Forays to the reefline are doable for Bob Markland's 20-foot, vee-hull skiff.

“It was a great boat,” Moore recalled. “It floated in 5 1⁄2 inches of water, poled like a dream, and was extremely quiet.”

When Moore began looking for a new skiff, he wanted to retain the performance characteristics of his old boat, but enjoy the “extras” available on modern flats boats. His new boat would incorporate all the little tricks Moore needed—for sight fishing skinny water; for remote backcountry exploration; and for long-distance trailering.

He ordered a modern 17-foot skiff designed for shallow-water poling. The Maverick HPX 17 is Kevlar, light and impact-resistant. It’s also simple and shaped to minimize hull slap.

“It’s fly fishing friendly,” said Moore, “with no overhanging hatch corners or lips that catch fly lines. The hatch latches are recessed and the pushpole holders collapse in unison, flush with the deck.”

The trim tabs, made by Lenco, are recessed, less likely to be subject to damage when trailering or launching the boat.

Some other factory special orders included a compass, forward pop-up cleat and mechanically adjustable steering.

“I can move the wheel from a vertically slanted position that is best for steering while seated, to a horizontal position for when I am standing at the console,” he noted.

He had a choice of a vee-hull or tunnel, but chose the vee-hull for a better ride in choppy water.

Moore's stainless steel Ameritrail with bunk slicks and walk board promises durability and single-handed efficiency.

“My thought here is I generally avoid running shallow since I am not into burning the flats and I’d rather have the smooth ride.”

Where Moore doesn’t run shallow, he certainly fishes shallow, and thus weight was a big concern. He ordered the boat with a 90-horsepower two-stroke, as opposed to a four-stroke.

After logging thousands of highway miles towing boats, Moore has seen every possible thing that can go wrong with a trailer. He ordered a trailer constructed entirely of stainless steel, from the frame to the tire rims, and even the hand winch. It’s a trailer configured to launch so that he never needs to submerge the hubs; surefire insurance for the bearings.

“I had the bunks equipped with skid pads that with the slightest shove launches the boat; the pads make it just as easy to load with a hand crank or by running the boat up on the trailer. There’s also a stainless steel running board that allows me to walk the length of the trailer when hooking up to the winch strap,” he explained.

The spare tire, spare hub and bearings are attached to the front of the trailer, easily removed if he needs to change a flat or ruined hub.

To trick out the boat, Moore visited Master Repair in Fort Lauderdale, owned and operated by Mike Flavin.

“First I wanted the factory wiring replaced with nickel-plated wiring,” Moore recalled. “I would never have to be concerned with the corrosion copper wiring is prone to.”

Flavin installed courtesy lighting under the gunnels, handy illumination for the rod racks before sunrise. He also installed a light under the poling platform, enough to see the baitwell, tie knots or rummage through rear hatches. Lastly, a courtesy light inside the console.

Console houses tilt wheel, fishfinder and (interior) compact Odyssey batteries.

Flavin also made a custom battery tray; Moore uses one for the trolling motor, the other for cranking the outboard. Within the console is a battery charger that requires only an extension cord from the house.

The batteries Flavin installed are Odysseys, a new make which debuted in military applications. The batteries are smaller than regular marine 12-volt batteries, and have a 6- to 10-year service life. Moore will put some of the company’s promises to the test, such as recharge after full discharge over 400 times.

The trolling motor is a Minn Kota CoPilot. Speed and direction are controlled by foot pedal or with remote control attached to the fishing rod, belt or your wrist. The motor also has an autopilot feature that maintains direction with the push of a button. A quick-release system on the bow deck lets Moore remove the motor on days when he’ll be using the pushpole instead.

Since the trolling motor blocked the light of the boat’s factory-installed popup bow lights, Moore had LED lights installed on the console.