[K3anderson]

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.

This is why no love. People were sold a bill of goods on tunnels drafting 12" more when that's absolute BS.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

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.

But I love cheeseburgers… haha glad to hear there’s some people thst love there tunnel as much as I love mine!

 

[DBBLHaulin'ShotCallin']

I like mine a lot.

 

[j_f]

The green probably saved you a few grand and you can't see it when you're actually using the boat. I'd say that's a win!

 

[SISW]

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!
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Great skiff....

 

[Tx_Whipray]

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

My boat is this color scheme

 

[john1234]

I had an hpxt for awhile and the boat is a fishing machine. Almost poles as shallow as my 16/50 Duracraft! My favorite aspect was during a windy day if you had a bar of soap you could take a bath in the thing!

 

[not2shabby]

It's plenty desirable in the right market. Fishy and functional.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

This is why no love. People were sold a bill of goods on tunnels drafting 12" more when that's absolute BS.
[/QUOT

My boat is this color scheme

the good looks of the owner can easily overcome that, I’m positive 🤣

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

This is why no love. People were sold a bill of goods on tunnels drafting 12" more when that's absolute BS.
[/QUOT

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.

that duracraft you can go ahead and hit what you want without worry other than the lower 😂

 

[Tx_Whipray]

the good looks of the owner can easily overcome that, I’m positive 🤣

obviously you've never met me...

 

[Smackdaddy53]

My boat is this color scheme

I wasn’t hating, just stating someone called this one ugly but the Whip in the same color got all kinds of attention. I’m a function over form kind of guy.

 

[Jason M]

I don't mind the green.

 

[Kirc]

Only HPX I 've been on was a tunnel, absolutely stupid how skinny the thing floated (and ran), with three of us on it. When he sat it down at the first place we stopped i was shocked, wind was pushing us and I didnt see how there was even enough water to float in, crazy.
Stability,...wife and I fished side by side on the bow that day and was never an issue, didnt even think about it...vs another skinny skiff brand I literally didnt do more than put one foot on the gunnel, stopped - I'm done, no thanks I'll pass.
HPXT, wicked lil boat.

 

[citadelmarineservices]

I've been on a few Hpxt and you're description is spot on. If you're running that anywhere other than the gulf I'd say you would hate it though... Rattles the bones and is wet.

 

[Backcountry 16]

That boat will knock out your fillings loose in anything over light chop.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

That boat will knock out your fillings loose in anything over light chop.

You have to drive it. Mine is not wet or rough. Compared to a hull with more bow entry and deadrise it is but I have no issues crossing open bays here running 25 or so and any skiff will get you wet if you quarter chop in the wind just right.

 

[GnarlyD]

Been fishing @Longjohnsenskiff skiff for a few years and have to agree with @Smackdaddy53 and say it’s not wet nor too rough. Maybe compared to a 12 degree skiff but those won’t float or run sub 6”, which is something we do regularly.

Simple trade off.

 

[devrep]

any flat bottom skiff is a bumpy ride in chop and wet in the wrong conditions. you can mitigate it some with tabs and trim but in a nasty chop you're gonna have to deal with it if you want a skiff that goes real shallow. or there are fishing video games for some of you.

 

[35spline]

I have been running a 2002 hpxt for the last 12 years with only one complaint. This boat is really slow compared to the Maverick "s" or "v" hull. The strength of the tunnel is for shallow water but really kind of sucks on long runs over deeper water. The solution might be figuring out how to vent the tunnel with a on/off valve like some boat builders (East cape, Newwater, etc) have done. Has anybody ever heard or thought of doing this to a perfectly good tunnel hull boat?