Heritage Redfish 12

[Monte Ray]

I decided to get a sit on top (SOT) kayak this summer and I thought I'd post some pics on this board. I did quite a bit of research on them before I made a decision. I wanted a boat that would let me do river fishing and that I could take on lakes too.

The boat is very stable and handles well. I use the rear tank well to stow my tackle and a cooler. I keep a small anchor, drift chute, and some other accessories in the front hatch. I have 1 rod holder up front and 2 behind the seat on either side of the small hatch.

I find the seat to be comfortable and drains water well. I can sit side saddle with both feet in the water on 1 side of the kayak - very easy to fish like this or to access the rear storage.

Here are some pics taken at Table Rock a few weeks back. The yellow is 10' and the sand color is 12'.

These were taken at the Cape Fair public use area.

[WebFreeman]

Looks like fun. How was it on TRL? Did the wakes get to you?

[Monte Ray]

I took them to Cow Creek for a Scouts campout in September - the largest wakes were not an issue for stability. I was curious about that myself, so I took the largest waves from every angle. Broadside was not a problem, water wouldn't come over the sides, the kayak just rolled with the waves, I never felt tippy. The center of gravity is quite low while in these boats. One advantage I like about these over canoes is that I don't feel as tippy nearly as quickly as I do while in a canoe.

As I took a few big waves head on, some of them would crash over the bow, but they didn't present any sort of problem.

Storing them is easy as well - they go on the wall in my garage.

[Ham]

Looks like a nice boat. I'm wondering if you looked at the WS Tarpon series before you made your choice.

If you chose the Redfish over the Tarpon, I'm wondering what helped drive that choice.

[Monte Ray]

I'm wondering if you looked at the WS Tarpon series before you made your choice. If you chose the Redfish over the Tarpon, I'm wondering what helped drive that choice.

Keep in mind I'm still a newbie in the kayak department, but I have learned alot the last few months.

Yes I considered the WS Tarpon 120 and the now Native Manta Ray 12 (previously a Liquid Logic boat) before going with the Redfish. I've also paddled a Synergy 12 on TRL - and didn't like it, the front storage area filled with water too easily.

I think the trade offs between a Redfish, Tarpon and Manta Ray are small - all 3 would have done what I wanted a kayak to do. Each might have been slightly better for 1 purpose than another. Beyond that - the features separate the boats.

The Tarpon and Manta Ray have more rocker to them and while I haven't paddled them, I think they would handle a bit better.

The Redfish 12 has a large piece of foam block running down the center of the boat - from the console area to just behind the seat. This helps support the weight of the paddler and takes pressure off of the scupper holes (the weakest part of the boat). I'm a big guy, so that was important to me.

I also like the seat of the Redfish better. I can upgrade to a better seat easily. The Tarpon and MR both have seats that are riveted. Seats with rivets mean more holes in the boat and more places that could eventually leak.

I've read about the center hatch of the Tarpon leaking water, some guys don't have a problem, but quite a few do, I just decided to avoide that issue altogether.

The Manta Ray will be under the Native Watercraft line for 2008. The only thing changing is the seat - it will be like the Redfish seat.

I had my kayak out on Taney for the first time last weekend. It worked out great. I fished from the launch near the hatchery down to Fall Creek.

[Ham]

I have a Tarpon 120 and my wife has a Tarpon 100. Granted each year they make slight changes, but I have not had the water via the hatches issue. My boat only has two hatches. Both are on the center line of the boat. One is immediately behind the cockpit and then there is the forward hatch. I have not had leakage issues.

I have read about guys developing leaks in the Manta Ray on the leading edge of a scupper hole under the seat area of the boat.

All boats will develope leaks eventually if used on shallow rocky rivers during low water. Folks using a boat on lakes and ponds won't have these issues.

I kinda felt like MR and the Redfish had copied the Tarpon hull very closely.

I want my scupper holes in tracks so that rules out the MR. I want a big front hatch so I can stow fishing rods inside.

I like the seats Tarpon have. I find them to be very comfortable. I do get out and stretch from time to time though.

Lots of goood boats. If I found a better boat than a Tarpon, I'd buy it BUT so far I haven't seen better than the Tarpon.

[Monte Ray]

but I have not had the water via the hatches issue. My boat only has two hatches. Both are on the center line of the boat. One is immediately behind the cockpit and then there is the forward hatch. I have not had leakage issues.

I have read about guys developing leaks in the Manta Ray on the leading edge of a scupper hole under the seat area of the boat.

All boats will develope leaks eventually if used on shallow rocky rivers during low water.

I kinda felt like MR and the Redfish had copied the Tarpon hull very closely.

I want my scupper holes in tracks so that rules out the MR.

I want a big front hatch so I can stow fishing rods inside.

I like the seats Tarpon have. I find them to be very comfortable.

If I found a better boat than a Tarpon, I'd buy it BUT so far I haven't seen better than the Tarpon.

Ham - I will respond to the above comments. I'm not saying the Tarpon is a lesser boat - in fact, I think it is on par or superior to the Redfish and the MR in some areas. Also keep in mind these are only my newbie opinions and all based on what I've read (which is alot).

The hatch with leakage problems on the Tarpon 120 I speak of is the middle hatch - refer to this link - http://www.wildernesssystems.com/tarpon-120

The old Manta Rays have a scupper hole directly under the seat - and that scupper is easily damaged. A guy on another board started having problems after just 40 river trips. The new 2008 Manta Ray under the Native name will not have that scupper hole - it has been removed (unless I heard incorrectly).

The Tarpon and MR have more rocker than the Redfish and the MR has a more rounded hull as well - and it probably handles the best of the 3 boats.

I find the seat on the Tarpon to be comfortable. I haven't been in a Tarpon but I have paddled a Synergy 12 - same type of seat. I simply prefer a removable seat like that of the Redfish. No rivets to hold the seat in and I can upgrade to a STS seat if I want.

I'm not saying any of these 3 boats are better than the other. Each will perform well in lake or river setting, but each is a little stronger in some areas than the other. It's then up to the individual to make their decision.

The performance differences in all of these boats are minor. It comes down to what an individual wants. However, I think these 3 boats are some of the best available SOT kayaks right now - for stream use. Some brands - such as Ocean Kayaks - have no business on our rocky streams, the scuppers on them just don't last very long.

Here are the hull pictures. The keel on the Redfish is less pronounced but squares off at the rear while the MR has an angled keel.

Manta Ray

Redfish

[Ham]

I'd agree that all three are good boats. Sometimes a dealer will have one of the three on sale or you get a chance at a used one or whatever.

I'd like a tarpon with NO keel or at least a greatly reduced keel.

Glad to hear that MR has changed their design. Hopefully the good folks at WS will do away with the leaky center hatch as well.

Enjoy your boats.

[Monte Ray]

Once again - I'm a kayak newbie, but I've learned alot the past couple of months. I've had some lengthy discussions about kayak design with a couple of guys on other sites. Specifically about these 3 models.

With the way SOT kayak fishing is expanding and the demand for river boats, I think we'll see some good river SOTs come out in the next several years.

Our streams are rough on these boats and they won't last forever. Hopefully by the time mine is ready to be replaced we'll have some river specific models to look at.

I agree - the keels on all 3 of these boats are more than we should have to deal with for river use.

Keels are great for beginners or lazy paddlers though!