Slayer 14.5

Bought the Slayer new in Feb 2015. Overall a great fishing kayak. Boat comes with a complete set of scupper plugs and a pair of cam-lock paddle holders. I installed two rod holders behind the seat and a battery bag in the electronics console for a fish finder/GPS.

So far I've used it in the saltwater grass flats in Steinhatchee, FL fishing for speckled trout/redfish, on Lake Lanier fishing for bass, and on the Chattahoochee River fishing for trout.

Here is a run down of the pro's and con's of what I've found so far.

PRO's
1. This is a fishing machine! Lots of room and I love the open bow.
2. I can stand easily in this boat.
3. The seat is great, no pains after hours of fishing. Hi/low position is nice too.
4. Boat tracks well.
5. Glides a long ways, even when going upstream.
6. Rear area is large enough for a full size cooler. Also large enough for me to ferry an unfortunate fisherman who wound up on the wrong side of the river when he fell in.

CON's:
1. This thing is heavy! I bought a cheap trailer to carry it on, don't feel able to put it on the top of a tall minivan like my other kayaks.
2. Seems to be affected by wind more than my 12 foot kayak. Not an issue if the wind is well behaved.
3. The built in tackle box holders on either side of the seat hold water at the bottom. Even my "waterproof" boxes would get some water in them after a while. Found a good solution - I put a strip of foam or wood at the bottom to raise the bottom of the box out of the standing water. There was plenty of stretch in the strap to still go over the box.
4. The first time I tightened down the thumb screws that hold the lid on the electronics console, the plastic caps popped off. Wound up replacing them with solid metal thumb screws.

All in all a great fishing boat. You won't be disappointed if you decide to buy one.

After owning a Native Watercraft Ultimate and a Manta Ray 12, I was intrigued by the thought of another Native boat similar to the Ultimate but with the thing I liked on the Manta Ray. The Slayer is the most comfortable kayak I have ever been in. The tracking is excellent and it can turn on a dime. The scuppers are large and drain well. There is a ton of on deck storage. Some paddlers have complained about the open bow and would prefer an enclosed hatch, but for me the open bow works out best. I can keep my fishbag, drybag and landing net handy for fishing, without taking up valuable storage space in the tankwell. The rear tankwell is large enough for a bait bucket and a crate or tackle bag. I also love the built in plano box storage. I can keep all on my terminal tackle and favorite lures close to me for quick tackle changes. The stability on this thing is amazing, I paddled out thru heavy chop and never once felt like this kayak was tippy. This kayak was just what I was looking for. The comfort of the Native Ultimate and the storage and fishability of the Manta Ray. I can't wait to pick up a second one for a friend or relative to enjoy with me. Good job Native.

The Slayer 14.5 is a very nice boat. It is heavy at 73lbs, but it has a attached wheel on the keel that helps when moving it around on land. It has lots of room with an open clean deck, you can easily stand in this boat.... the seat is great, well built with 2 positions, high and low. Myself and fishing gear adds about 300lbs and it still floats in 4 to 5 inches of water.

Very easy to maneuver, it makes quick clean turns and tracks extremely well. It is fast enough. It takes large waves in rough waters. It makes a great fishing platform. I love this boat; well worth the price.