By Paul Lebowitz

The sedate-looking Manta Ray 12 has adrenaline in its DNA. Indeed, this sit-on-top was designed by whitewater innovator Liquid Logic.

Now manufactured by Native Watercraft, the Manta Ray 12 is a tidy package, 12 feet 2 inches long by 31 inches wide. Hull weight logs in at 58 pounds; capacity is 350. 

The boat leads with a jaunty rockered bow that flares out quickly to accommodate a good-sized forward hatch and a spacious cockpit. Continuing toward the stern, a narrow console ridge perches between the footwells, which are flat bottomed with adjustable foot-pegs.

The boat comes stock with one of the nicest seatsavailable on a sit-on-top, with a plushly padded bottom cushion and an adjustable backrest that provides solid lumbar support. The seat is scooped out – you sit down in it – which enhances stability and boat control by lowering the center of gravity. It doesn’t prevent sitting side-saddle. Just scoot up to the center of the boat. 

Other highlights include a 5-in hatch in the cockpit, a second behind the seat, and a generous tankwell in the stern. The Angler edition is graced with a Scotty mount on the console and a pair of full-sized flushmounts just in front of the tankwell.

The Manta Ray’s factory outfitting is unusual. The bungee anchors are all recessed and shielded. It’s a nice detail, particularly in the tankwell, but complicates removal and replacement of the bow hatch. The pad eyes used for securing gear leashes and tying down equipment, typically nylon, appear to be nearly bulletproof stainless steel. They are also very short, too short for a standard brass snap.

More stainless shows up on the hooks for the bungee paddle keepers; their upturned ends protrude a bit into the cockpit. And then there’s the little black circle stuck to the boat’s left side. That’s the drain plug in an absolutely inspired spot. Not only is it visible from the cockpit (now you can check if you’ve remembered to close it without heading back to the beach), it makes draining the hull a snap.

The Manta Ray is nicely outfitted, but there’s always something to add. There’s room for a GPS or fishfinder up on the console. A portable unit can sit on the bow hatch. The deck just aft of the seat is so spacious it looks as if it could handle another four flushmounts.

On the water, the Manta Ray is nimble and responsive, at home in tight to the rocks. It turns and burns at an instant, but isn’t prone to wander off course in open water. The stable rockered hull rides up and over the chop. The Manta Ray is a ‘moist’ boat. Otherwise more or less dry, the footwells are often awash.   

Compliments: highly maneuverable, cushy seat, Angler model ready to fish, easy to rig, nifty side-mounted drain plug, good build quality.