Microsskiffs have been blowing up in popularity the last few years. We witnessed the trend reaching paddling brands firsthand at ICAST 2024 this past summer with new products like the Isle Flywater.
Angler Joe Oceanside wanted one of his own, but the price tag accompanying most models put it out of his range. That was until he spotted a pontoon-style paddleboard at Costco and hatched an idea to create an insanely cheap DIY skiff.
What exactly is a microskiff?
Seeing this newer category of fishing vessel pop up, you may be wondering whether these are just paddleboards with a motor attached to the back or simply a skiff capable of paddling. The answer, like most in defining boat categories, is yes, no, both. The definition of a microskiff is vague. Generally it is something larger than a standard paddleboard, capable of attaching a small motor. A personal-size skiff if you will.
The goal of a microskiff is perhaps the more important focus. Which is to reach skinny, often inaccessible, water on the lightest vessel possible.
Joe Oceanside’s Costco Build
Back to the matter at hand, Joe Oceanside’s elaborate, and insanely cheap, microskiff home build.
The angler found the catamaran-hulled Hyperlite Elevation 2.0 paddleboard on sale at Costco for only $299. He purchased a four-horse power motor from Temu for $280.
So Joe Oceanside had his board and motor, but just how would he put the two together to have himself a microskiff? It’s nothing a few two-by-fours can’t handle. The angler created a mount at the back of the Hyperlite board, with arms running up the sides of the board as braces.
After some initial motor testing, Joe Oceanside adds homemade PVC-pipe rod holders, adds a lanyard kill-switch, and throws his cooler on the deck. Then it’s off to a backcountry test to see if his skiff creation is up to the task.
There is room for improvement, but overall the angler is excited about the microskiff, especially the price tag. And in Joe Oceanside’s words, “There’s no truck, no trailer needed. You could roll it up into a Toyota Camry and have it all rigged within a matter of minutes.”
Feature Image: Joe Oceanside | YouTube
