It’s a completely dif boat. Dif mold. Matecumbe is more rounded in the back, has trim tab pads, different spray rails, different deck, console etc… hulls are similar in the entry bow section but that’s about it honestly.. I have a matecumbe if you ever want to go for a ride let me know it’s an amazing boat in my opinion!! Haven’t been on a Floyd

 

So what motor do you have on it? Couldnt imagine you have a 90 2stroke on it. That yamaha must be sitting in the garage taking up space

 

Ah right on. Thanks for info. I saw some pics but wasn't able to glean all the info from them.

 

I have a new Floyd 10wt (hull # 12) with a Suzuki 90. I have not been on a Matecumbe 18, so the only comparisons I can make here are what I see on their website. Both hull designs were derived from Chris Morejohn's Lithium Project. The Floyd 10wt design has a slightly different look (better IMO, biased, lol) with more design influence from Brian Floyd, and it looks less like the Morejohn Lithium.

The Floyd Skiff Co. 10wt is very well built and has a nice dry ride. It poles easily, and is very quiet with zero hull slap. The quality of construction below the surface (the part you can't see) is just as important to me as what's on the outside. Brian does it right. My guess is, he never wants to see a skiff come back to the shop for warranty repair, and his reputation is top priority! The 10wt is light, but very solid and strong.

From the pictures of the Matecumbe 18 with the Suzuki 90 on their website, it looks like the waterline is at about the same mark on the Matecumbe 18 with no people on board as the waterline mark on the Floyd 10wt with two adults on board. Given that the Floyd 10wt has a flat pad on the keel at the transom, compared to the modified "V" on the keel of the Matecumbe 18 (pic attached), I would estimate the Matecumbe drafts 1.5" to 2" more. Just my totally biased opinion. I love my 10wt!

Matecumbe 18 (V-bottom keel at the transom)

 

I can almost guarantee you with a 90hp on each boat same weight in each boat they draft within a half inch of each other.. that being said I feel the matecumbe rides better softer but prob hard to tell. There both super dry boats for what they are. I think the console on the matecumbe is much better then the one on the Floyd. No starboard door a true custom fiberglass molded door, a big toe kick underneath and a nice big insulated cooler jumpseat!! I honestly feel the matecumbe in person looks better 😂 . But that’s why we bought what we bought.. both great boats and companies

 

I can almost guarantee you with a 90hp on each boat same weight in each boat they draft within a half inch of each other.. that being said I feel the matecumbe rides better softer but prob hard to tell.

It's obvious we both like our choice of skiffs, and the big toe kick looks nice. But your claims are only conjecture, if you've never been on a Floyd 10wt.

 

The difference is tweaks here and there to the hull, as well as completely new deck / hatch configuration that is top notch. Very classy high end finish, as well as top of the line construction methods. If you look at a Matecumbe, it's just much more elegant.

Just an observation, spray rails that run all the way to the back tend to be noisy while poling, it's why HB stopped doing it on their hulls.

Not to bash the Floyd, as it looks like a quality craft, but the interior is basic like every other skiff on the market.



Here are some interior pics of the Matecumbe. You can see all the detail that went into designing the hatches, cockpit and center console.

 

When Brian, Geneo and Chris couldn't figure out how to make the Lithium run right, Geneo took it to Mel to get it right, and that he did. Mel immediately addressed the issues with the hull and improved it drastically. Necessary tweaks here and there to the hull, as well as completely new deck / hatch configuration that is top notch. Very classy high end finish, as well as top of the line construction methods. If you look at a Matecumbe, it's just much more elegant.

I know Brian and crew also hit it hard to address the issues the hull design had, I haven't ridden in one but I assume they took care of it, since they're actually building skiffs now.
Just an observation, spray rails that run all the way to the back tend to be noisy while poling, it's why HB stopped doing it on their hulls.

Not to bash the Floyd, as it looks like a quality craft, but the interior is basic like every other skiff on the market.

The finish looks great on the Matecumbe 18, but other than the toe kick on the console and the shape of the rear hatches, I don't see a difference in the finish or the functionality really. A toe kick like that on my console might make it difficult to fit my two 100ah Lithium Ion trolling motor batteries inside. I'm not sure what you mean about the spray rails all the way back being noisy. If you mean "in sloppy conditions", it looks to me like the Matecumbe spray rails are taller and deeper up front, which I would think could be noisier heading into larger waves. I have never felt ANY spray, and we have stayed completely dry in all wind conditions when running the Floyd 10wt so far. It's unbelievable but true. I think Brian's integrated platform step with fold-up/down backrest is a super feature. The back support is great for long runs, and the ability to get down off the poling tower quickly and safely when needed is awesome! Does the Matecumbe 18 have rod tubes in the back, for rear-direction rod storage? I could't tell in the photos. It's a feature every skiff should have, for an easy grab from the front of the boat.

Not to bash any other skiff companies, but IMO, the Floyd 10wt is priced very reasonable for having the same custom features as other comparable skiffs that cost tens of thousands more $, and the wait time to have your 10wt built is 6 months instead of a year +. That won't last much longer I'm afraid.

 

 

 

What’s the deadrise at the transom on each and what’s the approximate weight of each hull? Also interested on how the ride compares to an HPX 18. I’m sure both are drier than the HPX but more interested in ride quality with the less deadrise.

