[Smackdaddy53]

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?

There is no reason to vent the tunnel, the shape is not conducive to this and unnecessary. I run mine inshore, offshore, across open bay with no issue. Maybe you need to try some different props.

 

[35spline]

There is no reason to vent the tunnel, the shape is not conducive to this and unnecessary. I run mine inshore, offshore, across open bay with no issue. Maybe you need to try some different props.

While researching this I came upon a post from 2017 where you said.

"I beg to differ as always...I’m about to vent mine. It’s not a gimmick at all, it’s physics. It has less to do with hole shot and more for top end gains. Why do you think non tunnel hulls run faster with less horsepower than the exact same hull with a tunnel and more horsepower? The tunnel sucks the stern down as water moves upward causing a loss in speed and efficiency. The vent cancels some of this suction out by equalizing the pressure."
post # 16 tunnel hulls explination

What made you change your mind? Do you think it is just the unique shape and design of the Maverick tunnel that makes it a no go?

 

[Smackdaddy53]

While researching this I came upon a post from 2017 where you said.

"I beg to differ as always...I’m about to vent mine. It’s not a gimmick at all, it’s physics. It has less to do with hole shot and more for top end gains. Why do you think non tunnel hulls run faster with less horsepower than the exact same hull with a tunnel and more horsepower? The tunnel sucks the stern down as water moves upward causing a loss in speed and efficiency. The vent cancels some of this suction out by equalizing the pressure."
post # 16 tunnel hulls explination

What made you change your mind? Do you think it is just the unique shape and design of the Maverick tunnel that makes it a no go?

I hadn’t had the boat very long at that time and after running it more changed my mind. I looked into it pretty extensively and decided it was not necessary once I got my pickup system installed and ran it jacked up where it would normally be overheating from ingesting air while running across This post of mine you quoted was right before I fabricated and installed the prototype pickup system.
You can do what you want, I won’t say it’s a “no go” but just don’t think a vent is necessary on this tunnel design. The transition from the hull to tunnel on the HPX-T is gradual and curved, not a sharper transition like other tunnels that accept a vent system. The tunnel is actually very efficient as it has more curves and is wider and shallower than other tunnels. I’ve run the Chittum vented tunnel and it’s dialed in but a totally different tunnel than the HPX-T.
I’m just stating my opinion for whatever it is worth.

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

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.

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?

What kinda of numbers are you seeing for speed? The hpxV I ran was a top speed of 36-37 with the 70 Yamaha and mine is just under 33-34ish but I always attributed that to the 4 blade

 

[35spline]

What kinda of numbers are you seeing for speed? The hpxV I ran was a top speed of 36-37 with the 70 Yamaha and mine is just under 33-34ish but I always attributed that to the 4 blade

I can get 36 mph all day in freshwater, sometimes 38 but it starts to porpoise. This is with a Yamaha 90hp 2 stroke and a PT SWW3 14p one hole from the highest possible position on the transom. The same prop with a Yamaha 70 2 stroke was 33-34 mph. I really didn't gain much by switching to the 90hp motor except my cruze speed is really good at 32mph at 4300 rpm. I believe I am slightly over propped as I can only get to 5200-5300 rpm with the 90hp and only 5700 with the 70hp. I don't understand how I am going 32mph at 4300rpm and only pick up 4 or so mph going 1000 rpm higher?

 

[Longjohnsenskiff]

I can get 36 mph all day in freshwater, sometimes 38 but it starts to porpoise. This is with a Yamaha 90hp 2 stroke and a PT SWW3 14p one hole from the highest possible position on the transom. The same prop with a Yamaha 70 2 stroke was 33-34 mph. I really didn't gain much by switching to the 90hp motor except my cruze speed is really good at 32mph at 4300 rpm. I believe I am slightly over propped as I can only get to 5200-5300 rpm with the 90hp and only 5700 with the 70hp. I don't understand how I am going 32mph at 4300rpm and only pick up 4 or so mph going 1000 rpm higher?

Yeah that has to be prop related, my buddy switched his spyder from a 70 to 90 and gained like 8mph

 

[Mav17T]

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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I love my 2014, runs shallow and dry as a bone in these shallow, rocky Homosassa waters. Went from a Pathfinder 17T for 12 years, to a 2008 RF16 and after 17 months and a lower unit, terrible boat for my waters.

 

[Backlasher]

I love my 2014, runs shallow and dry as a bone in these shallow, rocky Homosassa waters. Went from a Pathfinder 17T for 12 years, to a 2008 RF16 and after 17 months and a lower unit, terrible boat for my waters.

I too had a Pathfinder 17T before I bought the HPXT back in 2013. Now that boat (P17T) is a challenge to run in any chop and breeze. I could get around some of the issues by running one tab down and having the boat run on one chine but was not fun in the open bays.

