+matt hyde They are a small company that doesn't advertise. I've advertised more the past 5 years in my videos fixing and playing with these, than they have since they started in 2000. lol
I have never seen any of these craft. But the modular design seems to be designed for the urban city folk who drive compact cars and don't have a lot of access to open water. Seems like a decent concept to me. I've had boats all my life, everything from 12 foot jon boats to 26' cabin cruisers. My all-time favorite boat was a custom welded 21' aluminum jet sled powered by a Yamaha 130hp outboard. I had a custom crab davit welded up, custom rod holders, anchor system, storage seats, center console, fuel cell and two diamond plate decks off the transom. I paid just $4,400.00 for the boat itself, including the center console and fuel cell. I like the concept of the Mokai, but since the sleds run in just 3" of water I think I'll opt for another build. I'd like to know the engine and pump specs though. They'd make for a great home built mini bass rig.
What looks good on paper, doesn't always work well in real world usage. These can be salvaged to some extent, but they will never be better than what the previous models were. Set up right, these boats are great for small rivers, sloughs, and swampy areas you can't get to in a Jon boat. Engine is just a Subaru EX21 that is coupled to Mokai's proprietary jet pump. Building your own boat you would be much better off using a jet ski as a donor, you can' buy the Mokai pump without paying for the rest of the boat too. lol
@111674609008768154248 Thanks. These get around 20 mpg and have a 2.8 gal tank. I wasn't sure about the modular design being bolted together, but after seeing it in person and using it I found no reason to worry. You can feel it flexing under the seat area when going over choppy water, but it doesn't seem to affect speed or stability.
This model has a joystick to control electric servos. Push forward for throttle, and move left and right to steer. It was miserable to use and unreliable. I make a conversion kit to change everything to direct cable control like the old models.
John Gildehaus It allows for a little more top end power, and more stable idle. But it requires making linkage to connect the servo to the carb lever, if not set up right the servo will fail. The governor gear also would need to be removed from the crankcase. Not recommended unless you are familiar with servos and their operation/ setup requirements.
After gutting all the electronics and converting to my direct cable control system, enlarging the air intake so the engine wouldn't overheat, getting rid of the "cold air" intake so the flywheel wasn't sucking on the carb, going with my water cooled muffler to lower the heat and provide better ventilation, adding my pump guard, rebuilding the pump.. Well that is what it took to let me enjoy spending time in it. The ES-kape is something many people ended up trying to ESCAPE from. lol Takes a lot of work to get it right, but it can be fun eventually. What Mokai is selling now is going to be much different that what you see here, I would't order one until you see them out for a while to find out what problems those have. I'm still using the stock seat, it's tolerable, but light, and weight is everything trying to retain speed in these.
ImprovingYourMokai. So your saying that Mokai is going to change the body style.or stick with this body style as people dont like this style.i wish i could find the old style.i live in michigan.
The hull will be pretty much the same, I'm sure there will be a few changes. But the Major changes are a different brand and size motor, more weight and heat but the same RPM so don't see how it will be anything but draft more water and be slower. Electronics will be different, but I still wouldn't trust any of it to go down river without a recovery plan. Keep searching Craigslist, my forum has a classified section you should check often.
+ImprovingYourMokai I tried several times to reply to yours, but the crappy source code in UA-cam is filled with bugs, so I have to write a general comment. Anyway, my next questions: Is the Kawasaki jetski motor a better option than the Subaru? I can find an older/used one very cheap and rebuild it. They have a lot of low end torque, which is important for that holeshot to jump through skinny bubbly water. Also, I'm guessing, but after watching your assembly video it seems like the modular build in the newer Mokai would lead to hydrodynamic issues. The breaks in hull continuity at the adjoining seams would probably cause water to deflect where a single piece hull wouldn't, which will slow the craft down and also cause steering/control issues. I watched a couple videos of the older versions and now I see why you and others are saying the new version isn't up to snuff. If it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to be lost on the Mokai designers. Lastly, how shallow can they run? I live in Oregon, and there's literally hundreds of streams here that a shallow drive jetcraft would be very useful in. The jon boats are great, but they're wider, and nobody makes a commercial jet driven jon.
