Friend has a nice Hellsbay skiff with a 2011 60 horse Evinrude for sale. Located in POC. Can be seen at Park and Madison. 20k. Won't last long. Light use has other boats n friends with boats. Three six one 5 five 0 nine 5 three 0

Your sure about that? 2011 Waterman is a fantastic boat and that sounds too good to be true.

RickSawyer said:

---

Your sure about that? 2011 Waterman is a fantastic boat and that sounds too good to be true.

---

This.

A 2011 Waterman is usually going for at least 50% higher. I don't want to screw anybody out of a deal but not would I want to see your buddy lose money. A dude on MicroSkiff.com has his 2001 Waterman that was refurbished on block for $33K and he'll likely get it.

My guess is newer power older hull? Price is very reasonable (not many 20k hells bays for sale out there).

It's not this one is it?
https://austin.craigslist.org/boa/d/2008-gordon-hells-bay/6203433373.html

Can someone explain why these little boats are so expensive? Small outboards, small boats, small trailers...why the big price? These things just look so small and simple I don't understand why they are so expensive. They don't really even have any great/special accessories. I just don't see the value or justification of the cost there (obviously). Is it just pure supply and demand?

A car analogy may or may not help...

Why does a lot of sports cars cost more than a pickup truck?

Small, light, nimble poling skiffs are like sports cars. Some of the best handling sports cars (Lotus Elise, or Porche Caimen) don't have huge horsepower but are insanely maneuverable making them very quick around a track. Making things light yet durable is not cheap or easy. There are budget skiffs out there (the likes of Ankona) just like there are budget cars in the same vein (miata).

The prototypical Texas tunel bay boat (let's say 21-24 fter with a 150-250 hp engine) is very similar to a pickup truck. Lots of power and great for hauling lots of people and stuff to places and not getting stuck. Tunnels are sorta like 4X4, they'll get you alot of places and if you stick them you're very stuck. Not very fast, refined, or nimble.

Edit to add: forgot that Chris Morejohn (one of the founders of hells bay) did a breakdown on the costs to build a top of the line poling skiff these days. Scroll to the bottom. http://chrismorejohn.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-cost-of-building-custom-lithium.html?m=1

Yes Rick and Finn I am sure about the price. I said it was a2011 motor. The hull is a 2002 model built in 2001. It's still a very good deal. Can't even post a good deal without esoteric pontificating from the skiff crowd but it is what they do, no? Feel free to offer more. Freaking internet wannabes.

No Salt not that one.

TheGroupGuy said:

---

Yes Rick and Finn I am sure about the price. I said it was a2011 motor. The hull is a 2002 model built in 2001. It's still a very good deal. Can't even post a good deal without esoteric pontificating from the skiff crowd but it is what they do, no? Feel free to offer more. Freaking internet wannabes.

---

Got your jimmies rustled a bit there huh?

No Charlie some folks talk about fishing and boats others just fish. Someone will get a great deal here. Go troll the general board

Hell's Bays ARE the quintessential poling skiff. Kinda like the Yeti, why should a cooler cost that much, well, it just does. Having a Hell's Bay among Fly Guys is kinda like having a trophy wife, just makes you feel good to know you have something EVERYONE else wants, you may not need it or use it, but you have it. The sports car analogy is a good one, and they just work. If you have a HB, you have arrived!

TheGroupGuy said:

---

Yes Rick and Finn I am sure about the price. I said it was a2011 motor. The hull is a 2002 model built in 2001. It's still a very good deal. Can't even post a good deal without esoteric pontificating from the skiff crowd but it is what they do, no? Feel free to offer more. Freaking internet wannabes.

---

Well this freaking internet wannabe helped sell your buddies boat... maybe hold your tongue a bit next time and don't be so quick to be an *******. I sent the posting to my friend Raul who is going down to buy the boat (should visual inspection look okay).

Maybe chill out a bit. It is a great deal, even for a 2001 hull! I paid a little bit more for my 2007 with a 2016 Suzuki 60hp and that was a smokin' deal by all accounts.

I think maybe you should relax a bit. I am sorry to hear that the owner's arthritis is the ultimate cause to make him hang up the push pole but appreciate his pricing to share the passion with others.

There is no esoteric pontificating here. Lose the 'tude dude.

-Rick

TheGroupGuy said:

---

No Charlie some folks talk about fishing and boats others just fish. Someone will get a great deal here. Go troll the general board

---

Dude, you need to go woosah somewhere and calm the eff down. Not sure why you got all butthurt because there was absolutely nothing to get butthurt about.

The internet may not be for you.

you sound pleasant.

NM- not worth it.

