I am a kayak angler and have been for the last decade, but I have found myself longing to go further into the marsh and explore beyond what I can paddle and reach in a day. The next logical step was a small skiff, but where to start? I wanted something easy to handle both on and off the water, lightweight, and I didn’t want to sacrifice the obvious benefits of a kayak. They can get super shallow and into the tightness places. They can be loaded into the back of a truck and launched anywhere. And probably one of the biggest advantages is they don’t break the bank. This search eventually led me to Mel Walker the founder, designer, and owner of Salt Marsh Skiffs and Ankona Boats. He has a passion for building very practical and lightweight skiffs that simply do what they are supposed to! I told him what I was looking for and what I thought was missing in the skiff/kayak world and to my surprise he had already been playing with the idea of a new “hybrid” skiff that would help bridge the gap between a them and kayaks. Something that would combine the range and comfort of a boat and the versatility of a kayak!
The wait was the hardest part, but after a few months the prototype was born. I drove down and we put it on the water. To say the least I was impressed! It did everything I wanted it to do. Big enough for two, stable, light, quick, and a super skinny draft made it the perfect little boat for me. One of the coolest features was the fact it was self bailing which is huge for the occasional time a small boat meets a big wave.
When I heard my skiff was in the mold I could hardly contain myself! I drove down and helped put the finishing touches on myself and off I went. The first trip out I took my 3-year-old son and it was just amazing! He was able to move around freely, play, and fish with plenty of room left for gear. Since then I had the opportunity to take it to the flood tides on the coast of NC and again I was impressed! Even with two “bigger” guys it floated the flats in less than 4”s of water. Coming from a kayak the Savanna feels super roomy and stable enough for two.
I am still playing with the rigging and power options but it is quickly becoming one of the most fun watercrafts I have ever been around!
Savanna Micro Skiff Specs:
- Length 14’
- Beam 40” Waterline 48” Deck
- Weight 150lb
- Max People 2
- Max HP 9.9
- Intro Price 3650 going up to 3950
Salt Marsh Contacts
Phone: 772.801.3052
Email: [email protected]
Shop: 2310 N. Old Dixie Highway, Fort Pierce, Florida, 34946
About Jameson Redding
Jameson Redding has been working in the kayak fishing industry for over 6 years and has done everything from fishing and running kayak tournaments, to product development. Over the past few years he has established himself as a professional videographer creating content for several key brands in the fishing industry.
Jameson Redding
Blue Sky Boatworks, Brand Manager
JK Media House, Director
Jackson Kayak, Orion Coolers, Blue Sky Boatworks
Phone: 931-256-5057
Savannah Micro Skiff Photo Gallery