The Subaru is the best motor for these boats. Jet ski motors make too much power for the flexible plastic hull, and you will have long term problems as a result. If you want to build the worlds fastest Mokai drag boat.... Go for it. If you want to go ride the river and explore, stick to what it was designed for it. I've been on plane at 6" of water on the depth finder, can go a little less with my older one piece hull models.
Do you know of anybody that purchased just the engine & Jet from Mokai & installed them in let's say a small jon boat or row boat? Is it possible? Thanks
Nope, Mokai won't sell anything unless you have one of their boats and can provide a HIN # to prove it. Even then you will have to fight to get a pump, which is $1500. Find an old Seadoo jet ski and use that as a donor to power something else, I put the running gear from one in a jon boat and love it. Search Frankenjon.
Thanks, glad it was helpful. Besides that it is heavy, I had just drug it out of the shop, took it apart and stuffed it all inside itself, ran to the house and got the video camera, ran back and started making the video... I'd say I was doing pretty good for someone who got run over by a Dodge truck and smoked for 21 years. LOL Regardless of how good of shape anyone is in, this boat is a pain to assemble and break down. Best to leave it together and trailer it, break it down for winter storage etc..
Good to know. Some say the newer model ES-Kape have improved but they still look like a 1/2 hour of assembly and about 45 mins of disassembly after each use. They show it in the back of a Prius. Thanks for response !
That is not the newer model you saw stuffed in a Prius, that is the same thing shown here. The ES-kape didn't change noticeably during the 4 years they made it. The "New" model, the 2.0, isn't available yet. It's a year overdue and no news that I've heard of yet. I expect it to be worse.
I agree 100%. I've gotten my ES-kape to the point where I enjoy it, and trust it to be reliable, but getting to that point takes several major modifications. It will never replace my 2011 or 2003 models, those boats are just awesome.
Regular pump gas, preferably non-ethanol. Engine depends on the year, up to 2009 they came with a Honda GC190 5hp. 2010 up came with the Subaru EX21 7hp. Just industrial lawn equipment/gokart motors, nothing special.
I don't sell them, the ES-kape had so many problems they were discontinued after a few years, Mokai makes something very different now with it's own set of problems. I still make upgrades for people when needed but mainly deal with the older one piece models. I overhaul those and sell them.
well who makes you to take it apart? If you can take it apart in three pieces it does not mean it has to be done! Take it home on trailer pickup what ever you have!!!
Yeah, I make a kit for the first ES-kape that converts everything back to cable control like the old models. The latest model 2.0 is still electronic control but I don't have any plans to deal with that model yet.
Yup, but this was Mokai's crazy hair brained idea... I was just showing everyone how it worked since there wasn't any info about it at the time. Most people leave them together and haul with a trailer anyhow, so much easier.
He has a 2010, which is the previous model that is one piece. He wouldn't want one of these, they were horrible and wouldn't work at all for what he uses the Mokai for.
This was a customers boat. But since I make upgrades for these, having one of each model is necessary. Just had to wait for one of Mokai's unhappy customers to sell theirs for a deal I couldn't pass up, didn't take long. lol
Has Mokai totally abandoned their one piece, cable controlled (simpler...kiss) version? At 68 - young, old gal..I can't see the reason to fiddle around with all this new, improved version (?), more costly version (?) which would take me a day to put together, that I would never take apart once together in this lifetime. And would probably leave me stranded up a creek wishing for paddles when the electronics got fussy! Why can't they offer both for the demand for the older style seems to certainly be there. Bigger, newer, faster is not necessarily better. I want a sturdy, reliable putter to explore and fish from. So disappointing when a great idea is exchanged for a not so great upgrade. No wonder they are staying a small business. They should sell the original design to someone that will keep the integrity of the old design...yea, yea, yea...competition. Competition never hurt anyone offing with a good or better design....unless it isn't.
You and everyone else feels the same way. They need to bring the old model back, but until then I will continue fixing these new ones for people who got stuck with them. So I came up with a cable conversion setup that gets rid of all the electronics, makes the boat so much more usable and enjoyable. Old models are still to be found if you search around. www.improvingyourmokai.com has a for sale section that gets updated often.
