Solo Skiff Review My HONEST Opinion! | Watch Before You Buy!!!
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Here is my honest review and opinion of the pros and cons of the Solo Skiff. I tried to be as unbiased as possible. I'm not sponsored by Solo Skiff or any other company so I hope this review helps! If y'all have any questions ask in the comments.
-Stix
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#StixHD #SoloSkiff
FYI this video got deleted from The Official Solo Skiff Facebook page. I broke the rules apparently...LOL. I like my Solo! I haven't seen any videos talking about the negative aspects of the skiff. So I wanted to be as transparent as possible with my viewers.
So no talking about cons? That's pretty absurd!
@@michaelhough6641 I guess not. Have you had the same experiences when it comes to the cons? I’m sure some are different since everyone rigs their solo differently
hey bud I jus seen another gheenoe forsale on fb for 600 with trailer n boat thts a good deal bud they r goin for 5 grand to 3 grand its a hit or miss
@@tntcichlids8015 damn 👀 you got Instagram or Facebook? Dm me on there if you don’t mind
Yea the Facebook Solo site is very biased to what is posted. It's managed by the maker and he obviously doesn't want cons posted there. I've owed my fiberglass Solo for about 10 months now and I will say your review is spot on. I would also add that the Solo is versatile in offshore and inshore use. Good review bro.
You have a fair review and I agree the weight is the single biggest negative. At the same time here in the San Diego area the Hobie PA14 is the big favorite but weighs only 10 lbs less without the motor on the Solo Skiff. When I started kayak fishing 7 years ago I decided, I did not want to deal with the extra weight ( just about double some kayaks). I've known guys half my ago sell theirs because of the hassle with the weight. Now that I am 7 years older I am in less shape physically to deal with the weight, so I thought work smarter not harder. I too don't wan the hassle of a trailer so I got the Bonebox bed extender and made 2 5' ABS poles that work as a ramp to the bed extender and I made a easily removable bracket the attaches to the front of the truck bed and has a 25' strap hand crank winch that when attached to the rear bar of my Solo Skiff. Then from the bed i just turn the handle and winch the Solo onto the truck bed with the outboard still mounted, without doing any heavy lifting. I 90% of the time surf launch at La Jolla with it and ocean fish for mostly California Yellowtail, just as I have for 7 years in all the different kayaks I've owned. The Solo is on another level. When I thought about getting one I had already seen a couple other Solos around La Jolla. I thought the biggest advantage that it had was the ability to cover much more water, that appealed to me. At a my age the long distance fights with current and wind especially making the way back home after a long day on the water was looking more appealing. I had no idea that it make everything you do better because of the outboards power and super stabitlity. Every trip in the ocean, especially when we get higher winds, I'm so impressed with the stability in rough wind chop. it is so muck better and a dryer ride than any of my kayaks. I can even go straight into or a slight angle to the wind chop at near full speed. That speed might sound slow in a boat but compared to any kayak it's 4X faster (even faster in the chop). and land What I had no idea before getting it, was how much easier to surf launch and land it would make it compared to all my kayaks. All this and not even use 1 gallon of gas in a day of ocean fishing. It's about buggett's , I've had boat when I was younger and they are money drains. It's the use cost and maintenance that stop most people from using their boats most of the time. The Solo needs very little maintenance. I love my Solo Skiff.
Yeah my review was mainly based for inshore I probably should have said that at the beginning lol. Offshore is a different story. Eventually I will take it offshore but haven't had the chance yet. I bet its a beast with being able to troll your baits so easily! A hand crank would help a ton with loading might need to look into that. I love my solo also! Just wanted to point out some things that I thought people would want to know. Every review I have seen they only talk about the good things about the skiff.
First let me say retire No. 21! I sold my fishing boat a few yrs ago and I've got the bug again. This time around and I'm looking for something more manageable and I appreciate your thoughts about this style of gear. I'd probably do a trailer cuz I'm getting up there and need the ease of launching/retrieval. So thanks for the honest review and stay humble my gramps use to say.
Thanks for the info man. Was on the fence about getting myself one
For sure brotha, hope it helped!
