They say less is more. Looks like NuCanoe was listening. The new Unlimited U10 is a smaller version of NuCanoe’s do-it-all, 12-foot Unlimited with most of the same features and some new ones. The smaller boat is a capable grab-and-go pocket kayak with the potential to rig with storage, electronics and motors.
U10: A Pocket Version of the Full-Size Battle Wagon
NuCanoe U10 Specs
Length: 10’10”
Width: 41”
Weight: 72 lbs
Capacity: 500 lbs
MSRP: $1,599 USD
nucanoe.com
Fishy Features
On my first trip fishing in the U10, the NuCanoe pro staff input was evident. Starting with the horizontal rod storage.
As I cycle through lures to find what the fish want, I often have three or four rods lying on the deck. One false move and the rods, lines, lures and reels end up in a tangled mess.
To keep my lines and my nerves straight, the U10 has six grooves molded into the bow to hold rod tips. It also has grooves molded into the deck, called Butt Cradles, to hold the rod butts.
Two of the bow grooves correspond with horizontal rod holders along the gunwale. A molded space next to the seat fits a casting or spinning reel and the rod butt is secured with a sliding latch.
NuCanoe’s pro staff also influenced the measuring board cradles. There’s never a good place to store a 32-inch measuring board. NuCanoe molded a holster and added padded shelves to the gunwales to secure the board while I’m measuring a fish. The cradle has EVA foam padding for traction that also provides a convenient place to hang lures to dry.
Add it up and the U10 has nearly the same features as the bigger Unlimited 12 and a few new features like the rod and reel bay and rod butt cradles.
360 Fusion Seat
I didn’t realize the value of a swivel seat until I fished out of the 360 Fusion Seat. Turning to face my cast, reaching for gear in the stern, standing up to fish or hanging my feet over the side when I exit and enter the kayak, the Fusion Seat makes the U10 more convenient and comfortable.
To move the seat fore and aft, the seat base sits on 64-inch gear tracks. I loosen four thumb bolts and slide the seat into position. When I’m standup fishing, I can slide the seat back. To sit down and paddle, I center the seat to balance the boat.
The 360 Fusion Seat is a good argument for rigging the U10 with a motor or pedal system. Turning the seat makes it easier to reach a tiller drive electric motor or gas outboard mounted in the stern. And a motor cancels any negative effect a high seat and wide beam have on the boat’s performance.
Rigging the U10
Like all NuCanoe kayaks, the Unlimited U10 is a canoe and kayak hybrid. The U10’s open cockpit provides plenty of space to store gear and options for adding accessories while the low gunwales and central seat allow the boat to paddle like a kayak.
The biggest advantage of the hybrid design is acres of space to rig the boat with storage, accessories and electronics. To further encourage rigging, the U10 is outfitted with 11 top-load, aluminum gear tracks for almost 18 feet of rigging space.
Again, NuCanoe pro staff contributions to the U10 design strategically places gear tracks and rod holders to make rigging the boat easier.The boat has three removable deck plates to feed wires through the hull and a special scupper in the center of the deck to fit a fish finder transducer.
The gear tracks along the sternwell secure a gear crate, livewell or cooler. This track is also a good place to insert an action camera or adjustable rod holder.
Gear tracks in the stern accommodate NuCanoe’s QuickConnect system allowing the angler to add a motor, pedal drive or rudder, and foot or hand steering.
Even though the U10 is only 10 feet, 10 inches long, it has the potential to rig like a full-size fishing kayak. Add a motor or NuCanoe’s Pivot pedal system and the U10 becomes a capable fishing kayak that weighs less and takes up less space than a full-size boat.
Before evaluating the U10’s performance, it’s important to understand the limitations of a 10-foot kayak with a 41-inch beam and elevated frame seat. Under paddle power, the boat is manageable and capable for short trips on relatively calm waters.
In wind and waves, these dimensions work against paddling efficiency. Nothing against the NuCanoe design, the little boat does a good job overcoming these challenges.
To cut through the water, the U10 has a channeled hull and narrow bow and stern. I felt confident paddling the kayak all day on sheltered water. When the wind kicked up or I covered distance in search of fish, the little boat got me where I needed to go.
The advantage of this design is rock-solid stability for standup fishing. I appreciated the shorter waterline when maneuvering into vegetation-choaked creeks and fishing docks or bridge pilings. A 260-millimeter paddle shaft and high-angle blade further assisted in moving the U10.
On-Water Performance
The U10’s open cockpit means I can slide back the seat for more fishing space. With four rods at my feet and more rods in reach behind me, I never had to sit down. I could stand and fish just like fishing in a bass boat. Even when I was seated and casting, the swivel seat improved my distance and accuracy.
On one of my favorite fishing trips in the U10, I rolled the boat to my neighborhood pond. The kids fishing on the bank looked jealous as I lowered the boat into the water and paddled off to hit the boat docks and swim platforms. Sitting high off the water, I cast my lure and pulled in largemouth bass as the sun set through the rising smoke from my neighbor’s grill. The U10’s design makes fishing easy so I can go fishing more often.
Who Is the U10 Owner?
On one hand, the U10 is a convenient platform for quick trips on sheltered waters and calm rivers. But, add a motor or pedal system and the U10 becomes a pro staff approved tournament fishing mini machine.
At 10 feet long, the U10 fits in the pocket kayak category. But, at 41 inches wide, it has the stability of a standup kayak. The mini Unlimited weighs 77 pounds without the seat, not quite light enough to be lightweight but certainly not a heavy-weight, full-size boat.
To receive approval from NuCanoe’s pro staff, the gear tracks, hull-access plates, hatches and other touches allow the U10 to take multiple fish finder displays, anchor systems, gear storage, and bow and stern motors. The smaller version of the Unlimited 12 shares most of the same features as the Unlimited 12 and adds a few new touches, proving once again that less is more.
Where to Buy the NuCanoe U10
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A pocket kayak with big potential, the new tournament platform packs a long list of features in a 10-foot-long kayak. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes
