Skiff Talk Episode 6: MAVERICK HPX-S (FEAT. Capt. Cam Pappas)

To fish with Cam and see his Maverick HPX-S in action, visit the link here: https://bit.ly/4aR4noA

To fish with Conner and see his Hell's Bay Guide in action, visit the link here: https://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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As we continue our Skiff Talk’s in Wilmington we have Capt. Cam’s Maverick HPX-S. This is the second HPX-S we have done in this series, although they are the same hulls they have both been modified to fit each guides preference. To check out out the first one click the link below:

https://bit.ly/3RjCz56

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Maverick Boatworks has made quite an impressive name for itself and after seeing Capt. Cams HPX-S in action I definitely see why. Simple, tough, light- weight, and floats in a few inches of water. These skiffs are a perfect for navigating the oyster mine fields and spartina islands of the Carolina’s. This skiff is owned and operated by Capt. Cameron Pappas of BlackBird Guide Service in Wilmington NC.

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General Specs of the Maverick HPX-S:

Length: 17’8”

Draft: 6”

Weight: 1175 lbs

Fuel: 19 Gal

Max Person: 3

Max Horsepower: 70

From Bow to stern:

As I approached this skiff my eyes were immediately drawn to the bow. The custom toe rails going around the bow of the skiff added a great cosmetic appeal, but is very functional as it helps with fly line management as well as keeping clients inside of the boat. This is one of many custom features Capt. Cam has on his skiff. After getting a closer look at the bow you’ll see a large compartment hatch. This compartment has deep gutters to keep water out, and provides ample space for storage and equipment. The 19 gallon fuel tank is visible with a fiberglass plate forward of it to help with corruption prevention. One thing to note in the front compartment is that it seamlessly drains under the cockpit deck and into the bilge.

Wide gunnels with forward and after facing rod storage tucked underneath is another notable feature. The podium consoles are great because they offer the option of removing the jump seat and opening up the cockpit space. The console has a simple layout, with a large compartment under the helm that allows access to console storage and provides a view of all wiring within.

The aft deck of the Maverick HPX-S has two flip up seats mounted forward of the compartments and features four compartment hatches aft of them. These include: a center forward compartment with an 18-gallon livewell for keeping bait alive; a center aft compartment for bilge access and motor rigging; a port side large open storage compartment with a deep gutter draining hatch; and a starboard side large open storage compartment with a deep gutter draining hatch. A custom step added to the front of the poling platform that is clear of the compartments and motor was a great addition in my opinion. The skiff has a 6’ Atlas Micro jackplate and is powered by a Yamaha F-70 engine. Cruising speed is in the low to mid 30 mphs and a maximum speed of around 40 mph — depending on the load in the boat and environmental factors.

These skiffs are a great, reliable, even coveted platform by many shallow water anglers, and for good reason. Lightweight, dry, durable, and easy to maneuver, this is a great example of a skiff designed for longevity and reliability. Huge thanks to Capt. Cam for showing us his Maverick HPX-S

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Chapter Index:

00:00 Intro

00:27 Skiff Overview

00:40 Bow

01:37 Front Hatch

03:22 Front Compartment

04:52 Fuel Cap

05:24 Cockpit

06:49 Aft Seats

08:25 Center Console

09:45 Aft Deck

10:20 Poling Platform

10:58 Aft Compartments

13:56 Motor

14:35 Prop

16:12 Jackplate

16:36 Trim Tabs

19:00 Underway Performance

21:20 Outro

21:58 Capt. Cam’s Info