Not including the engine, right?

The NEW 6 hp Honda was $1900 out the door, the Tahatsu was about $1500 and someone here has a 3.5 used available. Tight Lines.

Well, just got the call - The Solo Skiff delivery will be at OEX next Wednesday the 22nd. I was hoping for this weekend, but it will give me time to make last minute preparations for storage and rigging.
Feeling like a kid waiting for Christmas morning...

DISNEYLAND...................BAJA here we come. I will be in Gonzaga, cannot pick mine up until the 28th. Bummer Kai I guess you get 1st blood. Can't fish mine until the 2nd of April. That gives pleanty of time to get them dialed in right BEFORE Mag Bay.

I don't know, Bob. Just looking at that Skiff, scares the dickens out of me, if caught on open water with some heavy breeze. Hope you guys use a tether and kill switch. I could just see getting knocked off one of those while standing, maybe even sitting. I would imagine those motors will take a lot of abuse, salt spray. Will be interesting to hear your reports on performance.
Even on my motorized trimaran/TI, I get a bit nervous when the wind picks up, hold on tight, getting knocked around, while crossing open water.

The more I read about this skiff, the more I wouldn't choose it as an option for out front.
A Hobie AI with motor mounted (be it smaller), is going to weigh about the same as that Skiff (larger motor). I think I would rather be caught in the open with a trimaran than that skiff, especially Sea of Cortez. You can still do about 6 to 8 miles an hour on the AI, more comfortable seating, safer, additional powering means with sail and pedals. More storage capacity.

Also as a suggestion for a cart. I would check out the C-Tug Sandtrakz. It would just be at the limit of it's suggested max capacity of 176lbs. But you could break down the cart and take with you on the skiff. Would be nice, because then you can just pull the skiff into the water on the cart, release cart and store, on landing, pull out cart and install before landing. I would keep a tether on the cart.

I also like the air cooled Hondas for starting on the beach before pulling the TI into the water, so when the moment is right I can pull the TI forward and jump in/ gun it, especially for heavier surf. NOTE: I leave the cart in place and remove once past the surf. (Sea of Cortez, a non issue)

These Solo Skiffs are pretty neat and have their place.
I can see the fun chasing big fish & exotics. Big bang for the buck.
I can also see dangers of this small craft too!
One could get in serious trouble or in waaaay over ones head very quickly when chit goes south. It's only a matter of time...
Pick your days and be smart when you go out. Set your boat up with ALL THE SAFETY GEAR! The life you save may be your own.
BE SAFE.
$.02

That's all you need to know right there...

This was designed to be a flats / mangrove boat from the start. Not something you would take the the 9 mile bank - though I won't hesitate to take it to La Jolla or off Point Loma on our typical calm days...

live well?
 

Hey Bob, How do you plan on setting up the bait tank? I know your running a 6hp, so the gas can would go where we would usually put the bait tank or do you not plan on using one? I plan on using mine in La Jolla but it looks like a pain right now with the launch closed

So don't buy this for goin to the 9?


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Don't know what Bob's going to do, but here is my plan. The bait tank is already built in and already has a drain, you just need to finish it. All tubing is below deck except where it goes through the rear bulkhead.

http://m3.i.pbase.com/g10/85/360685/...3.LEGCQXNO.jpg

Thanks Baja Traveler! I was wondering how to do a clean install, thats pretty nice! Let me know what pump you decide to use! How do you plan on rigging your FF, I don't really like how the east coast guys run their transducer all the way to the back instead of inhull mounting. just looks messy

My bait tank will be the forward cooler, plumbed by OEX MB. Room for a few greenies or sardines. I am having the BooneDox Landing Gear installed with the Wheeleze Sand tires, yes it is expensive but it will be useable everywhere.

Sculpins, I will reserve answering for saftey sake YOU must know your and your boats limitations. If we are again allowed to fish deep water for REDS, then for me yes the nine might be doable in the Solo Skiff.

On open water I would go SLOWER, and would travel in pairs(buddy boat), and I do plan to chase peligics should they show locally. All safety equiptment MUST be in good condition and COMMON SENSE is essential, if it turns iffy, turn for home. Like my buddy Rossman there are so many fish and I want my fair share so being safe is important. I will be 69 in 3 months and hope to still be fishing well into my 70's.

Again these boats were designed for the flats, and protected water. Please STAY SAFE MY FRIENDS.

How much are they charging for the bait plumbing install?

Unfortunately the only way to mount a transducer is the way they are doing it. Cant shoot through hull because of the foam. Now, a brave person who is not afraid to cut holes in their hull could install a bottom hull pocket to flush mount a transducer - and I just might be the guy to do it, but that is a future project.

Usually if you bought your yak from them you just pay for the materials and the install is little to no cost. It appears to be part of the service. AND they do great work. I could be wrong on the rigging price, so call them. Tight Lines.

