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. An unexpected twist was a Lithium 18 showing up to the party for a side by side comparison. It was a full on Walker vs. Morejohn battle royal! Wait, that’s a bit much...
It’s been a while since I’ve done any unReviews. What follows are my thoughts on two similar yet unique 18’ skiffs designed by what I would argue are the two most influential skiff designers of our time, according to the internet.
Presidents Day weekend is my annual father-son camping trip. Good food cooked poorly over a campfire. Nature as your alarm clock, and hours casting at trophy snook and trout that wouldn’t bite. Causing me to say things under my breath that would make a sailor blush. “What was that Dad?” nothing son… just contemplating the beauty of our surroundings.
This year we decided to camp on a spoil island on the Indian River Lagoon near Ft. Pierce. We’ve camped on these islands in the past and it’s a great time. Spoil Island camping is one of those unique experiences that repurposes a by-product of progress (dredging to create boating and commerce lanes) and turns them into small ecological jewels. I would encourage a look at [http://spoilislandproject.org] for more information and resources for your next camping trip.
A few weeks before our trip I rang Mel from Salt Marsh/Ankona to see if he had time for me to check out the newly released Heron 18. Afternoons on the IRL can be slow for fishing and this would be a great opportunity to break up the doldrums. Mel, as always, was accommodating and on this occasion had a bit of a surprise up his sleeve.
Mel rang my phone while my son and I were plugging shorelines in a futile attempt to chase down spooky fish. Since we were close to the boat ramp, we waited for him. He dropped the Heron 18 into the water and idled over.
My initial impression was “Wow, Mel went off and built himself a flats boat!”
A bit of perspective here. When asked about his philosophy for boat building Mel’s principals have always been straight forward. Build affordable, quality skiffs, period. Note “skiff”, not Blockbuster Hollywood budget flat$ boats with more bling than a Nelly concert. The unique selling proposition of a skiff is ease—ease of use, ease of affordability, ease of cleaning and general ease to live with.
To illustrate this, consider the following. It’s no secret that I own a 1996 Scout 192. It’s not a skiff, not a flats boat or bay boat. It was originally designed to be a hybrid flats/bay boat. It is a boat that does everything well but no one thing exceptional. Comfortable for long runs across a bay but heavy due to a 54 gallons of fuel. Another byproduct of the weight is the thought of trying to pole the beast leaves my back quivering. Sometimes it won’t go shallow enough due to limitation of the trolling motor. Finally, because of how I store the boat and what I remove while not in use it makes spur of the moment decisions to just go fishing or boating complex. A ‘skiff’ by comparison is a boat that doesn’t require a committee decision to get out on the water.
Thus my surprise at the size of the Heron 18. From a distance the Heron looked much larger than any current Walker design. As he closed in though, it became clear that perceptions at distance are not reality up close. Some may carelessly characterize the Heron 18 as a longer version of the current Heron 16. This is not the case. Important lesson for those who make snap judgements based on pictures on an online forum.
The profile looking towards the bow is wide and stable, however, slide around to the stern and the Heron narrows to a profile of a technical poling skiff with a rounded transom. In effect, the Heron has broad shoulders and narrow hips (and a round bottom-‘transom’). The widest point is under the front bulkhead. This shifts inherent stability to the anglers on the bow. With additional wetted surface under the angler’s feet, any change in stance has a lessoned effect on the person manning the platform. Important factor for anyone who becomes fatigued chasing their anglers every move to remain balanced.
After the obligatory “hellos” Mel dropped a surprise. “You’re getting a two-for-one today. Geno Baker has the preproduction Lithium 18 on the way.” Wow! How many time do you get the chance to step off one boat and right onto another then run, pole and compare each under the exact same condition and variables? Two similar yet different boats designed and built by very different people, yet targeted to the same use. There was no way I would pass this opportunity up.
With the Lithium still on its way, my son lowered the Power Pole on the Scout and we all climbed aboard the Heron 18. I always enjoy spending time with Mel. No hyperbole, no bravado or showman ship just simple down to earth; here is what it is. As we poled along into the shallowest water I could find Mel took time to describe the Heron 18 and why it was a two year labor to get it to this point.
High tech CAD designs, fluid dynamic simulations and 3D cut plugs are nice. Possibly a more profitable way to shorten time to market. Yet in my opinion something is lost in the translation of bits and bytes to wetted surface. Some of the most beautiful timeless cars were designed with nothing more than an idea on a bar napkin and a slide ruler. Imagination and perseverance were the computers of the day. Sandpaper was the keyboard. Surfaces were dreamed then brought to life through hours of sculpting. This imbued a sole into the car. How many skiffs today have the hand of the designer run over every surface feeling how the water would caress the shape? Something one simply can not do with the cold digital X,Y coordinates of a piece of software.
Mel is an old-school kind of builder. Don’t get me wrong, he embraces new technologies and processes where they make sense, such as the use of carbon and kevlar or latest hinges. Yet, he leaves to manual labor things like sculpting the running surface, and taking time to run the plug on the water. He then brings it back to the shop to cut, shape and change his design before any attempt to finalize a mold for production. This process is slow and arguably, a less profitable way to make a new boat. Yet somehow the final product is more satisfying in an intangible way.
I spent time poking my head into every possible hatch and space that would allow. Fit, finish and layout exceed every expectation I have for a skiff. Over the years I have seen constant improvement with the Ankona and now Salt Marsh lines. Any argument over fit, finish and value with current products are null in my opinion. An argument to avoid one of their skiffs for perceived lack in finish are simply a hubristic way to piss away hard earned money.
There are three large dry storage hatches in the stern with the center one plumbed as a live well. A hatch access to the center console to inspect wiring and battery. Front hatch shares space with fuel a tank but doesn’t hinder usable space for safety or tackle storage. Looking under the gunwale at the rod storage lay out everything as expected with accessible being paramount, though not without room for changes.
Rod storage was ample but I would want larger diameter rod tubes to accommodate the rod eyes on my larger shark/tarpon rods. Positioning of the rod holders is infinitely variable so anyone with a Zebco click spinner to a 9 foot fly rod will have space.
While we are on the topic of rod storage, I like stand up storage via vertical rod holders on a center console. Lots of them! Unfortunately, on the Heron 18 Mel had to review the port side of the console is also where the access hatch was. When asked Mel said it can easily be moved to the front side of the console if so desired.
“SHILL, HE’S A SHILL” you must be screaming at your computer by now. Relax Francis and keep reading.
