Like many Beavertail owners, I knew exactly what I wanted in a skiff, however, I was initially focused on other manufacturers. I’m not sure exactly when or where I saw the Rival, but when I did, I was extremely interested. From what I saw online, the boat checked many of the boxes I required in a skiff.
I inquired about the Rival through the BT website and almost immediately was greeted by Ann and we began building the skiff. The online skiff builder tool is excellent. Throughout the entire process, both Ann and Harry were hands on. They answered all my questions and accommodated my requests when possible.
The end result… An ice blue Rival that exceeds my expectations. The skiff performs as advertised. I opted for the Yamaha F50 which provides ample power for 2 adults and gear. The hole shot with the F50 is excellent. I wanted to keep things simple, however, ended up going with a few creature comforts such as the Minn Kota Terrova, SIMRAD, etc. The available options for this skiff compliment the boat well.
Finally, the trailer was super important to me… I took ownership of the Rival in late July and by November I have 4,800 miles on the trailer. It’s a sturdy trailer made for long hauls and interstate driving. Since my purchase, BT introduced the Rival with a side console option. I think this option would only compliment this skiff.
Overall, I’m very pleased. If you’re looking for a simple, skinny water, easy poling, very powerful skiff… You should investigate the Rival.
