I’ve been looking at skiff lately and always figured the Carolina Skiff dlv would be perfect for my needs. Started doing more research and I see a lot of things on Carolina skiff with waterlogged Hulls is this really a problem? I see Key West makes a nice skiff although a bit narrower but I don’t see any negative reviews on them anybody have any thoughts? How would a guy know if a used one had a water intrusion problem?
Really two different types of boats in my opinion and if the price is the same, I’d go with the Key West all day long. I’ve always thought Carolina Skiffs were price point boats and for the money they make a great product. Key West is more of a traditional deep V hull and Carolina Skiff is more of a modified flat bottom.
Following…thinking of a Carolina skiff for my boys a good way out in the future and curios about the waterlogged hulls that seem to be a popular problem on these hulls. Hoping someone can weigh in and give idea on a year range to stay clear of? My kids will need a creek boat one day and I like the additional flotation a skiff would give over my Jon boat for safety reasons.
I was considering the key west skiff not the v hull
**** bro…
I’ve owned a 1997 17’ old style Carolina Skiff since 2009, it’s been a great boat and is not waterlogged. There are some stress cracks in the gel coat but no structural issues. I treat the hull like dog crap…practically sink it with loads of firewood, run it hard up on sand beaches and oysters reef,etc. It only sees soap about once a year. No running lights,bilge pumps, or live wells to maintain. Just a great, simple, very hard to screw up boat.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50
The basics
Cons
Slow
Will beat the H out you in chop
Wet ride
Pros
Easy to clean operate and maintain
Tougher than most boats
Cheaper than most boats.
I had a 13ftr that was similar to a carolina skiff. I jumped a oyster mound by accident, barley scratched through the gel coat. I have a uncle with a old water logged 16ft c skiff. It crabbed and oysterd the 90s and some of the early 2000s before he got it from his buddy. It has a pot hole in the back of the boat, is water logged to hell and sits in his creek and fills up with mud and water, he drains and takes it out like once a year and its still kicking though not very good, most boats would of been dead long ago. Ive also helped unbeach a 24 ft c skiff. It was far from the water and we picked up the front and spun it 180 toward the water, and then dragged the back 180 to the water, a few more times and the front was in the water enough to push down enough to lift the back enough to push it in. I can gurantee there is a small portion of 24 ft boats you can do that with.
The deep models can handle rougher water but only at low speeds. Ive been in a 12ft, 16ft, 17ft, 19ft, 24ft, 26ft not a lot of difference they are basically just scaled up models of the smaller ones. I cant speak on the KW skiff because no experience but i do know the cc ive been on are well made and perform well. There is a reason so many work boats are carolina skiff. They are work horses. Very good creek and river boats. I think the main difference between the cs and kw is the finish and frills. KW will definetly be a little more polished and tricked out, possibly more family friendly. Depending the model a cs an be bare minimum.
As far as water logged goes its an easy fix. My brother bought a water logged boat for cheap. I tapped the bottom with my finger and listened like tapping a melon and found the ripe spot. Drilled a hole and let it all drip out. His old slow net/well boat now is almost 3 times the speed.
The hull weight and performance wi
quote:
Originally posted by Beaufort BoyI’ve owned a 1997 17’ old style Carolina Skiff since 2009, it’s been a great boat and is not waterlogged. There are some stress cracks in the gel coat but no structural issues. I treat the hull like dog crap…practically sink it with loads of firewood, run it hard up on sand beaches and oysters reef,etc. It only sees soap about once a year. No running lights,bilge pumps, or live wells to maintain. Just a great, simple, very hard to screw up boat.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50
I had the same boat for several years with a Suzuki 40. Couldn’t hurt the hull and never had any water logging issues. the Flat bottom will hurt an inexperienced boater in a hard turn and I did not like it if two heavy people got on the same side landing a fish, too much lean over. Like Beafort Boy said run in on a oyster bed, beach it, what ever, it took some heavy abuse. Little tilex and a pressure washer once a year. good to go. Put two high bunks on each side of the trailer for easier loading.
Just remember the flat bottom will beat you and soak you in a little chop.
you arent going to go wrong with either one, find the best deal that fits your needs.
what size are you looking for??
new or used?
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.bombislandboats.com
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
Looking at 19-21 ft. Would prefer used if it was a nice boat