7-10 -- Heroes on the Water
6-10 -- You Need One of These
5-10 -- Kayak Fly Fishing Tips
2-10 -- Deep Water Kayak Fishing
1-10 -- The Ultimate Fishing Kayak
10-09 -- Fishing in the Magic 14.5
9-09 -- Mini Mother Ship Kayak Fishing
8-09 -- Kayak Fishing is Bigger than Ever
7-09 -- Kayak Accessories: Storage
5-09 -- Testing the Mariner 12.5
4-09 -- The Ultimate Ultimate
3-09 -- Ultimate Multisport Fishing Kayaks
2-09 -- Redfish Road Trip
1-09 -- Fishing the Everglades
12-08 -- Sight Fishing Tips
11-08 -- Save our Kids from "Nature Deficit Disorder"
10-08 -- Fly Fishing from the Osceola
9-08 -- The Magic 14.5
8-08 -- Kayak Frog Gigging
6-08 -- Ultimate™ vs. Magic Model Comparision Part I
4-08 -- Anchoring Your Kayak
2-08 -- Poling Part II
1-08 -- Poling Part I
11-07 -- Poling Your Kayak
10-07 -- Testing the Ultimate 12 Tegris
8-07 -- Ultimate™ 12 & 14.5 Gulf Expedition
7-07 -- Exploring the Magic Part II
6-07 -- Exploring the Magic Part I
5-07 -- Exploring the Ultimate Part II
4-07 -- Exploring the Ultimate Part I
NATIVE WATERLOG
APRIL 2009 -- The Ultimate Ultimate
You may ask the question, "Just what is Tegris?" The word Tegris comes from the Latin word Tegaris, which means, "You are shielded or protected." Tegris is a material developed by Milliken & Company. Tegris is 2 to 15 times more impact resistant than typical composites plus it maintains performance down to -40 degrees C. Because of its toughness and unique qualities, it is utilized by NASCAR to protect racecar drivers and by the U.S. military to protect soldiers. It is used in the automotive industry for vehicle bumpers and it is also used as material for ballistics armor. This high performance fabric also produces the stiffest, lightest and most impact-resistant kayak hull material on the market. Native Watercraft is the first and only company to build kayaks out of this unique material and has the exclusive rights to manufacture kayaks using Tegris material. The Tegris fabric is 100% recyclable and is manufactured with an environment-friendly process, which is a perfect marriage with kayaks that are also environment-friendly. Jimbo Meador

The combination of the Native Watercraft Ultimate Kayak design and Tegris material offers the best of both worlds. The unique design of the Ultimate Kayak gives you the following features:

  • A kayak that was designed for fishing
  • A kayak that was also designed for fly-fishing
  • A kayak that was designed to stand up and sight-fish
  • A kayak that was designed to stand up and pole with a paddle pole
  • A kayak that combines the best features of a kayak and canoe: canoe-like openness for easy gear access and increased storage with a kayak's lower profile to reduce the effects of wind and waves
  • A kayak with a Tunnel Hull that not only increases stability but increases the ability to stay on track and paddle in a straight line with less effort
  • A kayak that allows you to easily attach spray skirts to increase seaworthiness and protection from the elements when necessary
  • A kayak with the most comfortable seat on the market. This seat combined with the hull design is especially accommodating for the person with a bad back
  • A kayak that is easily transported on larger watercraft to the fishing grounds
Now take the Native Watercraft Ultimate Kayak with its proven design and all of the features listed above and construct it out of the Tegris material with all of its features. The result is a perfect blend of Native American ingenuity, modern design and the latest technological advancements in hull materials. You might call the results "The Ultimate Ultimate". This combination not only gives you the strongest, lightest kayak on the market but a kayak with unique features and designs that no other kayak on the market possesses.

The benefits and advantages of an Ultimate Tegris Kayak are endless. The Ultimate Tegris weighs an incredible 36 lbs. When you remove the seat, you are removing 7 lbs so you now have a 29lb. kayak. The seat is easily removed so the two can be handled separately. This is a tremendous advantage for someone with a bad back or someone with limited physical abilities. It is so much easier to load, unload and transport your kayak because it is so light and easy to handle. The easier it is to do something, the more you will do it. The lightweight combined with the durability of a Tegris will actually encourage you to use it more.
I wrote about a trip that I took in the Boundary Waters using the Ultimate Tegris kayaks in a previous article. My guide was a 78 year-old Chippewa elder who had no problem paddling and carrying his Ultimate Tegris. He had paddled canoes all of his life and this was his first time in a kayak. He was skeptical at first but, after the first day, it became a challenge to keep up with him. The lightweight and durability were one of the reasons that we chose the Tegris kayaks. These features were Jimbo Meador
a big plus and were especially appreciated when we had to portage our kayaks. We purposely abused them by dragging them over rocks and put them to the test. I accidentally shot mine with a wrist rocket slingshot and could not find a mark where I hit it.
I live on Mobile Bay and have easy access to the water from the beach in front of my house where I keep an assortment of kayaks. I have found that, depending on what type of activity I plan to do, the Ultimate Tegris gets used more than any other kayak simply because it is so easy to carry and it performs so well. I use it for fishing, throwing the cast net, checking the crab traps, taking the grandkids or my dog for a ride or just messing about on the water. In the winter I use it for duck hunting and it is now spring turkey season. With high water, a lot of the great areas to hunt turkeys have been isolated and cut off. I Propel Pedal Drive
can grab my Ultimate Tegris, shoulder it with one hand and carry my shotgun in the other until I get to the water. I get in the kayak with my gun and paddle across to the area that I wish to hunt.

When you buy an Ultimate Tegris you are a giant step closer to making your life simpler and so much easier. Remember, the easier it is to do it, the more you will do it and the more you will enjoy it. An Ultimate Tegris eliminates the easy excuse that "it's too much trouble".