Skiff Talk Episode 5: MAVERICK HPX-T & HELL'S BAY MARQUESA (FEAT. Capt. Ethan Bilderback)

To fish with Ethan and see his Maverick HPX-T and Hell's Bay Marquesa in action, visit the link here: bit.ly/3UCBgQY
To fish with Conner and see his Hell's Bay Guide in action, visit the link here: bit.ly/3ua5sIC
This video is purely informational, and is not an ad or paid endorsement for any particular watercraft or boat product.
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Written overview by Capt. Conner Bryant
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Wanting to get to those hard to reach fish back in the shallows or maybe long runs on open flats that are only a few inches deep? Well, the Maverick HPX-T is a skiff designed just for that. With light-weight design paired with the trusted and proven Maverick build quality, this skiff is perfect for skinny water fishing. The tunnel hull on this boat allows you to run it almost through dry ground - as barely any water is needed to keep this skiff moving on plane. The deck space is very comparable to other Maverick’s we've seen, with a large, dry compartment on the bow, plenty of rod and tackle storage, as well as a live well.
HPX-T Specs
Length 16’ 9”
Beam 6’ 3”
Draft: 0 ft. 5 in
Fuel tank capacity: 18
Max load: 450
Bow to Stern:
Large bow compartment with fuel tank access. The fuel tank extends into the center of the compartment but still leaves plenty of space for safety gear. Large gutters that drain into the bilge ensure that all of the compartments on this skiff are dry. Moving back, this skiff has a yeti cooler as a jump seat just in front of the podium style console. The console has a swing hatch access that allows you to get to the rigging behind the console as well as the batteries. Behind that on the aft deck is another large dry compartment, a live well, and an access port to the motor rigging, filter, and bilge. One thing that stood out to me on this skiff is the high poling platform which is necessary for the raised motor sitting at the tunnel. The recessed trim tabs are another item this skiff has that if you're fishing in tight creeks can be an extremely useful tool. Once you see the large tunnel hull this skiff has it starts to make sense on how this boat can run in such shallow water.
This skiff is powered by a Yamaha 70 which can push it at a comfortable cruising speed while burning a minimum amount of fuel.
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Hells Bay Marquesa
The Marquesa is a versatile skiff, designed to offer a comfortable ride on open water crossings while still excelling on backwater flats. This has become a very popular skiff for anglers and guides throughout the Southeast. After putting eyes on this one, I see why they are so sought after.
Marquesa Specs
Length: 18’ 1”
Weight: 695
Beam: 79”
Draft: 7”
Fuel Tank: 28 Gal
Power: 90-150hp
Max POB: 4
Bow to Stern:
As you approach the Marquesa it's hard to miss the recognizable lines of the Chris Morejohn design. With spray rails running from bow to stern and a large free board this skiff looks extremely dry. The front bow compartment is massive, even while housing the 28 gallon fuel tank it still has plenty of room for safety gear or storage. All of the compartments have deep gutters that drain so you know nothing is getting wet. Walking back on this side console you appreciate the beam of the skiff. Wide gunnels and an open cockpit that you could put more seating, a bean bag, cooler, and just about anything else you wanted in it and still have room to walk around. The aft compartment have a similar layout to prior Hells Bays we have done in the past, with the port and starboard compartments being large and open with access to rigging, and dry storage. The center compartment is a large round live well that can recirculate. This skiff was powered by a Yamaha 115 V Max and has a cruising speed of in the 40’s and max speed touching the 50’s.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:10 Introduce Capt. Ethan
00:31 Maverick Intro and Specs
01:40 Bow
02:33 Cockpit and Console
04:00 Poling Platform
04:25 Power Pole
04:51 Outboard and Prop
05:58 Aft Compartments
07:30 Rod Storage
08:00 Push Pole Holder
08:21 Tunnel Design
10:26 Trim Tabs
10:48 Marquesa Intro
11:00 Hull Design and Specs
12:00 Bow Layout and Compartment
14:56 Fuel Tank
16:16 Cockpit Layout
16:48 Rod Storage
17:19 Aft Compartments
18:10 Livewell
18:50 Powerpole
20:29 Outboard and Prop
22:45 Trim Tabs
23:20 Console
24:00 Outro
24:20 Capt. Ethan info

[@justin_menendez]

Not a guide but would love to be on skiff talk. Really enjoy watching these!

[@anycreek]

Thanks for the support, Justin! Glad you're enjoying "Skiff Talk"

[@justin_menendez]

@@anycreek if you guys want to do and EVO V review mine will be done in a month.

[@zachw5085]

I would be interested in seeing a East Cape Vantage and a Morada 18

[@anycreek]

We will keep our ear to the ground!