Sooo...how about you and Chigg coming up with what you know people want. I'm sure there are compadres through your sites that would be able to figure out how to initiate and fund such an adventure without it encumbering your personal interests of fixing and digging. Between you and Chigg, you ought to be able to create a design that would work around patient for an improved machine. With all the followers you both have, I am sure you would have support. I, for one, would be one. Something very odd about a company walking away from those who brought them to the dance....
I enjoy fixing these boats, have never had any interest in creating one from scratch though. I stay busier than I want with everything I do, and am 100% debt free.. The last thing I want is to acquire millions in debt just to compete with Mokai. lol The more Mokai makes a mess out of their product, the more job security I have. And while they would never admit to it, it's been a win-win situation. I've advertised more for them in the past 5 years than they have the past 15 they've been in business. I do wish they would bring back the old one piece though, they put a nail in their coffin by doing away with it. The ES-kape is something many have been trying to escape from....
I was afraid you were going to say what you did! I do understand. As with many things in our lives...it seems so wrong headed on their part, but I think you are wise on you part. Now just find me a 2010-12! Thanks...
Yeah, the ES-kape's leave much to be desired. I have redesigned many of the areas that were problems with them, which make it reliable and more usable, but it makes the overall cost much higher than if you had started with one of the original models and had it upgraded and/or converted to Subaru. Nothing will replace my 2011 though.
I agree, they definitely wen't in the wrong direction with this. I can help people salvage their investment in one by fixing many of the problems, but would not recommend buying one. Old models were the best.
Without doing much? Like you would know what I'd been doing up till I starting filming? You watched this just to make that comment? Troll worthy at best. You might not want to assume so much. What you didn't see on camera was the 20 minutes prior, of me dragging the boat across the yard, taking it apart and stowing it all, running to the house to grab the video camera (literally running because I like to), and doing it all in a hurry because I was running late in my schedule. So after surviving a near fatal motorcycle wreck that took 3 years to recover from, and having been quit smoking for 4 years at the time of this after 21 years, I'd say I was doing pretty good to be just out of breath. The point of the video was to show how much of a pain this boat is to assemble, but you are still childish enough to want to play doctor. ROFL
9,999,999 M, I'm 60 and I don't make that many old man noises when I'm assembling anything....yet. lol If you're going to escape in it you need to buy the camo model!
That's really cool, I did not even know these kind of boats were out
+matt hyde They are a small company that doesn't advertise. I've advertised more the past 5 years in my videos fixing and playing with these, than they have since they started in 2000. lol
I have never seen any of these craft. But the modular design seems to be designed for the urban city folk who drive compact cars and don't have a lot of access to open water. Seems like a decent concept to me. I've had boats all my life, everything from 12 foot jon boats to 26' cabin cruisers. My all-time favorite boat was a custom welded 21' aluminum jet sled powered by a Yamaha 130hp outboard. I had a custom crab davit welded up, custom rod holders, anchor system, storage seats, center console, fuel cell and two diamond plate decks off the transom. I paid just $4,400.00 for the boat itself, including the center console and fuel cell. I like the concept of the Mokai, but since the sleds run in just 3" of water I think I'll opt for another build.
I'd like to know the engine and pump specs though. They'd make for a great home built mini bass rig.
What looks good on paper, doesn't always work well in real world usage. These can be salvaged to some extent, but they will never be better than what the previous models were. Set up right, these boats are great for small rivers, sloughs, and swampy areas you can't get to in a Jon boat. Engine is just a Subaru EX21 that is coupled to Mokai's proprietary jet pump. Building your own boat you would be much better off using a jet ski as a donor, you can' buy the Mokai pump without paying for the rest of the boat too. lol
Very nice. What sort of range are you getting, and how do you feel about the bolted connection? Can you fell and flexing?
@111674609008768154248 Thanks. These get around 20 mpg and have a 2.8 gal tank. I wasn't sure about the modular design being bolted together, but after seeing it in person and using it I found no reason to worry. You can feel it flexing under the seat area when going over choppy water, but it doesn't seem to affect speed or stability.
