NuCanoe Frontier 12 Review

Overview

The NuCanoe Frontier 12 is a highly versatile kayak that can be used for a variety of activities. It is ultra stable and has ample space for gear and equipment. It has some pretty great features for a hunting kayak with a square transom for easy motor mounting, and a comfortable 360-degree seat. If you are looking for one kayak to cover everything from winter duck hunts to summer fishing, the Frontier 12 is tough to beat.

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Stability

This kayak has one of the widest widths at 41” making it super stable. Many people stand up to fish from it although I did see a few people adding a support bar for better balance while standing. But the fact that it is stable enough to stand and fish, as well as being able to support multiple people, tells you all you need to know about the stability of this kayak. It is a great kayak for hunting and shooting out of.

Weight

At 80lbs, the NuCanoe has a very similar weight to the Ascend H12. It is not the lightest weight option, but it is manageable for loading in and out of a vehicle. One important thing to consider, is if you want to add a motor to this transom, you will likely need to take the motor off for transport so it can ride flat in the bed of a truck. Another option would be to get a bed extender to support the weight of the motor hanging off the edge, but I would be careful not to put extra stress on the transom from the weight of a motor during transportation.

If you are looking for a kayak to drag in to your hunting spot, this wouldn’t be my first pick. But if you have easy access to water, the weight should be very manageable for unloading and getting it to the water.

Price

The NuCanoe Frontier 12 is not a cheap kayak. However, it does come with a lot of extra features that you don’t get from other kayaks. If you need a stable kayak and want to have one capable of mounting a motor to it, I think this is definitely worth the money. NuCanoe has also released this model in an 'Access Series' version which makes it more affordable and I think it is a serious consideration for 'best value' even though it is still more expensive than the Ascend H12.

Performance

This is another kayak whose performance shouldn’t be rated just on paddling alone. It is a wide, flat kayak. Those features don’t lend themselves to easy and fast paddling. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to paddle. The raised seat really helps with the angle of the paddle to keep you from hitting the sides of the kayak constantly.

At the end of the day, if I needed to paddle long distances, this wouldn’t be my first pick. But the great thing about this kayak is that you can easily add a motor. That makes this a very versatile kayak because for short to medium distances, you don’t need to mess with the hassle of putting on the motor. But for those longer treks, you can slip on a motor and get to your spot quickly.

Storage

The NuCanoe Frontier 12 has an amazing weight capacity at 650lbs, although the self-bailing capacity with the scupper holes is less than that. The shorter sides will make it a little more difficult to dump gear into it, but if you take the time to bag decoys or stack gear properly, there is almost no limit to what this kayak can haul.

Alternatives

We asked duck hunters what their favorite kayaks were. See how they voted:

Read more kayak reviews or see our top picks for the best duck hunting kayaks

Final Verdict on the NuCanoe Frontier 12

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Verdict: If you don't mind the price point and want a premium kayak that can handle a motor, this is the kayak you should buy. I was hesitant about the price but I have zero regrets with purchasing a NuCanoe.