[rovster]

Congrats man! I absolutely love the double thick coushins and the backrest. Initially I thought I’d remove it and only run it on family outings but I may have well just made it permanent lol. Looking forward to pics. Hoping to slime mine for the first time tomorrow😃

 

[Vinny L]

I’d stick with the 60suk not worth the extra 3-4k in my opinion to go 70yammy. I’d def get a jackplate and I’d go to a 12” simrad or lowrance with a button on front. You will thank me later

Thank you

 

[CKEAT]

Yes i hated the Bobs Jack on my panga was nothing but another thing to worry about ,it worked great dont get me wrong just added weight and another thing to think about other that catching fish ill never have another.....

You wouldn't be able to get where we go to get to reds here in Texas without a JP. I wish nobody would use em. More back water for me 🤣

would be related to where the cat flats rigs with 400s plow the shallows.

 

[Kingfisher67]

I love my Raptor Coating on my EVO V, you won't be disappointed, much better than powder coated. I had my batteries installed under the bench rather than inside the console. I would think hard about putting them under the bench. There's PLENTY of storage under the bench with the batteries in there as well, just get the shelf that fits in above the batteries. I'ts been awesome having the console available for space. First thing I did when I got my EVO (and wish I had gone for it when being built) was swap out the trim tab controls with the controller that has the LED position lights on it. Like someone else mentioned above, the Line-X keel guard is awesome. Congrats, this is the painful part of the build, but you're rounding third base!

 

[Renegade]

I can only assume that the guys recommending no jack plate have exactly zero idea where Vinnie will be fishing, and how. There are no boats without JP's that can get in there in the winter, much less maneuver once they do. I agree on no compression plate. A good three blade with a cup will work for him, or a good four blade.

I still don't get the fascination with the F70. I have run the X a lot of times with the 70 and the DF60 and there is hardly a difference, but the cost is about $3500, with a lesser warranty. The days of Yamaha superiority have passed, in my opinion. Good on them if they can keep charging that but I'd bet it won't last much longer. I can think of better ways to spend the $3500, but that is just me.

I also agree with the recommendation for a machine with at least one button.

Line X does a great keel guard.

I haven't used the Hull Marine jack plate but I have an 11 year old Atlas Micro with a lot of hours that is just starting to get sloppy so I am about to do the $150 HMP hardware upgrade kit to my Micro.

**EDIT- my avatar photo was taken on a negative low in December where Vinnie wants to fish. I know the area well.

 

[CKEAT]

I haven’t installed the HMP plate yet but the fit and finish is excellent and seem rock solid stout. Can’t wait to get it on the boat.

I do know a guy who is running and HMP plate, has been for a bit and he is hard on his equipment. Still perfect operating condition.

 

[Renegade]

I haven’t installed the HMP plate yet but the fit and finish is excellent and seem rock solid stout. Can’t wait to get it on the boat.

I do know a guy who is running and HMP plate, has been for a bit and he is hard on his equipment. Still perfect operating condition.

I have been checking them out. They just shipped their first batch about 4 months ago. We can't start specifying new products from new companies until they have been around a while. They do seem great though! Time will tell.

 

[Vinny L]

I have been checking them out. They just shipped their first batch about 4 months ago. We can't start specifying new products from new companies until they have been around a while. They do seem great though! Time will tell.

Maybe we should try one on my boat🤔

 

[Renegade]

I just looked. They only have one black one in stock.

I cannot tell you that Adam will install it. You will need to call the shop to ask him yourself if you are serious about it.

 

[Silent Drifter]

Renegade is correct i know nothing a bout his/Vinny L fishing areas myself! And correct in saying if hes into bottom dragging then he will definitely need the jack plate 👍 if i do fish shallow i can pole in and out ,deep water is usually a few hundred feet away ....

I fish deeper waters usually so the Bobs Jack plate i had was just another thing to toy with and added weight! The Bobs did work excellent i believe because it was designed correctly, with ram in center of plate you could adjust it under power with no binding ....HMP Has a nice one as well .....

We all can agree you have to rig your own boat to fit your needs to fully enjoy it 👍😎

 

[jay.bush1434]

@Vinny L sounds like you’ve got a well thought out and functional skiff on the way. I like

 

[Vinny L]

@Vinny L sounds like you’ve got a well thought out and functional skiff on the way. I like

Many on this forum helped in their own way especially You and Renegade who played a huge role, thank you!!

 

[jonny]

What’s the purpose of the pop up cleat? I would consider another option personally. They do and will leak at some point. I have seen this way too many times. Some come with a bottom cup and drain tube. But where are you going to drain it in a skiff? Could be a issue down the road especially if installed over floatation foam. You also have to cut a fairly large hole into your deck/core to install it. A folding cleat or smaller hardware would be better long term IMHO if for a casting platform. Plus they are total rattle traps after some time.

