Your assessment is SPOT ON. As someone who also worked in kayak retail, my thoughts and yours are more or less exactly the same. I sold a Frontier to buy a PA14 and it was the dumbest thing I did. I recently sold the Hobie to go back to an Unlimited and couldn't be happier.
Glad we could touch some common ground man! Hobie makes a great product, but it’s a one trick pony. I love my NuCanoe Unlimited as well and I can say I won’t be switching my stance on that any time soon. Tight lines!!!
Thanks for the video. You addressed a lot of my questions, especially hearing about the plastic being a little softer on these. I currently have a native slayer max but am having trouble selling it at a good price. Really want one of these with a Xi3 on it.
It’s a great kayak! I have no doubt that it’s one of the best options on the market right now. And that Xi3 makes it even sweeter. Don’t let the plastic scare you considering native has that super dense and bulky plastic on their boats. Like I mentioned in the video, it’s designed to be flexible and it will help your kayak last in the long run. Tight lines!
Thanks for the video..I want to purchase a titan x but it's very pricey.. I feel the unlimited has everything I need in a kayak and the price is reasonable. Thanks for the detailed breakdown on the unlimited kayak.
Glad you liked the video man! You won’t be disappointed in the unlimited I can assure you that. But I will say… those new titans look pretty damn cool as well. They certainly cater to a specific type of angler. Tight lines out there🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I love my Unlimited. The flexibility is unmatched. I have to disagree with you on the pedal drive though. Everyone doesn’t want a pedal drive hole in the middle of their kayak, like me. Take a look at any pedal kayak…the pedal drive monopolizes the deck space. With the Unlimited pedal drive you still have sufficient deck space. I can use the pedal drive AND have my gear pod in place and still have usable deck. Again, the Unlimited was built to be flexible and having the ability to add the pedal drive to supplement the xi3 is a tremendous plus. To end on a good note…I envy your casting skills!
I appreciate your input; It will be helpful for those who want a second opinion on the pivot drive. It definitely has its place and I’m glad you are able to use it efficiently on your set up. For me the motor guide or a transom mounted motor caters best to my fishing habits. But to your point, the flexibility this kayak provides is top notch. Tight lines🤙🏼🤙🏼
I agree with your assessment. I have a 12’ Unlimited. Stable and a great layout. I power mine with a 55lb Minn Kota rear mounted. I like being able to add a second seat . The fusion seats are super comfortable. When I contacted Nucanoe , Blake the owner personally responded to answer my questions. I highly recommend the Unlimited!
Dude I’m saying! The kayak is great and their attention to customer support is next level. Glad you love your unlimited as much as I love mine. Tight lines out there🤙🏼
Good video, this is by far my favorite fishing kayak that I've seen. But like you, I don't care for the pivot drive which is enough to keep me from buying the kayak (the pedal drive is the most important component for me, and I don't want a motor). I did reach out to customer service, and they said that they are working to improve it. But there are no plans to put it through hull like others.
The pivot drive kinda sucks… but as someone who was once nervous about slapping an electric motor on my kayak, I’ve been beyond impressed with my motor guide Xi3. It’s changed the way I fish in the same but more drastic way as going from a paddle kayak to a pedal kayak. Don’t write it off until you try it my friend. Hope you find the perfect rig🤙🏼
What a great breakdown. And great content. I'm looking to get a Frontier 12 as my first kayak. What are the first 3 upgrades you would recommend for a NuCanoe Kayak. I'm thinking the keel guard would be one of the top ones like you mentioned.
Thank you for the comment! Regardless of if you are a fisherman or not, I would get a yak attack black pack for gear storage. Then id grab a keel guard for hull protection. After that I’d look into powering the kayak with the Xi3 motor guide. I love mine and would buy it again 1000 times. Hope this helps🤙🏼
@@HillCountryAngler Really great! thanks a ton! Will definitely get the Yak attach and keel guard. The motor guide may be a "Next year" thing - once i have more hobby dollars to spend! haha
Great video - thanks! I am really leaning toward NuCanoe for wide open deck and stability for fly fishing, mainly smaller lakes and some rivers in north Texas area. Also would like to start taking my grandson fishing so tandem is important while he is still young. How would you compare unlimited to Frontier 12?
