Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 Tegris

April 13th, 2008 by Kim

Last Saturday, I headed to the New England Paddlesports Show to check out the newest gear and boats. I’m always on the lookout for a more comfortable option for Sadie and a lighter more responsive boat for me. I’ve checked out the Native Watercraft web site and eyed their Compass series with interest. This year they produced a lighter version of their Ultimate series–the Tegris. It’s a boat I definitely want.

At 38 pounds (32 pounds without the seat) it’s one of the most lightweight boats I’ve seen. The sit in style is roomy and entirely open. While it’s obviously geared toward fisherman (most of the kayaks from Native are), it’s the perfect kayak for a dog (or two). I’ve read that it is made from entirely recycled materials which makes the green part of me happy. All the specs are available at Native Watercraft.I t’s a bit pricey right now (between $1,800 and $2,000)–especially for a recreational kayaker like me–but I’ll be watching for reviews and price-drops with interest.

Meet Sadie, Kayaker Extraordinaire

April 7th, 2008 by Kim

Sadie enjoying the snow Sadie has been kayaking with me for almost three years. She’s a Shetland Sheepdog and on the smaller size, so she is small enough to fit in the back of my Old Town kayak. Everyone who has seen her will tell you that she’s the perfect princess in the boat and usually the one who determines in which direction we’ll paddle.

Since the kayaking trip itself is not the most exciting part of the trip for her, I always try to pick a location where we can easily get out and pitch around the ball a few times. That seems to make the trip worthwhile. When not chasing the ball she’s usual asleep (and often scares fellow paddlers half to death when she jumps up from the bottom of the boat to look around), or quietly watching any ducks in our vicinity.

This year she gets her own rating system on Go Paddle! After we’ve had a few trips out, be sure to check out her pooch paddle ratings this summer.