 

[Renegade]

What’s the purpose of the pop up cleat? I would consider another option personally. They do and will leak at some point. I have seen this way too many times. Some come with a bottom cup and drain tube. But where are you going to drain it in a skiff? Could be a issue down the road especially if installed over floatation foam. You also have to cut a fairly large hole into your deck/core to install it. A folding cleat or smaller hardware would be better long term IMHO if for a casting platform. Plus they are total rattle traps after some time.

I personally prefer the folder on the rail. However, most of our customers have had good success with these pop ups.

if it were to leak, it is only into the front hatch compartment which drains to the bilge. All of our foam is completely glassed in so no worries there. I agree on the rattling though. Once those silicone bumpers go in a few years, they rattle.

 

[CKEAT]

I have been checking them out. They just shipped their first batch about 4 months ago. We can't start specifying new products from new companies until they have been around a while. They do seem great though! Time will tell.

Why can’t we? The guy I know that’s has it on his boat guides and is tremendously hard on his boats and fishes super skinny waters. Tyler is a solid dude, very high QC and I personally trust the product. Trust it way more than the atlas. I will report back after I have had it on my boat a while.

One thing we know for sure is that mocrojackers are a tire fire.

 

[Vinny L]

What’s the purpose of the pop up cleat? I would consider another option personally. They do and will leak at some point. I have seen this way too many times. Some come with a bottom cup and drain tube. But where are you going to drain it in a skiff? Could be a issue down the road especially if installed over floatation foam. You also have to cut a fairly large hole into your deck/core to install it. A folding cleat or smaller hardware would be better long term IMHO if for a casting platform. Plus they are total rattle traps after some time.

I forgot to change that when I posted it. It’s on the build sheet as a fold down. Thank you for pointing that out. 👍

 

[Vinny L]

Why can’t we? The guy I know that’s has it on his boat guides and is tremendously hard on his boats and fishes super skinny waters. Tyler is a solid dude, very high QC and I personally trust the product. Trust it way more than the atlas. I will report back after I have had it on my boat a while.

One thing we know for sure is that mocrojackers are a tire fire.

I emailed Tyler last night. I woke up to his very informative well written response. I’ll discuss this with EC when we go over the final build sheet. I have no problem trying something new.

 

[rovster]

I echo kingfisher regarding the batteries under the seat works well with the shelf on top. Plenty of storage above batteries and leaves the console open and super easy to toss stuff into and access without opening hatches. Super convenient. I also love the Simrad with the knob I’m constantly working the knob when running the glades.

 

[Renegade]

Why can’t we? The guy I know that’s has it on his boat guides and is tremendously hard on his boats and fishes super skinny waters. Tyler is a solid dude, very high QC and I personally trust the product. Trust it way more than the atlas. I will report back after I have had it on my boat a while.

One thing we know for sure is that mocrojackers are a tire fire.

YOU can. WE (EastCape) cannot.
I have spoken to Tyler as well and we will watch his product closely.

One anecdote about a guy someone else knows is not enough for us to make a product claim to our customers.

Atlas has had some well documented issues with the Micro but for every bad one out there we have sold 100 with no issues. As I said, mine is 11 years old and is just now getting loose in operation. That’s reasonable.

Tyler’s product seems great. Time will tell.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

YOU can. WE (EastCape) cannot.
I have spoken to Tyler as well and we will watch his product closely.

One anecdote about a guy someone else knows is not enough for us to make a product claim to our customers.

Atlas has had some well documented issues with the Micro but for every bad one out there we have sold 100 with no issues. As I said, mine is 11 years old and is just now getting loose in operation. That’s reasonable.

Tyler’s product seems great. Time will tell.

Atlas Micros are turds. I’ve had over 50 skiffs in my shop since I started my pickup installs and about 35-40 had Atlas Micros…every single one was sloppy, broke off the transom, burned up actuators, even the latest one was brand new and sounded like a dying cat even after lubrication. You better keep yours because it must be one of the five good ones! I wouldn’t even install an Atlas Micro on Finnegan’s skiff if he had one…but East Cape and others will still install them knowing they have a historically terrible reliability record? They are just a bad design and many out there with machining tolerances up to 1/4” off! My last client had his break off the transom on the highway and grind off half his prop and part of his compression plate. Not the first and won’t be the last. Y’all have seen the photo, I had the actual East Cape Lostmen in my shop just last week. (Hell no I didn’t mount that compression plate I just trimmed it to even it out after being ground off on the blacktop…haha)