Well, I’ve been talking back and forth with JKI4405 for the last week about him coming down and fishing the sexy 17’ custom flats boat that we’ve all been drooling over the past five or six months. This was the boat’s first splashing in saltwater and I was honored to be invited along for the ride.
First of all, I was a little skeptical of how well this boat would ride. I don’t know why; perhaps I thought is was too good to be true. It looks nothing like any other flats boat around here…at least that I’ve seen. While I can assure you, I’m no boat expert, I can also tell you that this boat is a work of art. Down to the last detail, these guys that built this craft have done it all to perfection. From the huge casting platform up front (a flyfisherman’s dream with everything recessing nicely into the deck) to the absolute attention to the most minor detail in the fit and finish. High end electronics help you navigate the waterways and the stereo helps you do it in style.
Although we had three guys on this 17’ boat, we weren’t crowded at all. In fact, most of the day it felt more like a 20’ boat than anything else. The carolina flair gives a nice dry ride and the weight of the vessel keeps it nice and soft. Certainly the softest, driest ride in a 17’ boat that I’ve ever been on. Ever.
This boat won’t be for everyone, but everyone will want one. We were turning heads everywhere we went. It’s that different and good looking.
On to the report. This outing was for pretty much just taking pictures with a little bit of fishing thrown in. We found the redfish eating bait pretty good early on. Testing out the poling ability, we got ontop of the fish pretty quickly. She tracks nice and straight as long as you trim the motor up out of the mud, we learned that ratherly quickly. Saw good schools of fish, but they weren’t really aggresive in the middle of the day; they rarely are for me.
Did you cut thoose boys a check for yours yet? That is a sick ride and I have been watching the build quite closely. That is an awesome boat, with some great lines. Thanks for the report Ricky.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
It’s a little out of my pricerange for a boat that I know I will rake across oysters or run through a mudflat on a weekly basis…We were very careful where we were. Didn’t want to scratch up that beautiful exterior!!
Did you not enjoy the five month long “how to” thread on boat building? I would say that it was highly educational and one of the best threads of the year.
By the way, do you have a charter available tomorrow? I’d like to go.
I like the way you think…but I didn’t get invited on the test drive…
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I did. I reffered him to Ricky.
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He’s right. Ifly has followed us since our first post on our first build. I hit him up about getting some good backdrops in Charleston and he said he would be glad to help but also said if Ricky offers to help, take him up on it, he’s good. I knew nothing about Ricky but took his advice and everything turned out great. He taught us a lot, showed us the ropes of inshore, and even happens to take some good pics, haha.
What this site really needs is a networking section. There are so many people on here that do so many different things, If we had any clue at all what others do, im sure there would be plenty of opportunities to help each other out and add business within the community.
I like the way you think…but I didn’t get invited on the test drive…
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>I did. I reffered him to Ricky.
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He’s right. Ifly has followed us since our first post on our first build. I hit him up about getting some good backdrops in Charleston and he said he would be glad to help but also said if Ricky offers to help, take him up on it, he’s good. I knew nothing about Ricky but took his advice and everything turned out great. He taught us a lot, showed us the ropes of inshore, and even happens to take some good pics, haha.
What this site really needs is a networking section. There are so many people on here that do so many different things, If we had any clue at all what others do, im sure there would be plenty of opportunities to help each other out and add business within the community.
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it’s all good man, I wasn’t complaining that I didn’t get an offer, I was just happy to see the pics and see y’all get some more exposure…beautiful boat…
I…He’s right. Ifly has followed us since our first post on our first build. I hit him up about getting some good backdrops in Charleston and he said he would be glad to help but also said if Ricky offers to help, take him up on it, he’s good. I knew nothing about Ricky but took his advice and everything turned out great…
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>The one bit of advise that you didn’t do was my suggestion to use a bikini model. Or was that Ricky’s call to use you in the stripped shorts instead of a beautiful young girl.
I’m regretting this referral!
Boat is beyond cool. The boat you built before this one is outstanding ant the third one is looking very, very strong already.
Nice looking rig, similar to Chaos with the Carolina Bow
I was thinking the same thing, that it looks sort of like a Bayshore.
Except its a true Carolina Style Cold Molded boat with an exaggerated flare and real tumbolholm. Production molded boats cant get near as extreme with the lines.
Nice looking rig, similar to Chaos with the Carolina Bow
I was thinking the same thing, that it looks sort of like a Bayshore.
Except its a true Carolina Style Cold Molded boat with an exaggerated flare and real tumbolholm. Production molded boats cant get near as extreme with the lines.
Some of the guys don't seem to appreciate all those hours you spent sitting on your little chair with that steam iron hand bending all those strips. :smiley:
Saw good schools of fish, but they weren’t really aggresive in the middle of the day; they rarely are for me.
