[Longjohnsenskiff]

Second post of the night here, but I guess boredom has the best of me at the moment. I got ahold of my boat in 2018 before the market was just outrageous, I got it on a good trade for my dads old bay boat, and another little skiff I had. But this boat sat for so long… on this website and on market place, the guy had it posted everywhere for months for 17k asking price, a 2000 maverick HPX-T with a 2017 f70 Yamaha (in 2018 remember… it had 120 hours pretty much brand new) and I remember people Just didn’t have the best things to say about it or didn’t seem to have any interest in it. This is in a time where a hpx-V of any sort was getting scooped up in a day or two for 30-35k same with hells bay, and all the others even in a market that was less aggressive, would go for 30k+ all day as long as it was re-powered and getting sucked right up. Now that number is 45-50 but you get the point, my boat couldn’t be given away for 15k. She’s Hunter green, a little ugly, missing the hardware on two hatches, and has two grampa rod holders drilled in it. She’s got a little love on the nose a couple decent repairs……… let me tell you this is the best skinny water boat I have ever been on, it is just ridiculous in every way other than steering. But even that, if you’re being responsible it isn’t an issue at all, slow down a bit around the corners but I ran a hpx-v for 3 years have been on hells bays, an evo x multiple times, beaver tail mosquitoes multiple times. And let me tell you those boat are all amazing and have a slightly softer ride, maybe a hair dryer and they all take corners better. I also know the fit an finish is beautiful, but mine does everything those do, just shallower. The only full-size skiff I have personally been on that is truly a 5-5.5 inch boat. Poles and tracks like a dream, gets on a plane in literally 14-16”. Let me know what you’ve heard negative about the hpxTunnel? And I’m not just bragging I do hope that if you’re a true skinny water fisherman, that if you had a chance to pick one of these up significantly less than a v model, that you’d jump on that and certainly be happy!!!! and I totally understand that some anglers in certain places have no need for that extra couple inches less draft, but the confidence to stay deep in creeks and inside bars longer gives me the ability to catch more fish I’m not necessarily catching these fish in 5” but I do very very often cross a true 6” or jump out and do a true 4” to shove it over the bar on foot and jump back in. All in all I love my maverick tunnel, and if you ever have the opportunity to fish on one you should! The web says it weighs 750+ just like the new ones but I can lift the back on my own which is wild. If you read through all this BS thanks! Let me know what you think. I love my boat!!
Btw she’s wasn’t even clean in the pictures!

 

[Smackdaddy53]

I love mine

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I love mine

It’s like microskiff meets Tokyo drift

 

[DuckNut]

That is one ugly boat.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

That is one ugly boat.

There was a whipray the same color post in the classifieds a couple of weeks ago and dudes were losing their minds over it.

 

[Jason M]

Who cares what others think, it sounds like it's a great boat for you.

Get some repair done if your worried and keep fishing.

 

[Bruce J]

I’ve had two HPXTs over 20 years. Great boats. They run super, super skinny if that is important to you like it is for us in Texas. They’re extremely stable given the relatively flat hull. I didn’t appreciate that as much till being in a friend’s boat recently which was so tender that we had to coordinate any move on the boat to keep from tossing the other off balance. They don’t ride as soft as an HPXV or S, but it’s fine for me. Tab the bow down some when heading into a chop, and it makes a big difference. It will slide some in a turn, but that can be really minimized with good use of tabs, trim and speed.

 

[7WT]

Sounds great and exactly why I love my B2

 

[TheBetterOffer]

I recently bought a 2000 HPXT w a 100-hour 2 stroke Yamaha 50 and I'm impressed. It truly runs in 4-5" and gets on plane in less than 1' - unbelievably shallow. The flatter, full size hull is stable AND carries a lot of gear without sacrificing much draft. The downside is handling at speed.

 

[TX_maverick]

Love mine. Runs scary shallow and poles effortlessly. Yah green wouldn't be my first choice, but who cares.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I’ve had two HPXTs over 20 years. Great boats. They run super, super skinny if that is important to you like it is for us in Texas. They’re extremely stable given the relatively flat hull. I didn’t appreciate that as much till being in a friend’s boat recently which was so tender that we had to coordinate any move on the boat to keep from tossing the other off balance. They don’t ride as soft as an HPXV or S, but it’s fine for me. Tab the bow down some when heading into a chop, and it makes a big difference. It will slide some in a turn, but that can be really minimized with good use of tabs, trim and speed.

Agreed, thanks for your input sir

 

[devrep]

is this a set up for a soon to be ad in the classified section? seen this happen several times last few months.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

Sounds great and exactly why I love my B2

B2 is another true 5” boat for sure, along with maybe a whipray.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I recently bought a 2000 HPXT w a 100-hour 2 stroke Yamaha 50 and I'm impressed. It truly runs in 4-5" and gets on plane in less than 1' - unbelievably shallow. The flatter, full size hull is stable AND carries a lot of gear without sacrificing much draft. The downside is handling at speed.

I bet with that 2 stroke 50 it’s just an insanely shallow boat

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

is this a set up for a soon to be ad in the classified section? seen this happen several times last few months.

Quite the opposite, how could I sell my baby for half the price of a 2006 hpx-v, when she does most things better. (I will say when I was typing this about to press send i did think about that) but unfortunately I don’t have an extra 40 grand laying around so if I was able to get 16-18 for mine I still would barely have the money for that new professional I’ve always dreamed about

 

[K3anderson]

I would rather have the tunnel than not, I think. No skiff w/o a tunnel (some say Chittum though) can run near as shallow.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I would rather have the tunnel than not, I think. No skiff w/o a tunnel (some say Chittum though) can run near as shallow.

I always thought the lack of surface area would affect poling draft negatively, but it surely doesn’t seem like it. I say 5-5.5 only because I’m 260 and most of my fishing friends are 200+ and I’m under 6 for sure! Love the ability to run shallow though!

 

[rovster]

I believe the no love comes from the fact that is a very “niche” boat designed for a very specific purpose. For most areas it’s overkill and the trade off in the ride is just not worth it. Sounds like the boat was made for you. For me I would want a boat that does several things well rather than one thing excellent. They are cool for sure, nothing wrong with them👍

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I believe the no love comes from the fact that is a very “niche” boat designed for a very specific purpose. For most areas it’s overkill and the trade off in the ride is just not worth it. Sounds like the boat was made for you. For me I would want a boat that does several things well rather than one thing excellent. They are cool for sure, nothing wrong with them👍

Great response bro, I definitely notice the ride difference on some of the other boats specially the Marquesa blew me away

 

[Smackdaddy53]

I always thought the lack of surface area would affect poling draft negatively, but it surely doesn’t seem like it. I say 5-5.5 only because I’m 260 and most of my fishing friends are 200+ and I’m under 6 for sure! Love the ability to run shallow though!

I’ve done the calculations, you lose maybe 1/8” draft. Pack lighter and go for a salad instead of a cheeseburger now and then. I’m 220 and have had some big boys fish with me no problem. Three biscuit heads over 200 is a bit much to pole but amazingly I can still run the same top end speed by myself or with two passengers.