The unlimited will be your best bet. The main difference between the two models is drainage. The unlimited drains water out quickly and efficiently, where as the F12 tends to hold more water in the kayak. The unlimited also paddles better and can hold more weight. I hope this helps🤙🏼
Awesome video and very informative. I was 100% committed to the Unlimited, and then I saw the U10. They really thought that out with the features on it. I did have one main concern/question. How heavy does that 84 lbs. really feel? I am in a Flint and have been car topping for years. Is throwing that Unlimited on the roof doable?
Thanks for the comment! I also own a flint and can confirm that car topping that kayak is much easier than the unlimited would be. All that being said, It’s definitely doable and plenty of people do it. The U10 might be a great solution for you though. It will be lighter and will have close to the same stability of the U12. If you don’t load your kayak down with a bunch of gear or plan to use the tandem seating, I’d say the U10 is probably your best bet. Either way you will be highly pleased with the unlimited platform. Tight lines🤙🏼
Do you think the Unlimited can be fished tandem with two grown men using the Xi3 trolling motor? I have a PA14 360 which I love but I really want something I can fish with a buddy every now and then. Im doing my best to avoid buying a boat haha. I like to fish Possum Kingdom, Texoma, and chasing reds in the gulf to give you a idea of the waters I fish.
I think that is all dependent on the size of the passengers. With two bigger guys (6 foot plus, 200 plus pounds) you might not be as stable as you’d like when going tandem. However the weight cap is 650 lbs. so keep that in mind. I weigh 210 and with my gear and trolling motor there is still a ton of stability left. So my initial answer would be YES, this kayak could fit your needs. You might run some price comparisons with a 14’ Jon boat though. I used to run an Alumacraft 1432 with a 15hp motor… it was perfect for fishing with a buddy. And I think the whole rig cost about as much as the Unlimited. Just food for thought!!
@HillCountryAngler I appreciate the response. I know the boats the way to go in my heart. I just don't want to spend big money on a bigger boat and I'm hesitate to try a 14ft jon boat on the bigger waters. In my PA14 I feel bullet proof, I've been caught out in some bad weather and never felt unsafe, whether it's the lake or ocean. It's weird to think that you feel safer in a kayak than you do a boat because it can get swamped haha.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy a feel free kayak. That’s just me… if you are wanting a really great paddle kayak that is light weight and will last forever, I’d say buy a NuCanoe Flint. I would also choose a wilderness systems tarpon 120 or a Crescent lite tackle over the feel free. Best of luck!
I never really considered any of the Bonafide boats, but that is only because I don’t like the compartmentalized layout of those kayaks. Performance wise, they are great fishing platforms and you will likely be very happy with that model. Bonafides hull design is really good and it allows for a lot of secondary stability (much like the unlimited). If you’re choosing between the two I think it would come down to which fits your fishing style better. Best of luck!
I'm debating between the unlimited or a pwr129.. for sure want xi3 bow mount, but the unlimited will cost me a little more with having to buy the front hatch and other accessories.. I always wanted the F12 What's your opinion? Go nucanoe?
If it were me I’d go with NuCanoe. But if it makes you feel better, Bonafide makes a great kayak and has great customer service as well. I’d buy the unlimited for its spec sheet, and for its versatility. You can easily add pieces to it as you go. The F12 is a great option as well, the unlimited is just better for power and has better drainage.
That’s tough bc you throw in the ocean aspect. For offshore/ BTB fishing, I think the Pro Angler is the best option. Just bc you have the pedals, it’s a bigger boat, and there is more storage. But for versatility I would choose the Unlimited every single time. If you do multiple types of fishing you will be very happy with the Nucanoe. So to answer your question… I’m going with a U12 regardless of price. It just fits my fishing style the best.
I tried out with my 2 kids at a demo day. Dang, stable when standing. Moved the kids around. Decent price. But that pivot drive is weird. Don't see any aftermarket parts. Is there anything similar to a nucanoe for multiple people?
Glad you got to test it out! There are no direct competitors when it comes to the tandem feature of this kayak. If I were you I would ditch the pivot drive idea and look at the different electric motor options that are available. Best of luck!
Your assessment is SPOT ON. As someone who also worked in kayak retail, my thoughts and yours are more or less exactly the same. I sold a Frontier to buy a PA14 and it was the dumbest thing I did. I recently sold the Hobie to go back to an Unlimited and couldn't be happier.
Glad we could touch some common ground man! Hobie makes a great product, but it’s a one trick pony. I love my NuCanoe Unlimited as well and I can say I won’t be switching my stance on that any time soon. Tight lines!!!
Thanks for the video. You addressed a lot of my questions, especially hearing about the plastic being a little softer on these. I currently have a native slayer max but am having trouble selling it at a good price. Really want one of these with a Xi3 on it.
