Hey Eric, Long time no see.
I’ve been through three HB skiffs and two bay boats since the last time we fished.
You’ve picked a good time to get back into a minimal skiff because all the builders are making just that. Except their prices aren’t always minimal.
Hells Bay is making a super light Whipray clone they call the Eldora. Great little boat with a 25 horse. East Cape is coming out with a no liner skiff I think they call the Stealth, and they already had the Glide. Brian Floyd of Islamarine started building Chris Morejohn inspired designs over in Edgewater under the Floyd Skiffs brand. There are other new builders like Harry Spear, Drake, Simple Skiffs, Delta Boatworks, Fly Boatworks, and I’m sure a few more I haven’t heard of.
Based on my experience fishing while poling solo, I think that East Cape 17’ Stealth boat might be a good prospect because its the widest at the transom. Although the Fly Boatworks looks like a good minimalist design.
5 years is not “a while”, but whatever. My original statement stands. If a guy has owned more than half a dozen boats, there should be few people that can tell him what he might like, it doesn’t matter how new they are. Each one is different. He should’ve learned a thing or two on all the ones he previously owned.
A lot happened in 5 years. Chittum has nearly doubled their prices and there have been a number of new builders enter the market with more accessible price points, especially with “no frill” skiff designs. It’s a completely reasonable to have someone ask for the lay of the land and our opinions. That’s what the site is for.
But also, @el9surf was a long time contributor on the ex-site, so I’m happy to have him back online here.
@AUtrkyhntr It’s probably been 8.5 years since I bought my last skiff. There are quite a few brands now that didn’t exist last time I was actively in the market for one, hence why I was asking for help. I wasn’t asking people for “what I might like” I was asking what’s new out there. I know what I’m looking for in terms of design, specs and performance.
@MariettaMike it’s good to hear from you and thank you for the suggestions. Hope you are doing well! It’s good to see so many familiar folks from the old site on here.
Thanks to everyone for the replies and keep the suggestions coming if you see any that have been left out.
Welcome back! I’ve been out a while as well and started getting the itch again last year. I’m going to be building a conchfish, but if I wasn’t I’d probably go with the simple skiff or a Floyd. I miss my evo but I want something I won’t feel bad about beating up a little bit
@AUtrkyhntr your take on a while is not the OP’s perspective on a while. Why push back on someone else’s inquiry? Asking questions for help, opinions, etcetra is a fundamental reason many folks are on this forum. You don’t know what the OP knows or doesn’t know so it’s best to help out or bypass the snarky comments.
I saw a 2021 Spear Legend listed for $16k on Marketplace around Charleston. Not sure where you’re located but that is a pretty good deal on a great skiff. Only downside is that it’s rigged with a 20hp
@el9surf - check out the designs from @Chris_Morejohn - there are a few builders who are using his designs as mentioned above. The great thing about Chris’ designs is that he publishes the complete dimensions and displacement numbers.
Also check out this thread:
Although some of those draft numbers are of course subjective. But you have a style of boat in mind - so that narrows your search down. You aren’t trying to do it all.
It does have some nice lines, @rovster . The beam is right, and the strakes are angled and positioned the way they should be, IMHO.
But I’m trying to figure out how you mount trim tabs where the transom is angled on each side of the motor? Is there some kind of a wedge spacer kit or angled trim tab hinge kit for that?
I’ve fished out of a few different of Harry’s skiffs, Legend, Everglades, not the Gold Cup though. Nothing bad to say about the fish-ability of them. They are a better skinny water boat than big water which may be better for the Lagoon. The fit and finish inside the skiff is the main difference. It’s not bad but more utilitarian. I do not mean that as an insult.
The tabs are mounted on the transom, no adjustments, they work well, no issues, that angle is less than 3 deg btw, so minimal. I have ridden and played with one, worked just fine.