Tin Boat Review - John Skinner's "New" Grumman 5 Meter

At $2,500, sans engine, John Skinner found a perfect replacement for his 1974 Starcraft that finally bit the dust awhile back. In this case, the "new" to John Skinner boat is a 1986 Grumman 5 meter that is a perfect combination of small, trailerable boat with enough deadrise, length and beam to let John fish many of the waters here off Eastern Long Island.
It also goes to show that no matter your budget, you can find something that gets you on the water and on fish!
Follow me on Instagram:
/ jigging_jerks_fishing
Affiliate Links:
Filmed entirely on a GoPro Hero 11 Black:amzn.to/3WCsTqb

[@timrudy4359]

The best part of the overboard clip is his brother grabbing the fluke net 😂

[@seekinfindin5669]

John Skinner is a smart man. In life, everything is a series of trade offs. In this case, John traded off the larger boat with all it can do for functionality, economy and frugalness. He catches just as many fish, if not more for much less the cost. Like I said, John Skinner is a smart man.

[@muddywaters1934]

I love it, my brother in Meriden just gave me his hydra sports 2003 DC 202 that had been sitting shrink wrapped in his back yard for 6 years unused. Went up to tow back it to Charleston, SC and discovered the trailer was shot ($5200) and the tank had 100 gal of 6yr. old fuel to be removed ($300) and the engine is seized ('$sky's the limit$$) but what the hell...36 hr. road trip and a free boat fixer upper...just what an old retired dude needs! ;-)

[@jiggingjerks]

You made me think of that old saying, "nothing is more expensive than a free boat." Good luck getting her back up and running. Those older Hydrasport hulls are beasts

[@kolbyhumbert2680]

If you’re looking to sell that 202 DC I’d be interested, I’m in Connecticut and have been looking for either that or Striper 2101 DC

[@muddywaters1934]

"there's nothing more expensive than a free boat"...truer words were never spoken! lol

[@mbartolacc]

Was fishing in my friend's Grumman yesterday in the Delaware RIver for American Shad. Great boat, built like a tank. He got 8 shad and I got 5 on it. Great day and a great boat (he has a small 20 hp Merc on it for use on low power lakes). He also got it for a "song and dance", but it is a bass boat setup and not center console.

[@alleybuilds5370]

My dad is around the same age as john, my dad has an aluminum 21' starcraft and the best thing about these boats is he can easily load and unload it on his trainer all by himself.

[@snowayadventures]

simple, affordable and very effective!!! man seeing him falling overboard again gives me the heebes.....so close to a BAD situation

[@dwayneroberts6616]

I go through six gallons leaving the dock😂. The old Black max loves gasoline. She's worth feeding though when you crack that throttle open and hear that beast come alive😊

[@coxgaspoweredtether]

I had 2 black max engines on my 19. Foot regal over the years, ( runabout) they are beasts. The boat did 57 with a 175 horsepower on it. Now I've got the gas sipping 150 HP Evinrude I as I get older, does 45 mph. But man, was that thing fun...They run hot and yes, use gas. But nothing beats that black max wine. When you're out on a flat surface rippin w correct stainless prop.

[@dwayneroberts6616]

@@coxgaspoweredtether I've heard they run hot and burn up the electrical components under the fly wheel. I replaced the poppet valve thermostats and water pump and it still has a weak tell tale with the muff I have. I think it's the muffs so I'm buying a half barrel (plastic) and testing it that way before I hit the lake again I was thinking about putting some CLR in the barrel and redirecting the tell tale into the barrel then running the motor up to temp to get the thermostats open and flush out the block a bit. Trying to keep it as cool as possible 🙂

[@coxgaspoweredtether]

@@dwayneroberts6616 yes mine was salt water, another issue w early Mercs. Salt in poppets, and water jackets, even w flushing. Good luck

[@Dannny_Mac]

❤

[@johnbennett7186]

Yeah that was a good one I love how brother grabbed the net to catch him

[@jiggingjerks]

I've watched that video a few times and always laugh at that part

[@slange455]

I like that boat has character …similar to TA fishing he has since sold his small boat “the high sea drifter”so don’t watch his channel much anymore.

[@justinraffloer3624]

Perfect for bay. I used sylvan 16.? In bay

[@jiggingjerks]

That's a nice boat too. Part of me wants to find a decent cheap small tin boat for fishing the Sound. I literally live a minute drive from a StAte ramp that feeds the LI Sound

[@ChuckNorris01]

What model hummingbird is that?

[@jiggingjerks]

Pretty sure it’s a Solix 15

[@ChuckNorris01]

Thanks so much

[@jackgonzalez483]

What is the floor made of?

[@jiggingjerks]

Have to presume it's fiberlglassed in plywood but it's rock solid

[@jackgonzalez483]

I’m thrown off because you can see all the screws.

[@jiggingjerks]

@@jackgonzalez483 I’ll ask Skinner

[@jackgonzalez483]

That would be amazing

[@jiggingjerks]

@@jackgonzalez483 confirmed with Skinner, it's glass over wood

[@rachelthompson9324]

what is the draft?

[@jiggingjerks]

I'm guessing 8 to 10 inches.

[@adamdavi8869]

I don't think John is in the slot.