I love it
Хорошая вещь ,Саня хочет такую же
i will.but there far and few between.thank u though
How cool, a boat that will fit in my trunk.
bring back the 2012 models. i cant even go into shallow water without something breaking!!!
Wish they would.... But venting here won't do you any good, Mokai doesn't watch my videos. LOL
ImprovingYourMokai its not just me venting lol.it seems like nobody really like the new ones lol.i like the mods u preform!!!
I know my friend, the irony of the model name being what the customers reaction to it has been is too much... How do you Es-kape from an Es-kape??
ImprovingYourMokai lol amen!!!
wont the water get in thru air filter when it rains?
love it!
where can I get one?
Find one used, or order one from Mokai.
That thing need a rotax in it or a turbo on that small engine it's would haul ass
How does a person steer the thing and how do you use the throttle?
This model has a joystick to control electric servos. Push forward for throttle, and move left and right to steer. It was miserable to use and unreliable. I make a conversion kit to change everything to direct cable control like the old models.
Do you have a similar folding boat but with solar panel roof (rain rain and protection)? 2 person and 1 second for unfolding the boat.
+Kalvin One I don't make the boat, and this is the only model the company makes.
how do you disable the govenor and what is the purpose ?
John Gildehaus It allows for a little more top end power, and more stable idle. But it requires making linkage to connect the servo to the carb lever, if not set up right the servo will fail. The governor gear also would need to be removed from the crankcase. Not recommended unless you are familiar with servos and their operation/ setup requirements.
How do you like the mokai also what did you do to make the seating more comfortable????
After gutting all the electronics and converting to my direct cable control system, enlarging the air intake so the engine wouldn't overheat, getting rid of the "cold air" intake so the flywheel wasn't sucking on the carb, going with my water cooled muffler to lower the heat and provide better ventilation, adding my pump guard, rebuilding the pump.. Well that is what it took to let me enjoy spending time in it. The ES-kape is something many people ended up trying to ESCAPE from. lol Takes a lot of work to get it right, but it can be fun eventually. What Mokai is selling now is going to be much different that what you see here, I would't order one until you see them out for a while to find out what problems those have. I'm still using the stock seat, it's tolerable, but light, and weight is everything trying to retain speed in these.
ImprovingYourMokai. So your saying that Mokai is going to change the body style.or stick with this body style as people dont like this style.i wish i could find the old style.i live in michigan.
The hull will be pretty much the same, I'm sure there will be a few changes. But the Major changes are a different brand and size motor, more weight and heat but the same RPM so don't see how it will be anything but draft more water and be slower. Electronics will be different, but I still wouldn't trust any of it to go down river without a recovery plan. Keep searching Craigslist, my forum has a classified section you should check often.
gostaria de saber se vendem para o Brasil
Eu também.
Hello, up to how tall of a person can fit in one of those?
+Fernando Zamora There is plenty of room in the ES-kape. I don't think height would a problem, 6'+ would have room and be comfortable.
+ImprovingYourMokai I tried several times to reply to yours, but the crappy source code in UA-cam is filled with bugs, so I have to write a general comment.
Anyway, my next questions:
Is the Kawasaki jetski motor a better option than the Subaru? I can find an older/used one very cheap and rebuild it. They have a lot of low end torque, which is important for that holeshot to jump through skinny bubbly water.
Also, I'm guessing, but after watching your assembly video it seems like the modular build in the newer Mokai would lead to hydrodynamic issues. The breaks in hull continuity at the adjoining seams would probably cause water to deflect where a single piece hull wouldn't, which will slow the craft down and also cause steering/control issues. I watched a couple videos of the older versions and now I see why you and others are saying the new version isn't up to snuff. If it ain't broke, don't fix it seems to be lost on the Mokai designers.
Lastly, how shallow can they run? I live in Oregon, and there's literally hundreds of streams here that a shallow drive jetcraft would be very useful in. The jon boats are great, but they're wider, and nobody makes a commercial jet driven jon.
