Very nice! Have you taken it out yet? Is this a fender pointe build, or who did you buy it through? I really like the setup. I'd like to get one the same way, and definitely add the trolling motor. Looks like it would do really well here in the Texas marshes.
Yes, I've taken it out about 8-10 trips. It's a great skiff but not suiting my needs so I'm going to sell it. A trolling motor would give me exactly what I need but I've got way too much into this little skiff. I think I'm going to get the Old Town Autopilot for creek fishing and a SUP for the flats. Eventually, I'll get a larger boat.
That's sweet setup. I'm in a hobie compass now and was thinking of moving into a different vessel. Was contemplating this or an old town autopilot. Why didn't the boat work out for you. BTW, I'm in your backyard. I fish Guana all the time. As well as the Intracoastal in PVB.
I bought it to fish solo. The way I had it set up was just too much. It was a pain to get around the grab bar etc. The new owner added i pilot and has been slaying with it! I had issues poling it and trying to fish simultaneously. I also did not want to add the i pilot to it. My new Heron 16 is MUCH more boat and can hold all 3 of my kids where the Savanna was really just for 2 people. I would definitely own one again but I would only have a cooler to sit on/ stand, and a tiller. No electronics, no frills. My BIGGEST complain was trying to raise and lower motor as you got shallow. It was a pain to climb back there to raise and lower the motor. It would be nice to have power T&T but once again, no frills is the best way for that skiff. I can no longer go into Guana on my new skiff which sucks but I do want to try my SUP in there. We landed our largest flounder in there when season was closed - approximately 24” which was awesome!
@@jaxfishingadventures makes perfect sense. I have a son (10) and boat would mainly be for him and I. I was thinking the same thing about the grab bar. I'm thinking just poling platform with tiller on the back. However, I was thinking of going with the electric torqueedo option so I could use it as a trolling motor as well. A cooler upfront would be a good option too. I'm torn though between this and the autopilot.
@@yakntheflats autopilot makes the world of difference fishing up here. If it’s for your son and you’re going to get a small electric motor, I’d check out the Skanu. There’s a guy named Graham that has one locally. You can probably catch him at Fly Tying night at Strike Zone. The savanna is better than most skiffs in it’s size, if not all. It’s self bailing and a true hull not just a shell. A poling platform may be too tippy with that high of a COG. I used a casting platform to sit on and pole from. A YETI 65 would be more stable and have more room as well a dual purpose (storage or food, drinks, etc). A YETI also costs about half of a casting platform if not less.
@@yakntheflats The boat is good. I had one of the first. Gel coat was horrible and chipped everywhere on my first one. Got the 2nd and it had a chunk knocked out of the gel coat I took it since I had driven 600+ miles to pick it up. It was a prototype with coring. It weighs considerably more. Used to hit 20 mph 2 up with a 9.9 which is its rating. Now I’m lucky to get 14 mph 2 up unless my pass sits against the bow and all weight is shifted to the bow then I might hit 16 mph. Just fyi. Also draft isn’t as good any more. I was drafting 3 to 4in before and now my tohatsu puts my scupper in the water. If you get one go through a dealer and not directly through the company. I had mods I was willing to pay for when the 2nd hull was built that was never passed onto the build crew. They called me once the hull was finished and nothing could be changed, because that’s when the build crew found the notes of what I wanted.
Very stable boat for the size. Way more stable than a greenoe etc. it’s also self bailing and a finished hull. You get a lot more for the money with it. You have to understand it’s considered a kayak hybrid so there isn’t much room to walk around for 2 people etc. solo, it’s great if you don’t have the grab bar installed to walk all around. With it there, the boat tilts a bit squeezing by.
It was a nice little skiff. I’ve since upgraded to the Salt Marsh Heron 16 which is way more capable. If I was to purchase the Savanna again, I’d have a wide open deck and simply attach coolers to stand / sit etc. The grab bar was in the way to squeeze around and it was too “decked out” how I had it. I would take a simplistic approach.