I'm glad your friend got a good deal Rick it's why I posted it here. I knew it was a deal. You're welcome. Maybe read the post next time before questioning legitimacy. Oh and EAD Shmellbad

TheGroupGuy said:

---

I'm glad your friend got a good deal Rick it's why I posted it here. I knew it was a deal. You're welcome. Maybe read the post next time before questioning legitimacy. Oh and EAD Shmellbad

---

I may have spoken too soon. A text message from him this morning, he cooled on the older waterman to persue a 2012 Eastcape Caimen he has had his eyes on but it is a very good deal. I have shared with a few others. Anyone thinking of getting into a skiff, this is a superb deal.

Thanks for the cost explanation, that makes sense. People find value in all sorts of stuff they are into, whatever floats their boat I guess.

Lol This thread has made my Monday morning.

Is that really necessary?

TheToughGuy reminds of the Doss days.

TheGroupGuy said:

---

I'm glad your friend got a good deal Rick it's why I posted it here. I knew it was a deal. You're welcome. Maybe read the post next time before questioning legitimacy. Oh and EAD Shmellbad

---

Yeah, I'll pass. Don't want to encroach in your territory after all.

Toodles,

schmellba99

Escalated quickly, this thread has.

Salt of the water said:

---

Escalated quickly, this thread has.

---

No kidding. Between debates over boat designs and all of the Galveston area guides arguing on my facebook feed over trout numbers and the impact of croaker soaking, there seems to be a lot of angst in the saltwater fishing community! Folks need to relax a bit.

FWIW....I am a fish buy first......fished for decades before I owned my first boat......but obviously being a fish guy I've been on plenty of boats in my time.....definitely don't consider myself a big boat expert by any means. I have spent plenty of time looking at boats online for just my last purchase alone.

I will also add I certainly know very little about skiffs.

BUT I will say this...when I read your initial post not terribly long after you posted I too thought the boat....meaning both the hull and the motor were 2011. It's the way you worded it there.

The VAST majority of boat postings use the year to denote both....but if it's an older boat they will say something like "2005 gulf coast with a 2012 Yamaha" to make it clear to interested parties what they are looking at. Your use of "2011" was NOT clear at all and obviously led multiple folks to read it that way.

Just thought I'd share some perspective from someone who isn't one of those skiff guys you referred to.

trip98 said:

---

2005 gulf coast

---

trip98 you own one?

reproag said:

---

trip98 said:

---

2005 gulf coast

---

trip98 you own one?

---

no I do not. I own a Ranger.

Although I REALLY REALLY like the gulf coast boats. Before I bought the Ranger it was down to GC, Pathfinder or the Ranger.

you?

reproag said:

---

trip98 said:

---

2005 gulf coast

---

trip98 you own one?

---

my dad has a 2003 20' GC High Side
great boat.

Thread hi-jack:

@Rick, I'm planning on installing a hydrofoil on my Beav. I know you have/had one on the micro so I figured you would be a good resource on it.

Drilling into the cav plate for the install is giving me the heebie-jeebies. Did you run into any issues installing yours? Any regrets on putting one on?

texican08 said:

---

Thread hi-jack:

@Rick, I'm planning on installing a hydrofoil on my Beav. I know you have/had one on the micro so I figured you would be a good resource on it.

Drilling into the cav plate for the install is giving me the heebie-jeebies. Did you run into any issues installing yours? Any regrets on putting one on?

---

Tex,

Pretty straight forward install, zero issues. Zero regrets. Was really needed to keep water under her tail when jacked up and running skinny.

Which Beav do you have?

-Rick

I got the Beav Osprey. She really stuggles to get on plane with the motor jacked up anywhere higher than the 3 setting so I'm hoping this helps some.

This thread

trip98 said:

---

reproag said:

---

trip98 said:

---

2005 gulf coast

---

trip98 you own one?

---

no I do not. I own a Ranger.

Although I REALLY REALLY like the gulf coast boats. Before I bought the Ranger it was down to GC, Pathfinder or the Ranger.

you?

---

2006 23' VariSide with a 2007 Evenrude 200. Bought it used from an older gentleman in 2011 and had less then 100 hrs on motor. Love that boat but don't get to use it a lot. 3 small kiddos.

texican08 said:

---

I got the Beav Osprey. She really stuggles to get on plane with the motor jacked up anywhere higher than the 3 setting so I'm hoping this helps some.

---

Have you tried tucking and tabbing?

Tunnel? Without a tunnel, your limited to pulling clean water by how much set back your jack plate has.

Three blade heavily cupped prop (see Jack Foreman) will get you up quicker too but cost you some speed.

Done the tucking and tabbing and that still doesn't work if I have the motor jacked up.

Have a keyhole tunnel but not a full fledged tunnel.

I've thought about getting either a new 4 blade prop or reupping, that will probably be my next step. It's not a huge issue that's keeping from going where I want to go, just looking for better hole shot.