Back in 2017 I just wanted to stir the pot on the old site so I made this list. It was really effective at getting blood boiling. Here we go again.
Top Tier- the High End builders- usually custom builders or high end production builders- excellent fit and finish
Drake
East Cape
Hells Bay
Maverick
Middle Tier- production builders- good quality fit and finish but not up to par with Tier 1 builders
Spear
Cayo
Bevertail
Hewes
Yellowfin
Sterling
Ankona/Salt Marsh
Skull Island Skiffs
Dragonfly
Action Craft
Dolphin
Fly Boatworks
Entry level skiffs- base level fit and finish
Mitzi Skiffs
Skimmer
Spyder
Chittum Skiffs
Let the games begin.
10 Likes
It’d be interesting to see what people rank them within each tier. 
Chittum under Entry Level? Is that right?
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Why would you buy a skiff when you can build one?
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Best skiff in the US of A. is a paid for one.
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Having been in the belly of all the beasts… the fit and finish isn’t as good as one would think and is entirely subjective. When most folks see my Carolina Skiff restorations and other “commercial style” interiors and see what I can do with a webbed interior they are usually blown away. While some don’t like the webbed look, most have not seen mine! Having said that, I have seen what many will call a decent or good fit and finish and scratch my head thinking they need glasses.
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If Chittum is ranked Entry Level, then Gheenoe should be ranked Top Tier lol
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@JCDesigns - post some pics up on another thread and tag me - I’d love to see your work.
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In time brother. My FB page is Battle Creek Boat Works if you are on there. I have the Johnsen skiff build thread in the bragging spot but it doesn’t show great on the webbing.
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I definitely agree with that!
I’ll put my Carolina Skiff where ever it fits…literally
It doesn’t fit in with the perfect “fit n finish” crowd
It does fit in the “goes almost anywhere, does almost anything”
It fits in perfectly skinny waters, oyster bars, grassy flats, mud, rocks, doesn’t matter
The finish is perfect. Perfect for muddy shoes, bloody fish, or whatever. It’s already stained, but nothing a coat of paint won’t fix.
It’s perfect for me and the way I fish.
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Value and ease at resale? If I built one it would be one I intend to hand down to my son.
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It’s all about if they will take care of you. All of the builders on your top tier list have had issues from time to time. It happens.
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I would put cayo in the first tier personally from the few I have seen in person
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Cayo way way way above the new Mavericks.
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