2016 native propel

So TLW's Native Mariner propel seat hurts her back and I was in the kayak shop on Haden Island with Chris and took some pictures of the 2016 seats with a tape measure for reference . Thinking I can build a custom rig to mount it in her boat. Good idea right? Well apparently not because when I told her we could buy her a new seat to fit in her boat she looked me right square in the eye and said " why don't you just buy me the new boat and use mind as a spare"  ........ Wait what I said...... She says " ya I want a new boat not just the seat" so I'm like YES MA'AM I can't think of a better excuse to buy a yak then that right? Holly shit this sports getting expensive.    It looks like someone is going to need a real big Christmas stocking!

That TLW might become a different acronym if you make her wait until xmas.     

 

I should actually see if someone in the PDX area has one to try or take her to Portland and demo one to be sure it won't hurt her back. Anyone with one going to be costal fishing?

Buy her a Hobie 

Buy her a Hobie 

She can peddle backwards in a propel..... Shhh it's a secret.

Buy her a Hobie 

She can peddle backwards in a propel..... Shhh it's a secret.

And they have such pretty colors too 

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/132-pentaxian-lounge/312265d1464711122-forum-shots-today-memorialdaywollochetbay.jpg

Buy her a Hobie 

She can peddle backwards in a propel..... Shhh it's a secret.

Technically you can pedal a hobie backwards too by flipping around the mirage drive... Although you wouldn't want to do that constantly 

If she wants a propel get her one.  Then when you want something shiny you can get it too!

Buy her a Hobie 

She can peddle backwards in a propel..... Shhh it's a secret.

Is that the main reason for not considering a Hobie? Or are there other reasons?

Buy her a Hobie 

She can peddle backwards in a propel..... Shhh it's a secret.

Is that the main reason for not considering a Hobie? Or are there other reasons?

I'm purchasing a used hobie from Fugative she likes the native and with a bad shoulder not paddling is a big bonus even backwards.

This is not a dig at Native or anyone personally, but I am curious as to why people need to pedal backwards? Am I missing something? For me the ability to go in really shallow, weedy water duck hunting, or when the tide is low means more. But, maybe its just me. I am just really curious as to why backwards is important. I can see maybe for some bass fishing applications, but that is usually the last choice of fishing for me and if I do, I am usually just trolling the Willamette so my hands are free for a frosty beverage.

The Natives look like nice boats, and I like the fact they come with a lot of cool accessories like the tracks. Hobie should take note, but they won't until there are more pedal drives available from other companies (which will be soon). The small  Native rudder would concern me.  However, I would love to take one for a spin some day. My fear is that the full bicycle rotation pedal drive would bother me. The Mirage drive doesn't bother my knees, but I can't ride a stationary bike (of any sort) without constant painful knee poppage. This sorta has me bummed because I am really interested in the new yak coming out with a pedal drive. I think that particular company makes superior hulls to both Native and Hobie from what I have observed.

Your welcome to test peddle TLW's current native and we swooped the crank arms out for unicycle arms that are shorter as it was difficult for us to peddle both being short. As for peddling backwards I like to drift the jetty wall 2-3 ft from the rocks and don't need to be concerned with holding a paddle on my lap to stay off the rocks just keep the feet on the cranks, it can go into fairly shallow water and if the lock pin is not in lock position the drive will push up if contact is made on the ground or an unseen sunken obstacle unlike the bent fin masts that a Hobie suffers.  If I get a chance I'll take some underwater shots at Depoe with the drive in.... Meaning if I remember.   

This is not a dig at Native or anyone personally, but I am curious as to why people need to pedal backwards? Am I missing something? For me the ability to go in really shallow, weedy water duck hunting, or when the tide is low means more. But, maybe its just me. I am just really curious as to why backwards is important. I can see maybe for some bass fishing applications, but that is usually the last choice of fishing for me and if I do, I am usually just trolling the Willamette so my hands are free for a frosty beverage.

The Natives look like nice boats, and I like the fact they come with a lot of cool accessories like the tracks. Hobie should take note, but they won't until there are more pedal drives available from other companies (which will be soon). The small  Native rudder would concern me.  However, I would love to take one for a spin some day. My fear is that the full bicycle rotation pedal drive would bother me. The Mirage drive doesn't bother my knees, but I can't ride a stationary bike (of any sort) without constant painful knee poppage. This sorta has me bummed because I am really interested in the new yak coming out with a pedal drive. I think that particular company makes superior hulls to both Native and Hobie from what I have observed.

My knees have the exact opposite reaction.  When using the Mirage drive with the straight pumping motion, my knees got a sharp pain every time I did more than a moderate power stroke.  The Propel's rotary bicycle style, though, let me use full power without any pain at all.  That was the primary deciding factor for me. 

Pedaling backwards does give the boat a lot more precise control when approaching a dock/log/rock/whatever.  I found it was easy to poke into shallow creek mouths the other day, and then back out if it was too small to turn around.  Kinda fun as a matter of fact.  It was also easier to hold station near a set of pilings once the breeze and tides had kicked up a bit.

With regard to the small rudder, yeah.  The factory rudder works but slower.  It makes a tremendous difference putting the Boonedox aftermarket rudder on - it's rigid metal so no flexing, and nearly twice the area so rapid response.  I don't think that is any different than putting the sailing rudder on a Hobie, though.


Jim

I think it really just points out the need to demo different boats to find what you like best. I demo'd a Propel and really liked it and the ability to reverse (I do bass fish regularly,) It was almost a toss up between the propel and Outback, ultimately I was able to find a used outback before a propel so that worked out okay.

Shannon I say if the lady in charge is down with it then WOOOHOOO!!!