I appreciate this review. I have been in a debate about getting one. I have seen a few out there that pair this with a mini surface drive. The river environment I fish kind of dictates this need. I won't ever really be dealing with a chop on the water so the spray isn't an issue. I'm kinda in need of that extra thick hull due to the possibility of shallow waters that remain murky with unseen obstacles.
Glad it helped! The spray doesn't bother me just thought other people should know about it. If you're going directly into the chop it cuts it very well and you don't get wet. Its when you start going at a angle or parallel to them is when you get wet. Yeah the thick plastic hull would probably be the best option for your waters. Interested to see how it would turn out with the mini surface drive. Sounds pretty awesome!
Great video, really enjoy your content... I’ve been doing tons of research on skiffs the last few months. I’d love to get something that fits another person or two but what keeps me coming back to considering the Solo is the price & not needing a trailer... that’s huge! Decisions decisions... lol
Thank you! More content to come! Yeah its a bummer you can't really fish with two people on it. (I know some people do it but idk if it would be comfortable fishing with two people on it all day). But yes price was a huge factor for me!
I used to load the skiff, then the outboard. Now I out the outboard in first, then the skiff. This way you don't have to find a place to lay the motor down while loading the skiff. Same thing when unloading, the skiff comes out first then the motor gets pulled out and gets put directly on the boat. Seems like a small detail but it has made my experience quite a lot better
Good solid info. Love the fact that you actually used it for a while before doing a review. You said to fish with it bare bones a few times before adding accessories and you are DEAD ON about that. That is wisdom that applies to kayaks, canoes, john boats etc. I've been saying that for years...let the boat tell you what to add and where to add it. Great to see an alternative to the Bote Rover. Enjoyed the video!
My main concern would be rusting out you truck bed / tailgate area saltwater takes hold very quickly and once the rust sets in you have a major problem , found this out personally while hauling kayaks years ago !
Thanks for the review! I've been on the fence for a while but think I'm gonna get one now. It's the best next step up from a yak
Glad it helped! What was the deciding factor on you getting one?
@@StixHD honestly it's kind of my only option with my garage lol. I don't want to pay for boat storage. but your review definitely cleared up my expectations
@@JoeG2013 Johnny bass 100 is between the solo and a kayak.. can still car top it.. put a 2.5hp outboard on it.. and super stable.. cost even less then the solo :) has less speed of course.. but its in between...as i said.
Thanks for putting that together. I’ve been looking at the trio...kayak, H skiff, Solo skiff...trying to figure out which will best serve me. Thanks again. Very helpful.
Nice man glad I could help!
You could mount a small winch in the bed of the truck to help with loading
Great review, honest and straightforward. I am new to kayaking/skiffs and I'm watching and learning from UA-camrs to see what will suit my needs. I'm leaning towards this skiff. I hit the like button and the subscribe. This is the first video of yours that I have come across, I will look for others. I will be fishing the Port A, Rockport, Fulton, Goose Island areas and I have a LOT to learn.
Thanks for the quality video.
I like yr vids, i like your delivery, easy to watch, and the music is spot on.
good video! I have a solo up in north TX.. I go on Texoma a lot chasing striped bass. You are on point on the all the cons. I love it because I can crank it up fast to hit where the birds are diving. I got about 14.5 on open water with my Merc 5 hp. I fly fish and conventional. Tip: reverse the handle that holds the hatch down. It will help keep your fly line from catching. Where do fish the most?
That's a good idea with the handle for the hatch. I'll try that. I fish out of the Corpus Christi area.
Great Video! Very informative. I just bought a new solo, and I really like it.
Thanks for the honest review ....looking at getting one
I got one on order anxious to use it useful info good job
Appreciate it! You're gonna enjoy it!
Closed off the rod holders with solid plastic covers. Had found the rod holders leaked a lot. After that no water, completely dry.
Yeah I forgot to mention the rod holders! Thanks for bringing that up! I put some silicon around the rod holders and the screw holes. It got tested the other day because I got stuck in the rain and there was a huge puddle on the deck. No leaks either anymore!
If you were able to find a 16’ skiff for the same price of the silo skiff, would you still go for the solo skiff or would you go for a full sized skiff?
