SOLO SKIFF PROGRESS THREAD
 

** ADMIN PLEASE MOVE TO GENERAL DISCUSSION IF NEEDED **

I want to purchase a Solo skiff, but am wondering how we go about that since this whole COVID-19 has every non-essential business closed.

Can you PM me and we can chat. I have a few questions as well.

:cheers1::cheers1:

Deposit placed with Brent at OEX MB, supporting our local businesses!! All accessories being ordered through them as well!

Cant wait for that skiff life!!

Post progress. Need motivation


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Manufactured In the ATL.
 

Will do. Right now I put 1k down for a Seafoam, Brent is waiting for his shipment of 5 skiffs to arrive. COVID as you know has slowed down the freight process, so hoping middle of May.

I will post pics of all my progress. Theres like 4 of us converting from Hobie to Solos, we plan to smash out all over the coast and even out to the 9 on nicer days.

FB Page- West Coast Skiff has a few local So Cal dudes already.

Accessories in mind:

Lowrance Hook 5 Reveal
50" H-rails
H-Rail FF mount
H-Rail universal mount for transducer mount
Hobie H-rail rod holders 2x
Solo front hatch bait tank conversion
Custom low profile bass boat seat on 360 swivel
2020 Tohatsu 6hp 4stroke external tank option
Beach wheels

That's it for now.

Marine deck will have to wait. Wifey cut funds off after that. Hahaha

Nevermind, OEX MissionBay came through.
 

Making it rain! I like the accessories you got so far. Hopefully things arrive sooner then later.


Awhile back I sold the pa and tried the waverunner thing for a bit. It wasn’t the same fishing off of. I didn’t use it nearly as much. I will say it was fun just smashing around when I got tired of fishing. But I didn’t get the same relaxing experience I received from a day of kayak fishing. Looking to get Into another pa once this blows over. Been rigging an oasis in the meantime.


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Trumps monies and the OB selling paid for 2600, so I'm 2k in the hole, not bad.

Tried calling all the OEX locations and the number on kayakfishingsupplies.com but couldn’t get through. Could you pm me the number you were able to get through on?

PM sent.

OEX is closed so give whichever location time to respond to your voicemail or email, i believe they are all still taking online orders.

:cheers1:

Thanks for the pm, got the number. Ended up placing the order online. Not for a solo skiff just small stuff. When are you getting your new rig?

Brent is not sure due to all the Shipping issues COVID has caused, hopefully no later then the 2nd week of May. Might order motor now and break her in. Just built the stand on sunday, cost $20.

What the purchasing of one? It actually isnt, once I spoke to Brent, laid down my deposit, and wait for it to be shipped. These are MTO (made to order) unless there is excesss inventory at OEX, which usually not.

360 quick release seat swivel
 

I just received this from Bass Pro Shop and it seems to be very sturdy and the best part is its all ABYC Class B rated plastic so no rust. I will be adding some form of additional backing on top of the center hatch to stop any sort of flex. I'm not sure what i'm going to use yet, but it will be 1/4"-1/2" thickness.

This with the low profile seat will help keep my center of gravity as close to stock as possible.

Super rad, I like the idea a lot.



I’ve seen a few on the beach at La Jolla but have always wondered what the launch and more importantly the landing look like. If the surf picks up do you have to come in backwards like a PA? Head over to mission bay?

Got my seat and 360 swivel. All I gotta say is this things bad ass! Super low profile, solidly built, and very comfortable, not to mention $50 and 6 year warranty on fabric.

Keep it coming man! I’m slowly getting a new to me oasis setup for the kid and I to fish. Or myself solo until I get another PA.


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Keep the updates coming. I talked to Brent this morning and put in my deposit, so I'm on that waiting list for the Solo Skiff shipment.

Lowrance New Hook 7 reveal edition
 

Lowrance has a rebate on their TI and new Hook Reveal. I went with the Reveal 7" for basically $279 after rebate CC. That's shipped to my door. If you register to their website u get an additional 5% off, hints the $379 after tax, free shipping.

I dont need side scan nor the lake maps, this can e with GPS, chirp and reveal down scan.

Placing order for motor tomorrow.

I like this thread, Look forward to continued updates as you progress. I would recommend getting the largest-sized beach wheels for hauling it. Any place to get H-rail other than ordering for premium prices via Hobie?

John-

OEX who's runa this page is a Hobie dealer, so I ordered through them, and yes I got the Malone 250lb beach cart!! :cheers1:

Hows the Florida life? I see quite a bit of Blackfin showing up on FB.

Hi Nick, GTK, Apologies if any of my comments have been inappropriate. I did not realize Malones 12" wheels had a 250lb capacity.

Life in Florida is a lot less expensive than California, but having spent the first 40yrs of my life in SoCal, there are still some things I miss. Fishing wise, this is the best time of year. Recently set a Personal Best limit of King Mackerel 42 and 29lbs respectively I am loving this thread, I look forward to seeing the final results, of the skiff, and the future catches you make with it! :cheers1:

Fish Finder Install
 

For those that have a Solo Skiff:

It looks like it is through hull installation for the transducer.