The Subaru is the best motor for these boats. Jet ski motors make too much power for the flexible plastic hull, and you will have long term problems as a result. If you want to build the worlds fastest Mokai drag boat.... Go for it. If you want to go ride the river and explore, stick to what it was designed for it. I've been on plane at 6" of water on the depth finder, can go a little less with my older one piece hull models.
Green MarineFive-O buy a tohats 25 hp jet out board and stick it on your Jon boat
Do you know of anybody that purchased just the engine & Jet from Mokai & installed them in let's say a small jon boat or row boat? Is it possible? Thanks
Nope, Mokai won't sell anything unless you have one of their boats and can provide a HIN # to prove it. Even then you will have to fight to get a pump, which is $1500. Find an old Seadoo jet ski and use that as a donor to power something else, I put the running gear from one in a jon boat and love it. Search Frankenjon.
Either this is really really heavy or he's really really out of shape. So taking this to a lake will be a task for sure. Great review thanks! :)
Thanks, glad it was helpful. Besides that it is heavy, I had just drug it out of the shop, took it apart and stuffed it all inside itself, ran to the house and got the video camera, ran back and started making the video... I'd say I was doing pretty good for someone who got run over by a Dodge truck and smoked for 21 years. LOL Regardless of how good of shape anyone is in, this boat is a pain to assemble and break down. Best to leave it together and trailer it, break it down for winter storage etc..
Good to know. Some say the newer model ES-Kape have improved but they still look like a 1/2 hour of assembly and about 45 mins of disassembly after each use. They show it in the back of a Prius. Thanks for response !
That is not the newer model you saw stuffed in a Prius, that is the same thing shown here. The ES-kape didn't change noticeably during the 4 years they made it. The "New" model, the 2.0, isn't available yet. It's a year overdue and no news that I've heard of yet. I expect it to be worse.
wow. what a pos compared to the older model. They had a great thing and wrecked it!
How much money?
Mokai sells them for $5400 + shipping.
what state r u located in?
Georgia.
The old design is WAY better. don't know why they changed it.
I agree 100%. I've gotten my ES-kape to the point where I enjoy it, and trust it to be reliable, but getting to that point takes several major modifications. It will never replace my 2011 or 2003 models, those boats are just awesome.
Agreed, I will not buy the new one.
6k no way
Agreed, then you need to spend more $$$ to make it work right....
Hi, What type, Brand, fuel ( gasoline or diesel )
& horsepower of the engine used in Mokai ?
Regular pump gas, preferably non-ethanol. Engine depends on the year, up to 2009 they came with a Honda GC190 5hp. 2010 up came with the Subaru EX21 7hp. Just industrial lawn equipment/gokart motors, nothing special.
Not exactly a quick escape is it?!
LOL No... No it is not. It can be made to be palatable though.
Cost?
I don't sell them, the ES-kape had so many problems they were discontinued after a few years, Mokai makes something very different now with it's own set of problems. I still make upgrades for people when needed but mainly deal with the older one piece models. I overhaul those and sell them.
faster..three pieces...by the time you get it together you would have arrived in an old one.
why hurry to relax?
And then you can't even relax in it since it requires constant joystick control.... The old model was SOOO much better in so many ways.
well who makes you to take it apart? If you can take it apart in three pieces it does not mean it has to be done! Take it home on trailer pickup what ever you have!!!
I loved the old one but the new one has electronics un like cables electric suk
Yeah, I make a kit for the first ES-kape that converts everything back to cable control like the old models. The latest model 2.0 is still electronic control but I don't have any plans to deal with that model yet.
i will never buy this one.im lookin for another older one.
Just keep searching Craigslist, they pop up there often. Good luck.
i would have 2 rods out by now . just saying
Yup, but this was Mokai's crazy hair brained idea... I was just showing everyone how it worked since there wasn't any info about it at the time. Most people leave them together and haul with a trailer anyhow, so much easier.
Aquachigger
He has a 2010, which is the previous model that is one piece. He wouldn't want one of these, they were horrible and wouldn't work at all for what he uses the Mokai for.
the new ones suck!!!!!!!
Heavy breathing
Geez I hope you didn't buy that contraption!!!!
