I'll be looking to buy my first boat next summer so I've started looking now. Anyone have any input on the Carolina Skiffs?
Giggy McFlatty
Carolina Skiff Pros/Cons
I think the flat bottoms ride rough, but for some reason it seems that every commercial cat fisherman on Lake Livingston uses Carolina Skiff to make their living. I bet there is a reason.
I have a 218 dlv its a good boat especially if you have a family. people complain about the ride and how wet it is.. sometimes it can be a bit bumpy just slow down or take the chop in an angle and youl do fine.. as far as being a wet ride i dont think it is at all. being a wet ride is not my complaint with this boat whatsoever. ive taking it out to the rigs, ive hung out at the mouth of the jetties took a few breakers and not once did i feel unsafe. it definitely is sea worthy or atleast the stuff ive been into.. I use mine to pull my niece and nephew on a tube at canyon lake and it has a good load capacity.. i had ten people on it once lol. now the complaints i have is not the ride but the shallow water performance.. the draft it really is no more than eight inches so if you have a trolling motor it is great for that or if you put jackplate you could put around really shallow since the draft is so little. but getting it on plane and running skinny water is different story. the boat squats and drags my motor every time.. however i dont have a jackplate but i recently just put some tabs. hopefully ill get it dialed in with a jackplate soon.
I had the 17 DLX with the little bow bump to prevent water from spraying up, was a very dry boat except in howling winds.
Yes the flat bottom pounds, wear flip flops or your feet will be sore next day. But it's a very seaworthy boat, I used to take mine up to 10 miles out going slow and the ride home in a following sea was much better.
Some things to watch out for, they used to use a grid structure to support a very thin deck, if water got in to the hull through say screw holes from your leaning post or top, the boat could get heavy and under perform. This is discussed in a few threads at Carolina Skiff Owner.
Otherwise that boat is bullet proof, bought it used and sold it 4 years later for the same amount. It holds it's value well. The only reason I sold was that I needed a skinnier running boat and it was too small.
Yes the flat bottom pounds, wear flip flops or your feet will be sore next day. But it's a very seaworthy boat, I used to take mine up to 10 miles out going slow and the ride home in a following sea was much better.
Some things to watch out for, they used to use a grid structure to support a very thin deck, if water got in to the hull through say screw holes from your leaning post or top, the boat could get heavy and under perform. This is discussed in a few threads at Carolina Skiff Owner.
Otherwise that boat is bullet proof, bought it used and sold it 4 years later for the same amount. It holds it's value well. The only reason I sold was that I needed a skinnier running boat and it was too small.
Pros:
-it's a simple and open boat, can load it up with kids and have plenty of room.
-very easy to clean after a day of fishing
- doesn't need alot of hp for the size of boat, i had a 21' with a 115 and it would run 45
Cons:
- like stated above, it floats fairly shallow, but getting it up in shallow water is a different story, i had a jackplate and still was lucky to get up in 18 inches of water
-there is not a rougher riding boat out there, in the marsh you'll be fine, but running across any chop will make your bones ache for a week. It is what it is, a big flat-bottomed boat.
-you will get soaked unless it is a glass type day, the front of the boat pushes the water up and the spray soaks you.
-the trailers they come with are usually junk
I've had lots of boats over the years, i like to buy and sell them for a profit, and this was the most disappointing boat i ever owned. It was a 21 with the semi v, i can't remember the model.
-it's a simple and open boat, can load it up with kids and have plenty of room.
-very easy to clean after a day of fishing
- doesn't need alot of hp for the size of boat, i had a 21' with a 115 and it would run 45
Cons:
- like stated above, it floats fairly shallow, but getting it up in shallow water is a different story, i had a jackplate and still was lucky to get up in 18 inches of water
-there is not a rougher riding boat out there, in the marsh you'll be fine, but running across any chop will make your bones ache for a week. It is what it is, a big flat-bottomed boat.
-you will get soaked unless it is a glass type day, the front of the boat pushes the water up and the spray soaks you.
-the trailers they come with are usually junk
I've had lots of boats over the years, i like to buy and sell them for a profit, and this was the most disappointing boat i ever owned. It was a 21 with the semi v, i can't remember the model.
Value packaged boats that will get you on the water so you and your family can enjoy boating, fishing, water skiing, etc.
Never had one, but one of my best friends did at one time and I had many great fishing trips with him. These boats are built to take a beating, and will give you your moneys worth in fun, and good times. Nothing fancy, but that is what makes these boats appeal to a lot of people.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
Never had one, but one of my best friends did at one time and I had many great fishing trips with him. These boats are built to take a beating, and will give you your moneys worth in fun, and good times. Nothing fancy, but that is what makes these boats appeal to a lot of people.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
I had a JVX 16. Floated very shallow like 4". Drove like a bathtub and felt like a car with no shocks. You would get beat to death and soaked in chop. To me the Mako ProSkiff has a much smoother ride.
I have owned to skiffs. A J16 and a 1780 DLX. For you money hard to beat. Tough as a tank. You will learn to slow down and quarter waves or it will beat you up. Draft is real shallow. Very forgiving boat. If you run it up on a sandbar just get out and push it off. Easy to load. This is a great beginners boat. You cant go wrong with this boat. If I had to give you any advice make sure that you get the dlx model. You will like the width of the boat. No canoe affect when you move around.
I have owned 3
I have toured the factory in GA as well .. I used to sell to them
dont buy one shorter than 21' .... you need the length (there is a reason you see so many smaller ones for sale used and so few in the 21-24')
The older style single hull - the flat bottom was Less wet than their Semi V
(had a factory Rep teach me that) ...you would think the other way
They are flat bottoms - so NO you cant run fast in heavy shop and expect to stay dry - they are not the only hulls like that
Since there is no tunnel - IMO there is no need for a jack plate
When buying a used one- make sure every screw in the floor had 5200 in it ...if not you have water in the hull and cant get it out completely .... (you still need to drill hole to get it out)
I ran a 88 spcl on my 21' and a 115 e-tec on my 24' ..... you dont need a bunch of HP
And we built the 1st one from parts .... amazing how well it worked over the dealer rigged one
I have toured the factory in GA as well .. I used to sell to them
dont buy one shorter than 21' .... you need the length (there is a reason you see so many smaller ones for sale used and so few in the 21-24')
The older style single hull - the flat bottom was Less wet than their Semi V
(had a factory Rep teach me that) ...you would think the other way
They are flat bottoms - so NO you cant run fast in heavy shop and expect to stay dry - they are not the only hulls like that
Since there is no tunnel - IMO there is no need for a jack plate
When buying a used one- make sure every screw in the floor had 5200 in it ...if not you have water in the hull and cant get it out completely .... (you still need to drill hole to get it out)
I ran a 88 spcl on my 21' and a 115 e-tec on my 24' ..... you dont need a bunch of HP
And we built the 1st one from parts .... amazing how well it worked over the dealer rigged one
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