I have played around with the tabs and jackplate/trim and believe I can get a decent ride in most conditions I find myself in - not too wet or rough, particularly compared to the P17T.

That said I was running the boat in the middle Texas coast where it was perfect for what I needed. I just moved to central Florida so will venture out soon and see how the HPXT performs in these parts.

I have looked around at other boats but have been completely content with what I have.

 

[TX_maverick]

HPXT isn't a sipping coffee while running boat, but I wouldn't consider it rough riding or very wet if you know how to run the boat.

 

[Nate38]

tunnel

 

[BDann]

I fish pretty regularly out of an hpxt and it is an impressive skiff. I ended up buying a waterman tunnel, but would have bought an hpxt if it there was one available at the time. It does float more shallow than my hb and I think it gets on plane in less water. It does slide in the turns, but that is no big deal. Perfect skiff for the area I fish.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

I fish pretty regularly out of an hpxt and it is an impressive skiff. I ended up buying a waterman tunnel, but would have bought an hpxt if it there was one available at the time. It does float more shallow than my hb and I think it gets on plane in less water. It does slide in the turns, but that is no big deal. Perfect skiff for the area I fish.

I love mine

 

[hipshot]

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

One thing I’ve learned in a lifetime of boating is that knowing your boat and how to run it can make a huge difference. That knowledge and ability can compensate for some differences in hull design and characteristics. I’ve been with Mac in his HPX-T on a day in Espiritu Santo Bay that was windy enough to make fly casting a challenge. The water was pretty lumpy crossing the bay, but the ride was soft and dry enough that we were not at all uncomfortable. It was doubtless much softer than someone unused to that boat would have experienced operating that boat at that speed in those conditions. Every handling characteristic of a boat is a tradeoff; enhancing one quality will generally detract from one or more other qualities. But some of that can be overcome by knowing the boat’s characteristics and skilled operation.

 

[rovster]

One thing I’ve learned in a lifetime of boating is that knowing your boat and how to run it can make a huge difference. That knowledge and ability can compensate for some differences in hull design and characteristics. I’ve been with Mac in his HPX-T on a day in Espiritu Santo Bay that was windy enough to make fly casting a challenge. The water was pretty lumpy crossing the bay, but the ride was soft and dry enough that we were not at all uncomfortable. It was doubtless much softer than someone unused to that boat would have experienced operating that boat at that speed in those conditions. Every handling characteristic of a boat is a tradeoff; enhancing one quality will generally detract from one or more other qualities. But some of that can be overcome by knowing the boat’s characteristics and skilled operation.

This is true. For example with my dads Carolina skiff, which is a boat with a reputation to shake your fillings loose, my wife hates when my dad drives and insist I drive. The difference is my dad is not savvy with the trim and speed whereas I adjust the trim and speed to the conditions. Not saying it rides like a Freeman when I’m driving but it’s pretty remarkable the difference it makes with knowing how to run the boat in different conditions.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

One thing I’ve learned in a lifetime of boating is that knowing your boat and how to run it can make a huge difference. That knowledge and ability can compensate for some differences in hull design and characteristics. I’ve been with Mac in his HPX-T on a day in Espiritu Santo Bay that was windy enough to make fly casting a challenge. The water was pretty lumpy crossing the bay, but the ride was soft and dry enough that we were not at all uncomfortable. It was doubtless much softer than someone unused to that boat would have experienced operating that boat at that speed in those conditions. Every handling characteristic of a boat is a tradeoff; enhancing one quality will generally detract from one or more other qualities. But some of that can be overcome by knowing the boat’s characteristics and skilled operation.

We ran across true 1.5’ chop at 25mph that day, my usual speed in that sort of wind on that particular route. You have to drive these skiffs, you can’t always just tab down and hammer down when it’s choppy. Constant feathering throttle and adjusting the tabs to keep the windy side listing up to keep spray off your shades! We also got our workout in that day pushing her out of that shallow back lake!

 

[CKEAT]

Yea the Chittum LMII is dialed in but I will say it has to be the exact right dimensions. Mine was off 1.25” when I took delivery and it had to be fixed but it’s dialed in now. The super skinny game is niche and takes a fair amount of troubleshooting. The LMII has to be driven as well but it is less sensitive than my pro was.

It is fun to tweak until it’s perfect. It’s like reloading precision ammunition. Good times

 

[CKEAT]

Macs HPX T is dialed in. It’s a great boat as well.

 

[TX_maverick]

I can't ever see getting rid of my HPXT, that boat is a flat out flats fishing machine.

 

[Smackdaddy53]

I can't ever see getting rid of my HPXT, that boat is a flat out flats fishing machine.

It will always be in my stable if I can help it…

 

[MRichardson]

I've never heard anyone say anything improper towards the HPXT. Blasphemous. Must be I'm hanging with the right crowd.