Pedal Kayaks · Fishing
The Native Watercraft Forge 12 is a fishing kayak built as an open platform: it ships as a paddle kayak for $1,749, and you decide what it becomes. Add Native's X-Range pedal drive when you are ready, bolt a motor on the bow, add a stern motor kit later, or run all three on the same hull.
The Native Watercraft Forge 12 is a fishing kayak built as an open platform: it ships as a paddle kayak for $1,749, and you decide what it becomes. Add Native’s X-Range pedal drive when you are ready, bolt a motor on the bow, add a stern motor kit later, or run all three on the same hull.
That is a different pitch from most fishing kayaks, which make you pick your propulsion on day one and live with it. The Forge 12 is Native’s entry point into its lineup, a 12 ft boat with a 600 lb capacity, stand-up stability, and the mounts, tracks, and steering provisions already built in for every upgrade. It is a brand-new model: EcoFishingShop is taking pre-orders now with delivery expected in November, in Hidden Oak, Wavestrike, Grey Goose, and Gator Green. Full details are on Native’s official Forge 12 page.
Who the Forge 12 Is For
This kayak fits the angler who wants to start simple and grow. If you are moving up from a basic paddle kayak but are not ready to spend pedal-drive money today, the Forge lets you paddle now and add the drive next season without buying a second boat. It also fits bigger anglers and tournament fishermen: 600 lb of capacity on a 35 in wide hull swallows a big driver, a full crate, electronics, and eventually a battery and motor without running out of payload. And if you fish mixed water, rivers one weekend and open bays the next, the open deck and rounded bow were designed for exactly that.
Native Watercraft Forge 12: One Hull, Three Ways to Move It
Paddle it stock. Out of the box the Forge 12 is a paddle kayak, but a better-equipped one than most. Foot-controlled rudder steering is standard, so you steer with your feet and keep your hands on the rod or the paddle, and the Springblade rudder sits recessed into the hull where it is protected in shallow water.
Pedal it later. The hull is built around Native’s X-Range pedal drive, sold separately for $1,249 at EcoFishingShop. The drive stows low on the deck, deploys with a one-handed twist-lock, gives you hands-free reverse, and has a built-in weed cutter for grass and pads. An upgrade kit also adds hand-controlled rudder steering if you prefer a handle. With the drive installed the rigged weight is 130 lb.
Motorize the bow, the stern, or both. A bow motor mount, a Powerlink plate, and motor steering provisions come standard, so a bow-mount trolling motor is a bolt-on job, not a fabrication project. Stern motorization kits are available separately, including packages built around the Newport NK300, which means dual-motor setups are on the table for anglers who want spot-lock on the bow and push power on the stern.
Stability and the Open Deck
At 35 in wide with a raised floor, the Forge 12 is built to stand and fish, and Native lists stand-up stability and a dry ride as headline traits. The open floor plan is the real story: there is no molded-in layout forcing your crate, cooler, and tackle into fixed spots, so you arrange the deck around how you actually fish. The smooth, rounded bow suits moving river water as well as lakes and bays, which matches the boat’s start-simple, fish-anywhere brief.
Rigging and Electronics
Native did not strip this boat to hit the price. An accessory groove track runs around the entire boat, so rod holders, cameras, and electronics mounts go wherever you want them. A deck locker dry storage box, a bow cover with a paddle park and storage pockets, and side storage pockets handle gear. Dual flush-mount rod holders and forward-facing rod holders are built in. For electronics there is a transducer mount, a through-hull scupper for clean cable runs, a monitor mount, and the hull is Captain’s Bridge ready. Dual skid plates protect the hull on ramps and oyster bars, and there is inside hull access for wiring and rigging work.
Seat and Steering
The seat is a direct frame-mounted design, which keeps it simple, solid, and low. If you want to face the action or spin to fish behind you, Native sells a two-position locking swivel seat upgrade kit for the Forge. Steering is the foot-controlled rudder already mentioned, standard equipment, with the hand-steering option arriving as part of the X-Range upgrade path.
Honest Drawbacks
Three things to go in with your eyes open. First, weight: 98 lb for the fitted hull and 110 lb rigged is heavy for solo car-topping, and most owners will want a cart or a trailer. Second, the modular math. The $1,749 starting price is genuinely accessible, but the pedal drive brings the total to $2,998 before you add a motor or a battery, which is real money next to kayaks that include a drive in the box. The value case only works if you actually spread the purchases out or end up using more than one propulsion mode. Third, it is a brand-new model on pre-order. There is no long-term track record yet, so early buyers are trusting Native’s Propel and X-Range engineering rather than years of owner reports.
Specs
| Length | 12 ft |
| Width | 35 in |
| Depth | 11.5 in |
| Capacity | 600 lb |
| Fitted hull weight | 98 lb |
| Fully rigged weight | 110 lb |
| Rigged weight with pedal drive | 130 lb |
| Drive type | Paddle stock; X-Range pedal drive, bow motor, and stern motor kits sold separately |
| Steering | Foot-controlled rudder (Springblade, recessed into the hull) |
| Seat | Direct frame-mounted seat |
| Price | $1,749 (kayak only) |
Native Watercraft Forge 12 Fishing Kayak FAQ
Does the Native Watercraft Forge 12 come with a pedal drive?
No. It ships as a paddle kayak. The X-Range pedal drive is a separate upgrade, $1,249 at EcoFishingShop, and the hull is built to accept it with a twist-lock install.
Can you put a motor on the Forge 12?
Yes, on the bow, the stern, or both. A bow motor mount, Powerlink plate, and motor steering provisions come standard, and stern motorization kits are sold separately, including packages built around the Newport NK300.
How much does the Forge 12 weigh?
The fitted hull is 98 lb, fully rigged weight is 110 lb, and with the X-Range pedal drive installed it is 130 lb. Plan on a kayak cart or a trailer instead of lifting it onto a roof rack alone.
How much weight can the Forge 12 carry?
It is rated for 600 lb, which covers a large angler plus a full tournament load, electronics, and eventually a motor and battery.
When can you buy the Forge 12?
EcoFishingShop is taking pre-orders now with delivery expected in November. It comes in Hidden Oak, Wavestrike, Grey Goose, and Gator Green.
Where to Buy
If the Native Watercraft Forge 12 Fishing Kayak sounds like your kind of boat, check the current price:
Relevant battery links
Shop WattCycle 12V 100Ah Mini Battery If you add a bow motor down the road, this is my recommended 12V battery: it runs most 12V trolling motors up to 55 lb thrust plus a fish finder, and it is compact and light.
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