Still the solo if serious about catching fish in skinny water. Fish more casual, deeper water mostly soaking natural bait? and occasionally go for more leisure and bring a friend? go for the 16' (and set aside extra maintenance money)
Ever have any engine problems wher you couldn't get it started i was fishing Sunday on Nueces Bay Portland fish habitat I witnessed a solo skiff guy cross the bay back to the shell launch just using a push pole then walk 🚶♂️ it around the outer Rock line around then pole it again to the launch that had to suck
Nope not yet. *knock on wood* The Suzuki fires up right away! But that sounds miserable. Poor guy lol
I had a couple time were the engine died and it was the fuel hose had come loose at the tank from some thing brushing up against the coupler. Once back on the engine ran normal.
What about stability??? Going fast
Do you have wheels with the Solo Skiff? If so you can park 'backwards' on the ramp with the front of your truck facing towards the water and unload the skiff 'uphill' instead of downhill at the angle of the boat ramp. I just discovered this the other day with my Hobie Outback which always wanted to slide backwards out of the truck while loading and tired, tired, tired, after a day of fishing.
Hey man. Thanks for the honest review! Have a few questions: Is that a 5 foot or 6 foot bed? I've got a tacoma with a 5 foot so im concerned about loading; How wold you compare this to a decked 12 foot jon boat? Thanks.
Awesome honest review brother!
Thanks for sharing nice solo skiff.
What’s your thoughts on solo skiff vs bote rover 14?
Will this fit onto a jet ski trailer? I have seen some locally on FaceBook for $300.
I'm on the fence about a Solo Skiff. I wonder how well they work with the Expandacraft outrigger, I know they are supposed to be pretty stable, but I'd like to be able to carry some stuff such as crab or crawfish traps.
I have no idea honestly. It's very stable as is. I'm sure it would be fine if you went slow with the outboard. Not sure how it would work out going full throttle. A Jon boat or a Carolina Skiff might be better honestly if you wanna haul crab traps.
Good stuff bro!! Pretty much unsinkable too
Thanks man! If you can think of anything else I missed let me know! I know you got one also!
Thanks for the content! Have you thought about adding a boondox landing gear to your solo? I have it on my PA 14 and it’s a breeze to load/unload onto my pickup bed. I just bought a solo, waiting on delivery, but was thinking about adding the boondox to it also.
I haven’t but I don’t really have a need for it. Don’t wanna add the extra weight. Mostly all the places I launch the solo at are soft bottom like sand. I try and stay away from concrete boat ramps.
I put the old version of the boondox (not the groove) on my solo with a 2x4" aluminum bar backing plate (1/4" thick) due to other reporting what stixhd mentioned.. (plastic warping or cracking)
@@tribalncgaming1091 Yeah that backing plate should help a lot. How are you liking the boondox system so far?
Would you buy it again after using it for a while?
I would yes. I believe it fits my style of fishing well. I think at the price point it is a very good option. On windier days where it can be hard to fish out of I will hop out and wade. Can't wait to use it to wade fish for big trout this winter!
What is the overall hight/thickness of the skiff?
Does it paddle as good as a kayak?
We should have a race my, 14 foot john boat with a 9.9 vs the solo skiff with a 6hp ...lol you might win i dont know.
Thanks for the review iv eye balled them at roys a few times, but now knowing what you have said i dont think it be a good fit for me, id break my back loading this in and out over time,, i am jealous of the versatility tho being able to launch almost anywhere...
hahaha how fast do you get with that 9.9? I top out around 14 mph. And yeah its give or take with each water craft. Just gotta buy what best suits you and your style of fishing.
@@StixHD i think i can do like 18-19 with the wind ..against the wind i guess 17..?
Is that gonna be a challenge? Lol. Jk. I watch both of your channels. Really good content guys. Keep that up. We enjoy it!
@@terryvalentine2600 well race for pink slips..!
Nicely done 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you!
Looks like a nice watercraft. Thumbs up!
Yeah its an awesome little skiff
What do you think of the new Hoodoo skiff? Looks about the same and is 50lbs less weight and cheaper
Not sure man. I’ve seen pictures but never seen them in person. Try and test drive one if you can.
Can two people fit on this?
What’s the range with your setup ?