Is that true?

How is fish finder performance when under power?

Anyone have side scan working on one of these?

Solo Skiff Transducer
 

I've run my transducer through the forward cooler/bait tank scupper using a rubber stopper to enable the cooler to be used as dry storage. Bait tank is old school with the pump located off the rear grab bar...

Attachment 26411

JB

Lowrance Hook 7 reveal came today. Cant wait to mess with new Genesis mapping feature.

https://www.genesismaps.com

And this happened over the weekend, Solo Skiff cart. Adding plywood to bottom for added storage. Saw Cresent Kayak FB story showing a ton of solo skiffs, should be coming in a few weeks.

:cheers1:

Tohatsu 6hp 4 stroke short shaft w/ external tank.

She so pretttttttttae!

Oh yea these Malone wheels are legit. Each wheel is 13" tall while the cart is over 3' wide. 2 Tow straps secured to the frame and a kick stand.

Solo will glide across sand with these.

Two thumbs up on quality.

:cheers1:

Wheels look beastly!! Might wanna get a trash can full of water a 12 pack and break that motor in while you wait. Got the time to do it right might as well start playing with it.


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That's my plan this weekend! Haha

Although I'm not that antsy with this red tide and all, the days are counting down! Hopefully 27th is still the date. :confused::confused:

Nice! Those wheels are sick and the motor is pretty.

My Tohatsu 6 hp came today also and already added the oil and plan on starting it tomorrow, I'll be using a tall plastic kitchen trash can full of rain water that I used to used to rinse my reels. Have just about all the mounts and accessories to install once the Solo is in.

Its going to be a blast mashing out to the 9 with 5 or 6 of us. There's a group from Nor Cal that come down in Oct for a few days. They go out to the 9 as well. I saw MikeyLIkesIt smashed out last week and nailed some monster Bonitos in that dirty water. Cant wait for this summer, hell and this Bug season, new options to explore.

Cool read guys
If you're going to run the OB's in a trash can for extended periods, keep an eye on the water temp. It will get warm. Too warm? Not sure but keep an eye on it.

if you are going to run the outboard you are better off getting the hose fitting for the intake and keep running cool water through the engine instead of using the trash can method, that was you keep cool fresh water running through the engine

It is my understanding that's only to flush the motor and the engine shouldn't be started per manual. I did however order the adapter so i can flush the engine after every use especially those late night buggin trips, im sure my neighbors will be happy.

This is really the only safe way to do the initial 10min break-in. The additional break-in period will be done in the big bay with a bait tank full of chovies slow trolling for butts.

:cheers1::cheers1:

back in the day when I used to build engines we always went by the mantra of break it in as you drive it and how you drive it. In the old days engines did have to be broken in by certain standards but today most manufacturers test run engines before they send them out and run them long enough for the initial break in.

It takes way longer than the 10-15 minutes of mostly idling the engine to make the water temp in the trash can get high enough to worry about. When I ran mine I checked the water temp in the trash can which was mostly full of rain water as well as the water outlet on the engine. that allowed me to see how warm the engine temp was getting and was surprised it only got warm after a minutes of running. Those little 6hp 4 strokes sound so nice and at idle they are so quiet. It's going to be great to be able to slow troll at a fast idle and have the right kind of action on the jig and not be disturbed by a loud engine. So SWEET I can't wait. As soon as the Solo shipment comes in, I'll be busy for a few days rigging. I already have almost everything I intend to install combinations of the electronics I use on my Hobie Revo 13 and the Rocket Launcher Rod holder I love that have been used on several of my kayaks, my Lowrance 7TI downscan FF, plumb the live well and instal a couple extra hatches, gear tracks and rod holder mounts, rod holders, seat and the decking mat than I have to cut to the fit I want. I love this project and it going to be a blast to use when finished.

How dependable are those Tohatsu outboards?

Anyone have one for any length of time?

One engine on a very small boat.

Paddling home from 10 miles out would suck or be impossible depending on the conditions.

Are you planning on getting a trailer?

It’s really simple. You got a boat. You buy sea tow. Suck it up and do it. Just like AAA. Not as fast but one use will cover a few years of payments.


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Epirb and Tow assist for sure! But these little Tohatsu are as sold as it gets, as long as you're not slacking on your maintenance, such as flushing after every use, burning the fuel out of the carb, following break-in diagram correctly, etc.

Actually just installed this Tachometer which shows RPMs and tracks hours, super easy install, no fusing wires or any of that, simple 4x wraps around the spark plug wire and your done.

https://youtu.be/ICv3AeeSZ00

Also added this attachment to make the flushing easier after late nights of lobster hooping.

:lobster::lobster::lobster:

And cart is fully completed and 100% functional!

That's my buddies OB, newer model (rudder system sucks). I had to get out on the water somehow and he came through. Tons of Spottie action Sunday in the big bay but no Halibuts wanted to play.