 

The 18hpx will ride softer (13 degree v 5 degree) but the Floyd will likely have a drier ride with the better integrated spray rails. Not trying to bash Mavericks but those plastic spray rails are such an after thought. The Floyd will draft around 7”. It also features about a 15” flat running pad near the stern. Brian quotes the weight as fully loaded (with full fuel tank) at 1,500 pounds.
I can also tell you that the spray rails extending down the entire side do not make any noise.

I believe there is a gentleman fishing Biscayne Bay quite often in a Floyd 10wt.

 

What prop are you guys running in that suzuki 90? What numbers are you seeing?

 

I don’t have a suk but I kno demo boat is low to mid 40s depending on load not sure what prop. With 115 light I can get 48 best I’ve seen and loaded no matter how heavy honestly 42. To me the weight savings from 90 to 115 don’t make since to go 90 but that’s just me unless 90 Yamaha 2 stroke at 258lbs

 

It’s not a speed boat but plenty fast

 

It’s actually the new tohatsu 115 mfs…I love the motor it’s bad ass honestly better then I thought. Only has the motor about 1 month so haven’t played with a lot of props. I tried the stock 20 pitch 3 blade but could only get 5200 rpm and 43mph by myself 30 gal of fuel. Then I put a 4 blade I had at the house it’s a quicksilver q4 18pitch it’s super fast out of the hole and getting 5600 rpm at about 46mph so far… I did have an etec 115 that I got 48 out of but sold it before warranty ran out

 

So I've reviewed both.

unOfficial unReview - IslaMarine 10wt by Capt. Jan...

'Twas the Saturday before Christmas, when all through the Keys Not a creature was stirring, not even a rat in the trees; The rods were hung by the door with such care, In hopes that Brian and his IslaMarine 10wt soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions...

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unOfficial unReview - Salt Marsh Heron 18 and Lithium 18...

unOfficial unReview - Salt Marsh Heron 18 and Lithium 18 by Capt. Jan ‘Curmudgeon Emeritus’ “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein Recently a perfectly relaxing camping trip was interrupted by an opportunity to inspect the Salt March Heron 18...

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Honestly there isn't a fish in the world that would know the difference between the two.

You can't go wrong with either. If it were my money I'd probably lean towards the Matecumbe. Why? It felt like a slightly bigger skiff.

Floyd is building nice skiffs, no doubt, Get out on both and let us know what you think!

Cheers

 

So I've reviewed both.

Your reviews are always informative and well written Capt. Jan.

 

Brian's weight is probably dead on. He knows his stuff and if you look at build picks he uses very thick foam for all the supports and his molded stringers are huge. Also he has a full cockpit liner. All that adds weight. I have met him and rode on it. Not just seeing picks. I do know if you have never been in a boat with a pad on the hull it can be something to get used to.

Dont know much about the other but I do know they build from start to finish where brian has a company do the glass work and he rigs them. Even though he can fix anything and has proven that it's something to think about.

They are both beautiful designs, and I dont think you could go wrong with either. I look forward to seeing the matecumbe in person. Just my two pennies

 

Brian's weight is probably dead on. He knows his stuff and if you look at build picks he uses very thick foam for all the supports and his molded stringers are huge. Also he has a full cockpit liner. All that adds weight. I have met him and rode on it. Not just seeing picks. I do know if you have never been in a boat with a pad on the hull it can be something to get used to.

Dont know much about the other but I do know they build from start to finish where brian has a company do the glass work and he rigs them. Even though he can fix anything and has proven that it's something to think about.

They are both beautiful designs, and I dont think you could go wrong with either. I look forward to seeing the matecumbe in person. Just my two pennies

Brian originally used a professional fiberglass company to build the hulls, but has been building the entire skiff in house with vacuum resin infusion since December 2020. He hired an experienced infusion specialist to head up his composites team, and the work they do is the best I've seen!

The thick foam supports are covered with laminate, and not saturated with resin like the core in the hull, so they are light. They are dual purpose - foam floatation and very strong supports for the transom and both decks. The stringer grid is the coolest I've seen anywhere - it's hollow, and the walls are just thick enough for super-strength without adding too much weight. What's awesome is that the stringers are not injected with foam, which inherently absorbs water and becomes saturated over time when used below the water line in boat contruction.

 

I don't know anything about Matecumbe, but my limited interaction with Brian Floyd and his wife was very good at Islamarine. I would imagine it's even better when his name is on the hull.

Now that I've had my boat long enough to change batteries, chartplotters, VHF and antenna, etc... no matter the name on the skiff, the next boat I have built will not have a console cooler seat nor rear access to the console. Rather, it will have very large front access to the console or I'm not buying it. I'm too old and out of shape to squeeze my ass between between a console and seat these days to access everything inside a console.

 

Yea I am not sure why more builders don’t do this. It makes so much sense. I am a pretty fit guy and not very old and it’s still a huge pain in the ass to work inside the consoles.

couldn’t agree more

 

I think Floyd is in Titusville now if I’m not mistaken

 

I’m waiting on the Floyd 8wt

 

What would be the main difference between the 10wt and the 8wt? 10wt = 18’ and 8wt = 16’ ?

 

Skippade do da. What lake you running that boat in? SC?

 

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