Product Reviews > Kayaks > Native Watercraft > Mariner 12.5 Propel

Reviews for Mariner 12.5 Propel Kayak by Native Watercraft

Rated: 6.5/10 Based On: 4 Reviews

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07-20-2012
Submitted by: CT - Rating: 1 of 10

BUYER BEWARE!!! My Native Watercraft Mariner 12.5 is less than 3 months old and the rudder broke off. It is not covered by warranty and Native Watercraft will not sell just the rudder. Instead you have pay $210.00 for a complete rudder assembly. This is HORRIBLE customer service. I will NEVER purchase another kayak from Native Watercraft.

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12-29-2011
Submitted by: YAKFLY

- Rating: 9 of 10
This boat is my favorite for fishing. Put down the paddle and pick up a rod.

Pros:

Hands free fishing.
New prop design is great.
Reverse.
Fast.
Little need for an anchor.
Very dry ride.
Comfortable seat.
Very high quality.
Very stable for standing.

Cons:

Need to play with rudder to keep it straight.
Tends to ride low in back with gear.

Still the best thing that out there for the serious kayak fisherman.

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11-05-2010
Submitted by: Reel Rebel - Rating: 9 of 10

Purchased Native Mariner Propel after demo of it and a Hobie Outback. Can't believe you don't see more of these on the water. Perfect for fishing Louisiana marsh and beaches. Reverse adds tremendous flexibility in working cuts and holding position in strong tidal movement. When peddling next to a friend in Hobie Pro Angler, exertion and effort seem comparable.

Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a great kayak with a super propulsion system.

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06-04-2010
Submitted by: Bmwbob

- Rating: 7 of 10
Tried this pedal powered boat at the East Coast Canoe and Kayak festival this year in Charleston. Here are my observations which I (verbally) conveyed to the Native rep on site:

The gear ratio and/or prop pitch is TOO high for tbs boat. It requires too much pedal effort to take it to hull speed.
To compensate for the higher workload, the crank arms are so long that it makes smooth pedalling nearly impossible, thus eliminating one of the advantages it has over the Hobie pedal system.
The seat needs some means of securing it's front edge to prevent it tipping backwards in response to the effort you put into pedalling.
The rudder, which mounts to the end of the keel is not effective enough. With a small breeze blowing on the pond, I found it quite difficult to turn towards the wind.

I say all of these things as the VERY satisfied owner of a Native Ultimate 16 tandem. If they would reduce the gear ratio or pitch, and correspondingly shorten the crank arms, this would be a real consideration for a replacement (as a tandem with the Ultimate tunnel hull) for our current boat. I did watch several different size (and gender) folks try the boat, and their results were comparable to my own.

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