It’s a great kayak! I have no doubt that it’s one of the best options on the market right now. And that Xi3 makes it even sweeter. Don’t let the plastic scare you considering native has that super dense and bulky plastic on their boats. Like I mentioned in the video, it’s designed to be flexible and it will help your kayak last in the long run. Tight lines!
Thanks for the video..I want to purchase a titan x but it's very pricey.. I feel the unlimited has everything I need in a kayak and the price is reasonable. Thanks for the detailed breakdown on the unlimited kayak.
Glad you liked the video man! You won’t be disappointed in the unlimited I can assure you that. But I will say… those new titans look pretty damn cool as well. They certainly cater to a specific type of angler. Tight lines out there🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I love my Unlimited. The flexibility is unmatched. I have to disagree with you on the pedal drive though. Everyone doesn’t want a pedal drive hole in the middle of their kayak, like me. Take a look at any pedal kayak…the pedal drive monopolizes the deck space. With the Unlimited pedal drive you still have sufficient deck space. I can use the pedal drive AND have my gear pod in place and still have usable deck. Again, the Unlimited was built to be flexible and having the ability to add the pedal drive to supplement the xi3 is a tremendous plus. To end on a good note…I envy your casting skills!
I appreciate your input; It will be helpful for those who want a second opinion on the pivot drive. It definitely has its place and I’m glad you are able to use it efficiently on your set up. For me the motor guide or a transom mounted motor caters best to my fishing habits. But to your point, the flexibility this kayak provides is top notch. Tight lines🤙🏼🤙🏼
I agree with your assessment. I have a 12’ Unlimited. Stable and a great layout. I power mine with a 55lb Minn Kota rear mounted. I like being able to add a second seat . The fusion seats are super comfortable. When I contacted Nucanoe , Blake the owner personally responded to answer my questions. I highly recommend the Unlimited!
Dude I’m saying! The kayak is great and their attention to customer support is next level. Glad you love your unlimited as much as I love mine. Tight lines out there🤙🏼
Good video, this is by far my favorite fishing kayak that I've seen. But like you, I don't care for the pivot drive which is enough to keep me from buying the kayak (the pedal drive is the most important component for me, and I don't want a motor). I did reach out to customer service, and they said that they are working to improve it. But there are no plans to put it through hull like others.
The pivot drive kinda sucks… but as someone who was once nervous about slapping an electric motor on my kayak, I’ve been beyond impressed with my motor guide Xi3. It’s changed the way I fish in the same but more drastic way as going from a paddle kayak to a pedal kayak. Don’t write it off until you try it my friend. Hope you find the perfect rig🤙🏼
What a great breakdown. And great content.
I'm looking to get a Frontier 12 as my first kayak. What are the first 3 upgrades you would recommend for a NuCanoe Kayak.
I'm thinking the keel guard would be one of the top ones like you mentioned.
Thank you for the comment! Regardless of if you are a fisherman or not, I would get a yak attack black pack for gear storage. Then id grab a keel guard for hull protection. After that I’d look into powering the kayak with the Xi3 motor guide. I love mine and would buy it again 1000 times. Hope this helps🤙🏼
@@HillCountryAngler Really great! thanks a ton!
Will definitely get the Yak attach and keel guard.
The motor guide may be a "Next year" thing - once i have more hobby dollars to spend! haha
@@NoobSkuleBus and that’s totally understandable! The great thing about the unlimited is you can scale up over time. Enjoy dude!
Great video - thanks! I am really leaning toward NuCanoe for wide open deck and stability for fly fishing, mainly smaller lakes and some rivers in north Texas area. Also would like to start taking my grandson fishing so tandem is important while he is still young. How would you compare unlimited to Frontier 12?
The unlimited will be your best bet. The main difference between the two models is drainage. The unlimited drains water out quickly and efficiently, where as the F12 tends to hold more water in the kayak. The unlimited also paddles better and can hold more weight. I hope this helps🤙🏼
Awesome video and very informative. I was 100% committed to the Unlimited, and then I saw the U10. They really thought that out with the features on it. I did have one main concern/question. How heavy does that 84 lbs. really feel? I am in a Flint and have been car topping for years. Is throwing that Unlimited on the roof doable?
