Islamorada 18
From sloppy to skinny to everything in-between, the Islamorada 18’s revolutionary hull design is ready, willing and more than able. Choose from one of the following editions for a skiff to meet any demand and budget.
#ChittumSkiffs Gallery
#skiffforsale 2023 #islamorada21 Mangrove Edition. 30 hours, lots of options. Call Hal or text for details. 1 (386) 589-7224
#challenger18 available for delivery in 4 weeks. #skiffforsale #skifflife #microskiff #sideconsole #sideconsoleboats #polingskiff #technicalpolingskiff #flyfishing ##carbonfiberskiff #carbonfiber
Still playing with props and tabs, more to go but so far it’s a sweet ride. 45 mph with a little tab down in the first clip. Close to 50 mph no tab in the second clip. Back at it next week. Thanks #teamchittum for all the great work… it’s all coming together. #mangrove21 #lagunamadre21 #kingofskiffs @mercurymarine @simradyachtingofficial #skifflife
New build headed to the Keys. #mangroveperformance18 #carbonfiberskiff #islamorada18 @yamaha7man @yamahaoutboards @simradnation @simradyachting @pwrpux @power.pole @edson_marine
#challenger18 ready for delivery. @flyasalt @239shopmom #sideconsole #flyfishing #flyfishingskiff #skiff #skifflife #skiffporn #carbonfiberskiff #carbonfiber #microskiff #technicalpolingskiff #shallowdraft #shallowminds
As we get closer to splash time here are a few more shots. #islamorada21 #lagunamadre21 #mangrove21 #chittumskiffs 2degreedeadrise @mercurymarine @simradyachting @simradnation
Our prototype #islamorada21 2 degree is now in the rigging side. Should be out turning heads while we put it through testing. #inovationnotimitation #newmodel #speedstrengthperformance #kingofskiffs @simradyachting @simradyachtingofficial @simradnation @mercurymarine
#endeavoursportfishing #chittumskiffs #spenceryachts #challenger18 #fishermanscenter #sportfishingadventures #flyfishing #sportfishing #skiff #skifflife #marlin #bonefish #permit #caribbean #tender #yachting #yachttender @yrmcustom @simradyachting @goldkeyyachts @endeavoursportfishing @golfish_ @georgesawley
New ride for Mr. Brown #mangrove21 all Tortuga green. @simradyachting @power.pole @mercurymarine @edson_marine @marquesamarine
#challenger18 #endeavoursportfishing #yachttender #skiff #skifflife #technicalpolingskiff #carbonfiberskiff
The Yeti trays fit great in our carbon fiber tray. Thanks Andy! #yeti #andymill @millhousepodcast
Evolution of Chittum Skiffs
These skiffs might just be our best models to date, lighter and faster with reduced weight coming in at 345 pounds before rigging depending on options. Snake Bight and Laguna Madre Editions are even more advance then our other models but less expensive.
With 8 years of building the most advanced composite skiff in the industry we have learned a lot along the way in building processes, materials and the advancements in chemistry. So it was time to go back to the drawing board to come up with a price comparable edition to compete in the market with our patented hull design.
The most notable part of the redesign was to the deck, we went from 5 hatches to 3. This simplified the layout for infusion and reducing the amount of parts/hatches. We removed the cooler from our console and added a flange instead of the raised toe kick console that was very time consuming to build. We also went back to our engineer to rework our lamination schedule by reducing the horse power rating to a 90hp on our 12 degree hull and 70 on our 2 degree hull. We also removed our 30 gallon live well and added a small crab/shrimp well instead. We further reduced weight and parts by adding engineered structure in the laminate to eliminate the forward most bulkhead forward of the fuel tank and the aft knees that supported the back deck and closed out the port and starboard lockers.
Just like our Legacy and Performance models all major parts have structural carbon fiber included in the lamination, added more then our previous models due to the removal of the forward bulkhead and aft knees. We all have a layer of kevlar in the running surface to mitigate damage in a collision and reduce puncture. All main parts are cored and resin infused.
We now offer a carbon system that can reduce your weight by 50 pounds and adds the hi-tech look of real carbon with a clear coating. Carbon parts include transom, inside of hatches and console, drain box, live well, poling platform and rigging flanges.
Our Legacy
While many skiff builders have hung their hats (and hopes) on boats coined after hallowed fishing grounds, no flats skiff has ever lived up to the name Islamorada — one of the most celebrated and certainly daunting sight fishing destinations in the world. Leave it to legendary guide, boat builder and entrepreneur Hal Chittum to go where no skiff builder has gone before, designing a flats skiff that eclipses everything that has come before it.
“Our mission was simple in description but difficult in execution – build the absolute state-of-the-art flats skiff with the best design and the latest high-tech composite materials and solve all of the problems we had tried to fix at Hells Bay.”
On the Water
I have about 10 days on the water with my new Snake Bight so its time for a review. To start, it looks great! Colors came out just right. Performance is better than I had hoped for even though I new it would be good since I have been using an Islamorada 18 for the past year (Thanks Gregg!!). Just about zero hull rise when accelerating or stopping. Planes almost immediately. Poling is as easy as it gets and a true 7″ draft. I have access to truck scales and weighed both my old 2004 Marquesa and my new SB – the difference is 600 lbs! – a 40% reduction in overall weight. What surprises me the most, with the huge weight difference, is how stable this boat is and how well it rides in rough waters – even more so than the Marquesa.You have, once again, revolutionized the skiff industry!
I’ve known Hal Chittum for 34 years. He has always been on the quest to build the best thing around weather that be a fly reel or a boat. It has been a pleasure to have been part of that quest in past skiffs. These new designs of his have raised the bar for everyone out there looking to have something that is very unique that really works. Well done to Hal Chittum and his crew.
I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary with the Islamorada-18 and the 60hp honda – I could not be happier. There are no stress cracks, no wiring issues, and the painted surfaces clean up much easier than gel-coat. I admit that I am not the fastest skiff in the fleet in calm water- I can hit 42 mph by myself and 38 to 40 with a passenger. I usually cruise between 30 and 35 mph and get 10 miles per gal. while I’m at it. When it gets windy I go by the HB 17.8s, Biscaynes, and Super Skiffs with their 90’s and stay completely dry I don’t even have to clean my sunglasses.
News & Events
New skiff from a Hell’s Bay founder
by Capt. Greg Poland, GregPoland.com I met Hal Chittum when I was about 14years old. Out fishing with my cousin near a place called [...]
Hal Chittum pursues perfection with his flats boats
by Jim Sutton, 2011, Jacksonville.com Hal Chittum sits beside an old desk in a stark office at the corner of a plain white building [...]
The bar has been raised
by Capt. Jan Lemieux, Microskiff.com With current economic trends to downsize and “do more with less”, cautious souls might be inclined to hunker down [...]