Beavertail Micro 16 on order!

[silverking]

Will and Elizabeth Leslie, owners of Aeon Marine/Beavertail, have been an absolute delight to work with. I've been finalizing all the details for the new boat and it will be going into production this week. This is a true technical poling skiff for one or two anglers with a weight of 400 pounds and draft of 5 inches loaded. Power will be an Evinrude 30-hp E-TEC tiller model with a max speed of around 30 mph. I've added the latest push pole from Carbon Marine, the G3LR weighing in about 3.5 pounds, a MotorGuide Xi5 bow trolling motor (55 pound thrust with remote fob steering), Garmin echoMAP 44dv sonar/plotter combo and an Engel 35 Deep Blue cooler, which will double as the passenger seat.

I'll post photos of my boat as it is being built, but until then here are a couple other Micros with similar set-ups.

[Harmsway]

I'd like to complement your boat, but first I have to wipe the drool off the floor.

[SS-342]

I'd like to complement your boat, but first I have to wipe the drool off the floor.

X2

Silverking, I'm sort of looking for a saltwater winter boat but we may be to old to stand on a fishing platform. Do they mount chairs on these boats. Looks like a very nice shallow water boat for younger folks.

[silverking]

These boats have a 60-inch beam so good balance and careful maneuvering on board is necessary. The forward casting platform is an option. They do come with the cushioned helm bench seat and can also be ordered with a side console instead of the tiller steering. The grab bar/command pod will give me a place to hang on to for stand-up operation.

Haven't seen any with mounted seats. Guess you could install the removable bicycle lean seats like a bass boat. They do build some larger models with wider beams, though and more comfort considerations. The Micro is the specialty version for extreme shallow water poling.

Here's the web site if you'd like to check out the other models. I've been very impressed with their customer service and fit/finish. And their attention to detail really shines.

http://www.beavertailskiffs.com

[zload]

[Can'tCatchAnything]

So it'll run shallower than a Hobie, it's just about as stable as a paddleboard, and it can be towed with a Volkswagen. What's not to love?

And congrats on the sale of the Bayshore too; did you ever break the bbf post views record?

[silverking]

Much more stable than a paddle board but not quite an aircraft carrier like my previous boat.

And at 7,959 page views on the Bayshore as of this afternoon, I think my new record will be safe for a long time.

[zload]

Reading the specs and looking at the pics of that skiff reminded me of a tribute I heard a few years back at the Maverick Boat Owners Tourney in the Keys. Apparently there was a long time owner who made every tournament for years and years and who always fished Flamingo in one of their early technical skiffs... he had died weeks before the event so people were commenting on their favorite recollections and based on the comments the guy was someone who shopped in the "Portly" department if you catch my drift.

The guy speaking was sort of overcome with emotions and made a comment about not seeing "Bubba" coming back in this year from the long ride back across Florida Bay from Flamingo to Islamorada. One of the less emotional guys jumped right in and said "yeah, you could always tell it was Bubba coming in cause it looked like the Pillsbury Dough boy riding a flip-flop across Florida Bay" to which the crowd all agreed

Apparently it was a sight to behold but hope your patience is rewarded with a nice flip-flop SK!

[silverking]

Heard from Beavertail last night that my skiff will be ready on December 16th.

Finalized details and all the accessories are already at the plant except the MotorGuide Xi5 trolling motor, which was supposed to ship this week.

Beavertail just delivered 10 skiffs for a lodge in Central America and were waiting on the Awlgrip for my top cap. So I should have photos of the parts being pulled from the molds next week.

21 days and counting. Can't wait.

[bman]

yeah, you could always tell it was Bubba coming in cause it looked like the Pillsbury Dough boy riding a flip-flop across Florida Bay"

[silverking]

Got my first batch of build photos from Beavertail. She's coming along nicely.

Both finishes in Awlgrip, hull in haze gray and the deck/cap will be real light gray. Projected completion next week. Can't wait. I've got the boat shed all cleaned and organized in preparation.

[countrycorners]

nice!

[silverking]

Thanks CC. The boat is assembled and headed to finishing. Here are the latest pix.

[silverking]

Getting closer. The command pod will be finished today and they've already mounted the MotorGuide Xi5 trolling motor.

[Salty Gator]

Lookin good