This was a customers boat. But since I make upgrades for these, having one of each model is necessary. Just had to wait for one of Mokai's unhappy customers to sell theirs for a deal I couldn't pass up, didn't take long. lol
Has Mokai totally abandoned their one piece, cable controlled (simpler...kiss) version? At 68 - young, old gal..I can't see the reason to fiddle around with all this new, improved version (?), more costly version (?) which would take me a day to put together, that I would never take apart once together in this lifetime. And would probably leave me stranded up a creek wishing for paddles when the electronics got fussy! Why can't they offer both for the demand for the older style seems to certainly be there. Bigger, newer, faster is not necessarily better. I want a sturdy, reliable putter to explore and fish from. So disappointing when a great idea is exchanged for a not so great upgrade. No wonder they are staying a small business. They should sell the original design to someone that will keep the integrity of the old design...yea, yea, yea...competition. Competition never hurt anyone offing with a good or better design....unless it isn't.
You and everyone else feels the same way. They need to bring the old model back, but until then I will continue fixing these new ones for people who got stuck with them. So I came up with a cable conversion setup that gets rid of all the electronics, makes the boat so much more usable and enjoyable. Old models are still to be found if you search around. www.improvingyourmokai.com has a for sale section that gets updated often.
Sooo...how about you and Chigg coming up with what you know people want. I'm sure there are compadres through your sites that would be able to figure out how to initiate and fund such an adventure without it encumbering your personal interests of fixing and digging. Between you and Chigg, you ought to be able to create a design that would work around patient for an improved machine. With all the followers you both have, I am sure you would have support. I, for one, would be one. Something very odd about a company walking away from those who brought them to the dance....
I enjoy fixing these boats, have never had any interest in creating one from scratch though. I stay busier than I want with everything I do, and am 100% debt free.. The last thing I want is to acquire millions in debt just to compete with Mokai. lol The more Mokai makes a mess out of their product, the more job security I have. And while they would never admit to it, it's been a win-win situation. I've advertised more for them in the past 5 years than they have the past 15 they've been in business. I do wish they would bring back the old one piece though, they put a nail in their coffin by doing away with it. The ES-kape is something many have been trying to escape from....
I was afraid you were going to say what you did! I do understand. As with many things in our lives...it seems so wrong headed on their part, but I think you are wise on you part. Now just find me a 2010-12! Thanks...
Find a 2012, new ones are garbage.
Yeah, the ES-kape's leave much to be desired. I have redesigned many of the areas that were problems with them, which make it reliable and more usable, but it makes the overall cost much higher than if you had started with one of the original models and had it upgraded and/or converted to Subaru. Nothing will replace my 2011 though.
When china copy's this I'm buying a dozen of them. $5,400.00? nooooo way!
Why change a good thing? these new ones suck. I will fix my old one before I buy that piece of junk.
I agree, they definitely wen't in the wrong direction with this. I can help people salvage their investment in one by fixing many of the problems, but would not recommend buying one. Old models were the best.
Randy Miller do you have an original one if so how much would you sell it.also have any pics of it. thanks
Randy Miller do you still have a mokai and intetested in selling if so how much and what state are you in. Thanks
Your out of breath without doing much. Maybe you want to get some exercise and get healthy?
Without doing much? Like you would know what I'd been doing up till I starting filming? You watched this just to make that comment? Troll worthy at best. You might not want to assume so much. What you didn't see on camera was the 20 minutes prior, of me dragging the boat across the yard, taking it apart and stowing it all, running to the house to grab the video camera (literally running because I like to), and doing it all in a hurry because I was running late in my schedule. So after surviving a near fatal motorcycle wreck that took 3 years to recover from, and having been quit smoking for 4 years at the time of this after 21 years, I'd say I was doing pretty good to be just out of breath. The point of the video was to show how much of a pain this boat is to assemble, but you are still childish enough to want to play doctor. ROFL
You shouldve hit the gym before making such a labour intensive video.....or quit smoking
9,999,999 M, I'm 60 and I don't make that many old man noises when I'm assembling anything....yet. lol
If you're going to escape in it you need to buy the camo model!