Thanks for the comment! I also own a flint and can confirm that car topping that kayak is much easier than the unlimited would be. All that being said, It’s definitely doable and plenty of people do it. The U10 might be a great solution for you though. It will be lighter and will have close to the same stability of the U12. If you don’t load your kayak down with a bunch of gear or plan to use the tandem seating, I’d say the U10 is probably your best bet. Either way you will be highly pleased with the unlimited platform. Tight lines🤙🏼
Do you think the Unlimited can be fished tandem with two grown men using the Xi3 trolling motor? I have a PA14 360 which I love but I really want something I can fish with a buddy every now and then. Im doing my best to avoid buying a boat haha. I like to fish Possum Kingdom, Texoma, and chasing reds in the gulf to give you a idea of the waters I fish.
I think that is all dependent on the size of the passengers. With two bigger guys (6 foot plus, 200 plus pounds) you might not be as stable as you’d like when going tandem. However the weight cap is 650 lbs. so keep that in mind. I weigh 210 and with my gear and trolling motor there is still a ton of stability left. So my initial answer would be YES, this kayak could fit your needs.
You might run some price comparisons with a 14’ Jon boat though. I used to run an Alumacraft 1432 with a 15hp motor… it was perfect for fishing with a buddy. And I think the whole rig cost about as much as the Unlimited. Just food for thought!!
@HillCountryAngler I appreciate the response. I know the boats the way to go in my heart. I just don't want to spend big money on a bigger boat and I'm hesitate to try a 14ft jon boat on the bigger waters. In my PA14 I feel bullet proof, I've been caught out in some bad weather and never felt unsafe, whether it's the lake or ocean. It's weird to think that you feel safer in a kayak than you do a boat because it can get swamped haha.
Hi, this is a huge price difference from the 999 sale on the lure 12 feelfree. What are your thoughts? This would be for paddling.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy a feel free kayak. That’s just me… if you are wanting a really great paddle kayak that is light weight and will last forever, I’d say buy a NuCanoe Flint. I would also choose a wilderness systems tarpon 120 or a Crescent lite tackle over the feel free. Best of luck!
Did you ever consider the Bonafide PWR 129? I'm weighing my options between the unlimited and that one right now, and having a tough time choosing.
I never really considered any of the Bonafide boats, but that is only because I don’t like the compartmentalized layout of those kayaks. Performance wise, they are great fishing platforms and you will likely be very happy with that model. Bonafides hull design is really good and it allows for a lot of secondary stability (much like the unlimited). If you’re choosing between the two I think it would come down to which fits your fishing style better. Best of luck!
I'm debating between the unlimited or a pwr129.. for sure want xi3 bow mount, but the unlimited will cost me a little more with having to buy the front hatch and other accessories.. I always wanted the F12
What's your opinion? Go nucanoe?
If it were me I’d go with NuCanoe. But if it makes you feel better, Bonafide makes a great kayak and has great customer service as well. I’d buy the unlimited for its spec sheet, and for its versatility. You can easily add pieces to it as you go. The F12 is a great option as well, the unlimited is just better for power and has better drainage.
Missing your content , I hope your back soon
Just posted! Thanks for the support man🤙🏼
If the dang PA14 and the U12 were the same price, which one you going home with? Additional use case is some ocean fishing.
That’s tough bc you throw in the ocean aspect. For offshore/ BTB fishing, I think the Pro Angler is the best option. Just bc you have the pedals, it’s a bigger boat, and there is more storage. But for versatility I would choose the Unlimited every single time. If you do multiple types of fishing you will be very happy with the Nucanoe.
So to answer your question… I’m going with a U12 regardless of price. It just fits my fishing style the best.
Great stuff man!
Thanks brotha!
Great content... Lets go fishing ( Lake LBJ )
Let’s do it! I’ve never really fished LBJ but I’ve heard it’s great.
I tried out with my 2 kids at a demo day. Dang, stable when standing. Moved the kids around. Decent price.
But that pivot drive is weird. Don't see any aftermarket parts. Is there anything similar to a nucanoe for multiple people?
Glad you got to test it out! There are no direct competitors when it comes to the tandem feature of this kayak. If I were you I would ditch the pivot drive idea and look at the different electric motor options that are available. Best of luck!
To be clear- there are other tandem kayaks, but none that are as stable and geared towards fishing like the unlimited.
@@HillCountryAngler that's what I was wondering
What is top speed with that trolling motor?
With my motor I’m getting about 4.3mph at top speed. I sit around 3.3mph at half speed.
Great breakdown bud! Let’s get this guy to 1k subs! Sub #236 -Marc
Thanks Marc! I appreciate the comment and the support. Hoping to have some new vids out soon.