Review Detail

I purchased the Manta Ray 12 after looking at a number of different models for sea fishing in the UK. After comparison with the Ocean Prowler 13 and Tarpon 12 I chose the Manta because of it's high quality build and nice deep seat and footwells. Also I felt that it would be easy to customise to my requirements. After 11 months of fishing with it on river, lake and sea and after having tried several other makes and models I have no regrets about my choice. It is a quality kayak, easy to lift on the roofrack of my car, an excellent stable fishing platform, hatch covers fit well & do not leak. It paddles well and has coped with surf landings and launches as well as sea states to force 4/5. It tracks quite well, though does weather-cock a bit in a cross wind. Fittings are good. However I moved the centre rod-holder nearer to me, and retro-fitted a fishfinder on the centre console. I also discarded the 0.75kg anchor in favour of a 1.5kg model fitted on a trolley system utilising the existing bow D ring and the un-used rudder bolt fittings at the stern.

Criticisms? Only one being that in the UK, fixtures and fittings for the rails are difficult to obtain and some of the prototype fixtures advertised by Native have never gone into production. But despite that disappointment i would still thoroughly recommend this craft....