that the seat pan slides below
the side retaining clips
d. check to see if the seat pan has returned to its previous position
e. snap the seat retainer straps on each side
f. secure seat back tension bungee
Changing from Tandem to Solo Seating:
1. Remove the front seat.
2. Move the Easy Foot footbraces to the middle track.
3. Remove the 28” thwart tube and store it in a secure location.
4. Move the stern seat to the center position.
5. Install the two 24” thwart tubes into their respective locations in front of
and behind the solo seat.
6. Move the cargo strap from the middle to the front position.
Changing from Solo to Tandem Seating:
1. Store the 24” solo thwart tubes in a secure location.
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2. Unhook the seat retainer buckle.
3. Move the seat to the rear position, pushing down so that the seat pan
slides under the side retainer clips.
4. Reinstall the front seat.
5. Move the Easy Foot footbraces from the center to the rear set of tracks.
6. Reinstall the 28” thwart tube into the boat’s center position.
7. Re-attach the cargo strap to the middle seat strap.
Transporting Your Ultimate
To transport your kayak securely, we suggest that you install a rigid bar, sport
rack system on the roof of your vehicle. Your boat will remain most stable when
loaded upside down. If you are unlikely to encounter rain during your road trip,
you can also load it with the hull down.
Caring for Your Ultimate
A fresh water rinse for the hull and all moving parts is all that is necessary to
keep your boat clean. It is heartily recommended after paddling in salt water,
especially if your boat is outfitted with a rudder system. Thoroughly rinse the
rudder, rudder cables, and foot braces with fresh water to remove dirt, sand and
salt.
We also recommend that you treat your First Class Seat™ fabric with a mold
retardant cleaner (found at grocery or home improvement stores) if you use it
infrequently or if it will be stored in a moist or poorly circulated.
You should periodically lubricate all moving parts (like the footbraces, skeg or
rudder) to keep them in top working order. We recommend using 303 Lubricant,
available at outdoor specialty and select home improvement retailers. For
polyethylene hulls, 303 Lubricant can also be used to protect the luster of the
boat’s surface.
Polyethylene
Superlinear® polyethylene is a tough, resilient material which can withstand a
reasonable amount of impact and usage over rough surfaces. However, over
time and with continued use, abrasions can reduce the hull’s ability to glide
smoothly through the water. You can minimize raised texture on the hull by
scrapping the polyethylene ridges off with a sharp knife or buffing them out with
sand paper. Also, please remember that the hull is tough, not indestructible, but
minor damages may be repairable. Contact your local Native Watercraft dealer
for additional information and assistance regarding polyethylene repair.
Storage Tips
The ideal environment for storing your kayak is a shaded, dry space. Never
store your kayak in direct sunlight. Position it upside down with each end
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supported on sturdy, cushioned racks. Wood 2 x 4’s covered with carpet or
closed-cell foam work nicely (coverings that will either dry quickly or not absorb
moisture will keep mildew away).
Superlinear®polyethylene material softens somewhat when it is exposed to
extremely warm conditions. If your kayak is strapped tightly to a roof rack or
sitting on a storage rack during a series of hot days, it may deform. You can
encourage your boat to “remember” its original shape by unstrapping it and
setting it on a flat or padded surface in the sunlight but it may not completely
regain its shape if it has been deformed by severely tightened straps or ropes.
Storing the boat with the seat installed also helps encourage it to keep its shape.
Basic Gear
When you paddle you should always carry safety equipment, carry appropriate
personal gear, use a comfortable paddle, and wear a PFD (personal flotation
device).
Paddle
The choice of a paddle is as personal as the choice of your boat. Factors to
consider in selecting your paddle include blade shape, length, weight and
material. Synthetic paddles are the most damage resistant. Composite models
will generally be lighter and better if you’ll be paddling for long periods of time.
Most paddlers use paddles between 225 and 240 cm in length: you should try
different lengths and types of paddles before you make a purchase, just as you
would test paddle your boat.
Take-apart paddles offer the ability to change blade angle (“feather”) to suit your
preference, and are easy to store and transport. A spare paddle is good to have
as well. It can be an inexpensive take-apart paddle that can be stowed easily on
deck.
PFD – Personal Flotation Device
A comfortable and securely-fitting PFD is an absolutely essential paddling
accessory that should be worn when you’re in your kayak. Try your PFD on
before you make a purchase, to be sure it fits comfortably. Swing your arms and
rotate your torso to make sure you can move your arms freely without feeling
restricted. If it does, adjust the outfitting or try another model / size.
If you will be wearing a sprayskirt or have a short torso, wear your pfd while
sitting in a boat: it should not ride up more than an inch or two, and someone
should be able to pick you up by its shoulders without it lifting up over your head.
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Sprayskirt
A sprayskirt is handy to ward off small, infrequent waves or to hide your legs from
the merciless sun. It is essential when you want to venture from shore, or when
there is even a remote chance that you’ll encounter rough conditions.
Test your sprayskirt ashore prior to using them afloat. It should go on fairly
easily, and release easily. Your Ultimate Bow, Stern and Center Skirts attach to
the boat via the Adapt-a-Trak™ system. You can open up the skirt, stand up and
exit the boat in a snap through your Center Skirt thanks to the hook and loop
closure.
Boat Cover
A cockpit cover may become your favorite “off water” accessory. Its waterproof
fabric attaches around the cockpit rim to keep the inside of the kayak dry, clean
and free of critters. In addition, if you transport your kayak on a trailer or roof
rack with the cockpit up, using a cockpit cover will allow you to carry items in the
boat while you transport it, and will keep rain out of the boat.
Safety Equipment
You should consider carrying a bilge pump to rid the interior of standing water
that can destabilize your ride. United States Coast Guard regulations require an
audible signal device (horn or whistle) on all watercraft.
Note: Safety equipment is not worth much unless you know how to use it. We
recommend that you obtain qualified instruction and practice under controlled,
comfortable conditions.
Personal Gear
The following is a list of items that you should keep with you on every trip in a dry
storage bag or case:
-drinking water
-sunscreen
-a brimmed hat and sunglasses
-insect repellent
-compass
-waterproof flashlight
-matches or a lighter
-a first aid kit
The following should also be considered:
-A dry set of clothes, if the weather will not dry you quickly after a capsize
-Weather radio
-Global positioning device (GPS)
-Cell phone
-Navigation charts
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-Repair kit
oDuct tape
oScrewdriver
oVise grips
oSpare cord
oKnife
If you have additional questions about your new product from Native
Watercraft or would like to learn about any of our suggested accessories,
please ask your dealer. They will be happy to help you get to your next day
on the water safely, and soon!
Native Watercraft
www.nativewatercraft.com
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