I was wondering how you keep your reels from getting wet seems like the main issue with the soloskiff
Yeah I've been trying to think of a solution but haven't come up with anything yet. Honestly they might not get as wet when you're running if you put them in the rod tubes on the floor. But when you stop you definitely need to put them on the raised rod holders.
pros: over price
cons: over price
200 to 300 kayak Walmart can do the same.
Great review man. I am on the edge to get one soon buy I may have to invest in a trailer my back wont let me haul that weight.
Another thing I am concerned how it handles rougher water with winds about 15-20mph. I see some videos motor powering through the chop and white caps, but how stable it is just sitting (not moving the boat) in such a waters. I know my kayak is pretty stable but in such a situations I have to really pay attention not to flip it. I go to the bay with deep and shallow waters but it can get rough sometimes big swells with no breakers. Would it hold it better than a kayak?
If it gets that rough I dont go on the kayak, not that I couldn't manage but it would take lots of work and no fishing LOL.
I have had my Solo Skiff about a year now and after a short learning curve Love It! I purchased an aluminum trailer and modified the bunkers with a rear cross member and roller so all I need to do to launch is stop the tires at the waters edge and push it off, the trailer is never submerged, the roller makes it really easy to recover. I free roll my strap to the end of the trailer then lock the clicker, hook the strap to the S.S eyebolt I added and simply winch her up, super easy and zero back strain. I have ran across the open bay with a 10-15 mph wind and she just cuts right through and is actually a pretty decent ride.
@@richardwills3098 That sounds interesting the roller. Could you post short video of it ? How did you mount it and modified the bunkers? Im planning to use these pipes with 45 angle on the end.
@@richardwills3098 Oh, Im also wondering if you could use a "D" shackle instead that rope handle to pull it on the trailer.
I wouldn't use the rope handle to pull it on the trailer. Ty Southerland from 30 miles out did it and the rope broke. He has a video about it on his channel.
It's really good in chop. More stable than kayaks. I don't stand up as much when in chop but sitting down I'm perfectly fine. I think it would take a good size wave to flip you.
Is it possible to add trolling on it?
Nice review. Thanks.
No problem!
the stability is questionable...be careful not to flip it
NICE INFO,THX.👊👊👊
No problem! Hope it helped!
You are a strapping young man and you make man handling that beast into the back of the truck look easy. For a fat old fart like me it would be a real struggle . I still want one.
It took me a couple trips of loading and unloading but I finally got it down! Yeah it is heavy but a trailer would solve that problem! Its a good little boat
What kind of bed extender do you have
Not sure of the brand. It might even be homemade lol. It's just some cheap $50 bed extender I bought used off of facebook marketplace.
@@StixHD My son has one for his Hobie he bought at Harbor Freight, very reasonable.
Thanks
Clicked “back” as soon as I saw the pirates shirt. Sorry, bruh.
get a trolling motor with solar panel and ditch the gas outboard!
interested in solar outboard info please
Seems like a kayak with a trolling motor will be just as good if you're not too tall.
If you don’t want to make long runs then yes I agree. One of the things I like about the skiff is it opens up a lot more water with the outboard. I’ve been some places I would have never gone in a kayak lol.
@@StixHD How much for a "cheap" or affordable boat for the weekend angler? I'm thinking if I'm going to do it it's better to get a small used boat.
@@bobgill4069 If you want to fish with other people that's the best option. You can find some small scooters or even a Jon boat for about the same price
How! (Indian gesture)
Good stuff!
Thanks! Hope it helped.
Cool👍
3600 can buy a nice flats boat i paid 600 for my gheenoe 13 foot this thing is a machine on the water with a 10 hp mercury everyone is getting into the gheenoe more then solo skiff nowadays
Yeah I've seen nice little scooters for around 4 grand. And damn $600 is cheap for a gheenoe that's a hell of a deal. For that price I would get one also!
@@StixHD yes I found it on swip swap marketplace 600 with a trolling motor came with but no trailer but u can find one setup with a motor n trailer for less then 2 grand with all the goodies
I wish I couldshow u mine its a bad ass backwaters machine
Yeah I bet. It’s nice two people can fit on it also lol
@@StixHD i have a 8hp Johnson on it with me n wife n son and cooler we hit about 15 mph thts good
OK.
You wanna sell that boat in the back?
Maybe 👀 it’s a project boat for sure lol
I rather have my Jon boat better. More room and less weight.