I will be that guy hehehe. I just need a little pocket cut out. Oex mentioned that another kayak co had same material foam and he was able to inhull mount by cutting.

thanks both you guys for all the info. last question, will it be possible and easy to beach land the solo like a panga? Motor in on power and lift the outboard up?

Blazian, we will both be returning from our camp in Gonzaga around the 8th of April, at that time I will let you know the answer to your beach landing panga style question. We have the perfect beach infront of the place. BTW you are welcome to join us in camp anytime.

Kai, Blazain we might have to start a TEAM SOLO.

Bob, thank you very much for the invite, I am getting more and more interested in going down. Just got approved for Sentri, just wish my truck was 4x4.:( Also if you can make a video of the beach landing! that is probably the most important thing to me, I don't like paddling/landing my PA14 in surf. Hope the Solo can take care of surf landing

If you buy your yak from OEX and what you want them to install the rigging is usually FREE unless you have something really involved. For instance I want them to install a forward hatch, bait system, Hobie H rails, and my FishFinder. The hatch, bait system and Hobie rails will be free because I bought from them, the F/F install will cost as I bought it elsewhere. SWEET DEAL.

Hoping to finish this one tomorrow for customer pick up on Sunday.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7081.JPG

NICE, clean installation. What size round hatch did you use and did you mount the pump on the transom. Thanks Andy. My bait system will be done by OEX MB after the BooneDox landing gear arrive. These are gonna be a great platform.

Bob,

That is a 6" deck plate. I wish the channel in the center of keel was a little wider to fit strainer in. Trying to figure out how to mount it in the center opening toward the very front of it, thru hull.

Thanks Andy, please post pictures when you figure it out. I leave for Baja tonight so will not be able to get mine done till I get back in a week. Tight Lines, and sell lot's.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7096.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7097.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7094.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7095.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7109.JPG

Great job Andy. How do you drain it? Is that PVC stub inside removable? And where does the drained and overflow water go?

The downspout is removed from the base to drain, there is a built in drainhole that I utilized.

not sure if the impeller will be sitting below the water line, so the 90 pointing forward will be a pick up tube, will test it in the water tomorrow morning.

tube can be cut if it sits too full and sloshes out. Any water over the top will just run down the deck and right off the stern.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...a/500/solo.jpg

Very elegant solution Andy, Can you pass the info along to OEX MB and please have them order the parts as I leave for Baja in 12 hours and hopefully everything will be in for my rigging when I return on the 9th. Thank you and your team for this AWESOME design.

Andy, Is there a reason why the pump cant be installed in the bow hatch right in front of the livewell? easier access to the pump?

I wanted to see how it would be riding, so scanned for images and think you would lose prime under way that far forward for sure.

http://img.youtube.com/vi/Vlo9G4nu18w/mqdefault.jpg

I put it in the water this morning and tested it. The impeller sits below the water line so the pick up tube was not even needed. Even with the long length of 3/4 inch tubing it ran really well with the 6 volt battery, not a big change in height from impeller to aerator head. I think this will be a ton of fun and hope to have a demo at my disposal some day. :D

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...0/IMG_7110.JPG

I see! thanks for the explanation. I will have to get that done as well.:)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CbMDrn1iTGc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

SOLO Rigging
 

Dropped off my Solo for rigging this morning at OEX MB, you can see it Saturday at the Tournament as it will be there.
They will be installing the bait system, Hobie H-rails, Hook 5 F/F and the BooneDox landing gear. Can't wait to get it back to Baja. After tournament on Saturday I load up and head out to Gonzaga EARLY Sunday morning. Tight Lines.

I though this was a kayak forum:paddleersmilie:!





JK.... I'm just jealous because I don't have one.

From what I saw, they paddled a lot last week. We can let em in.

I paddled mine a couple hundred yards BEFORE I started the engine. It is not fast to paddle, but it works just fine. First two hours with the motor the wind was blowing 10-15 with that short Baja swell. Stable in the swell below 5 mph, but if you put it on plane you had to watch what you were doing. This will be a great fishing platform specially for the flyfishermen. There were cobble stones covering the beach so no panga style landings for me this trip.

I already sent a message to the webmaster that we will probably need a Solo Skiff subforum so we don't annoy all the paddlers with our Solo banter.

As more of these get sold, the more posts that will be made and it will eventually dilute the kayaking posts...

Yea, I paddled mine ALOT last weekend. Sometimes I'm too smart for my own good and end up doing stupid things. I was convinced Avgas was the dream solution to gummed up carb parts, but the motor just cannot handle the high octane and eventually vapor locks. Then when I drained the tanks and switched out to auto gas, the loose nut behind the wheel managed to switch the lever from external tank to internal and the motor wouldn't run (because the internal tank was empty). Once Bob pointed that out I got it running fine - but it was victory at sea with the wind...