X16 Fishing Ski
You asked, we listened and it is finally here; The X16 is the little brother of our first fishing ski model, the X18, with some key differences. While the lines on the deck will look familiar from the larger model, the hull is where the differences become evident. Firstly, the X16 sees a reduction in volume and a significant increase in rocker which given the subseqent reduction in wetted surface area, translates into a sharper more manueverable ski that accelerates quicker off the line and turns on a dime - perfect for those needing to transit surf zones to chase their fish. While it does have a little less primary stability than the X18, the X16 eats up a following sea and will see you back at the launch site with a smile on your face. The X16 is also a great option for those with less storage space at home, and the reduction in size and weight makes this ski easier to handle on and off your vehicle. We've kept all the good stuff from the X18 - the low seat for stability, maximised fish hatch as well as all the standard features of the bigger ski , we've just shrunk it down and added a little more character!
What layups are available for the X16?
Surf (Basalt):
Boats in this layup are a combination of basalt, innegra and fiberglass reinforcement with lantor Coremat® used to increase stiffness. This is the comparable layup to most imported fishing skis, but with some premium reinforecment materials to added to give more strength in key areas. These boats give priority to strength and durability at a competitive price point. They are the perfect choice for people 'hard on their gear' or those looking for a budget friendly option to maximise value. These boats are slightly heavier than the other layup schedules, but can take some rough and tumble and are straightforward to repair if you do manage to break it. These are a great option for beginners and for those developing their technique for surf launches and landings.
From $3,695
Ultra VIRT (Kevlar):
Boats in ultra VIRT layup are are built using Vacuum Infused Resin Transfer, and are a 50/50 hybrid construction of fiberglass and kevlar cloth. A Soric ® SF core is used to increase stiffness . These boats have great impact resistance for a lighter craft weight and are the perfect choice for people using their boats in bumpy water and want a good balance of weight and strength. Kevalr boats are in our opinion the best option for paddlers transiting surf zones as the kevlar maintains more structural integrity than carbon after big impacts. This is our most popular layup and suited to the majority of users, particularly those wanting an upgrade from a standard fiberglass ski.
From $4,695
Elite VIRT (Carbon):
We understand that not all ski paddlers are transiting surf zones where they fish - some have access out front from sheltered harbours or do most of their fishing in bays and estuaries but want a fast paddle craft for covering distance in tidal waters. Like the Ultra layup, our elite boats are also built using Vacuum Infused Resin Transfer, but this time giving priority to weight reduction over all else. The VIRT process is used to provide optimum wet-out of fibres and very consistent boat weights. This layup utilises carbon fibre cloths combined with the use of premium core materials, resulting in the lightest, stiffest layup we offer. These boats are also good option for those loading on a high vehicle, but will require more care and are not recommended for use in big surf conditions.
From $5,195
Spec
Length: 488 cm (16ft)
Width: 61.5 cm (24 inches)
Paddler Capacity: 95 Kg
Usable Payload: 180 Kg
Standard Inclusions
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Standard colour layout (block or two-tone)
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Large fish hatch with room for 7.5ft rods and 1 piece paddles with access via main lid and screw hatch
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Front deck paddle park with scuff pad
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Easily adjustable foot pedals with rudder controls
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Self draining footwells with Udek EVA padding
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Front breather drainage bung
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ABS Thermoform fish hatch lid with lever lock strap & quick release cord
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4 flushmount rod holders (2 x trolling & 2 x storage)
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BG Twist rear hatch
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Dyneema rudder lines
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Magnetised tackle tray
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Front & rear recessed carry handles
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Central recessed loading handles
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Carbon rod rack
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Recessed Xplora surf rudder
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Recessed transducer scanport with foam mounting block
Options/Upgrades & Weights:
Whenever we post a boat online or pull up on a beach, by far the most common thing we get asked is how much does it weigh? I think as consumers of fishing craft, we have become conditioned to expect advertised boat weights to be guide only due to our lived experinece with other craft on the market. In my time before I built boats myself, I had the unpleasant experience of ordering a full carbon boat from a manufacturer which arrived to me at 2kg heavier than the advertised weight for that company's fiberglass boat. As a result of that experience, we resolved to make the process more transparent to our customers to allow them to make informed decisions about the design of their boat and how it will affect the end weight.
Gelcoat colours:
The gelcoat used for your ski comes in three forms 1) clear, 2) neutral 3) white.
Clear is typically used for boats with visible carbon or kevlar weaves and is used straight out of the pail with no additives other than the catalyst, this is also true of the white gelcoat so 1 kg of gelcoat weighed out is 1kg of gelcoat going in the mold. For all other colours, neutral is used whereby the kilo of gelcoat is weighed out and then a pigment is added at a certain percetange to make the colour. Darker colours use less pigment so for example black is 6% but organges, yellows and light greens for example are in the 20% range. This means your 1kg of gelcoat is now 1.2kg, hence why plain white boats are lighter. There is also the factor of coverage (opacity); lighter colours will require to be sprayed in a thicker layer in order to acheive opacity, often much more than the minimum required thickness for cure and to avoid triping (wrinkling) of the outer layer of the boat. So essentually the lighter the colour the heavier your ski will be. The second factor with gelcoat weight is the design you use for the colours. The more coloured shapes/lines in your design the more seperate sprays required to produce the design. Each spray will have minimum fan width from the spray gun which means some overlap of colours within the mold. Each of those overlaps means more gelcoat weight in the end product. At Xplora we aim to produce a consistent boat weight for a given layup so as a result lighter colour boats will have more visible weaves than darker ones in the final product. More information on custom colour options/designs is available here.
The boat weights we produce in standard fitout for each layup are as follows:
Surf: 27Kg
Ultra VIRT: 25.5kg
Elite VIRT: 24kg
Accessories:
The other factor affecting the end weght of your boat is what accessories above the standard fitout you choose to add to your ski. The table below shows the most common items we get asked for and the cost and weight of each to help you predict the end weight of your ski.
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Tackle hatch installed under seat $50 (adds 800g to boat weight)
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Livewell installed under seat with dual flush mount Allen bailers $200 (adds 1kg to boat weight)
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Hinged rear dry hatch lid $20 (adds 200g weight)
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Battery post & Berleypro lithium mount $89
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Footwell mounted RAM bases $70 (200g)
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Railblaza HD starport installed on rear deck for light/flag $30 (80g)
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Installation of your transducer in scanport prior to delivery $80 (~300g)
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Full fish finder install: (head unit in flush mount hatch lid, transducer in scanport & FPV ready wiring including waterproof fuse) $150 (allow approx 800g for 5 inch sounder & transducer)
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Extra lock lever hatch straps & toe strap plates $25 (60g)
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Extra flush rod holder (fitted) $50
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Anchor trolley kit (full length with Ronstan hardware) $100 (200g)
Package Deal:
$100 discount on any new Braca paddle when purchased with an X16 ski.
