I would never take a true tecnical poling skiff out to the charleston harbor. That would be suicide, unless it was 0-5 kt winds and glassy conditions. A technical poling skiffs is super light and flat bottom and has usually a 25-50 HP on it. You will get beat up and maybe get into something you don’t want to be in out there with a technical poling skiffs. I don’t care what a Boat company says about their boats won’t get you wet in chop or windy days. I have been on numerous flats boat from Mavericks, Hell’s bay, mitzi’s and trust me with you will get wet not soaked but a little wet.
I have a 16 foot Dolphin super skiff with an 18 degree deadrise so it’s more of a little bay boat can handle chop easily and i can get in 6-8" of water to chase skinny water reds and sight fishing during a flood tide but i’m limited on my days. Yeah I can handle 2 footers on my flats boat but it’s not fun! You’re really limited to the creeks so if you want to fish the jetties a flats boat ain’t for you.
Room and storage is limited. A Jon boat will get you skinny but unless you have a jack plate and trim and tilt you’re still only limited because you outboard will still have the lower unit hanging about 12-16" from the bottom of your hull so without the jackplate or TT you’re still looking at the tailing reds from deeper water. Just my FYI a Flats boat is for pure shallow water fishing but you can fish deeper water but just remember it’s all based on how comfortable you are when the wind and waves pick up and how comfortable you want to be. I got my rig with power pole, trolling motor, GPS, push pole for 10K and 2006 yamaha with a low hours. It’s not a $50,000 dollar boat but i pull in just as much fish as the guy with the Hell’s Bay. I can get in any water he can get into, if your junk boat gets you fishing then it’s a dream boat for you. keep looking and don’t settle. I think a Bay boat in the 18 foot range would suit your needs can’t get any better than a Pathfinder. I think Boat trader and Craigslist will be your best search
Your plan for baby steps is the right way to go and you can get plenty for 12 k. I started out with a jon boat and figured out very quickly that they will cook you in the summer time. I next stepped up to a 19 ft Hydra Sports Bay Skiff and haven’t felt the need to go any farther. It’s not a fancy high dollar boat but it has a 150 hp motor and I paid less than 5k for it. That left money for a nice i pilot trolling motor and a HDS7 Lowrance. I fish almost exclusively on Lake Murray but I love my little boat!
I have a 2000 18 whaler for sale with a rock solid hull that will take anything you throw at it in the creeks or nearshore if you pick your days. PM me if you might be interested
Thanks Jason and Prayot.
Jason, the boat looks ideal, but i think it’s been sold.
2)Joe,
I’d love to have a boat just like yours, but I don’t want to get in over my head. I think a smaller boat would be easier to control and gain experience on. Plus, I don’t anticipate having any more than (3) people on the boat at one time if we’re fishing. I appreciate your ■■■■■■■■ and HIGHLY respect your opinion, so let me know if I’m wrong in my thinking.
I agree with the Bay Boat route. I have owned a few boats over the years. I currently have a 21’ bay boat that I bought used last year for $12k. It is an '03 model and while the storage set up is less than desirable, for the money, I love it. One day I may sell it for a nicer Shearwater or something like that, but for what I was willing to spend, I couldn’t be happier. I get my wife and 3 teenage daughters on it comfortably and when I want to go out by myself, it is small enough to handle with no issue. Best thing you can do is get out and fish / drive the different size boats. If you can…
If you get a 1720 key west get something to plug self bailing deck holes b/c you will be ankle deep in water the whole time if not. I would look for a bay boat personally.
yeah if you get a jon boat you’re going to regret it down the road and you’ll want to sell it sooner than later. So keep looking for a bay boat, that should suit your needs and your comfort level on the water. Here is my ride it suits my fishing needs exactly and I abuse the heck out of it. It’s easy to load and unload solo and it get’s me shallow enough in shin deep water.
I disagree with jws. I had a key west 1720 for a few years and I never had a problem with self bailing. It was not a dry riding boat at all, but it got the job done. I traded it because it wasnt a family sized boat. It is a great boat that has a really low cost of ownership.
I agree with stonoman. Save that cash and get something a little nicer. 12k will buy a sea worthy boat, but 16k will get you a super nice boat that you will love.
Stay away from jon boats and flat bottoms… and maybe even tech skiffs until you learn your stuff. The water around here will pound those boats to death if youre not experienced.
Try to find something smooth riding for your first boat, because the wife will never let you hear the end of it if you dont!
I have a 19ft Tidewater bay boat, and love it! To please the wife I have every cushion known to man, prior to the TW I had a 17 Sea Pro. And while it was a good boat, two ft made a world of difference. I’m glad I didn’t buy the 21ft. To much for me to handle on solo trips. BTW I have had some nice Jon boats, but man they r HOT!!!
I went from a KW1720 to a 168 Ranger Phantom due to sticking with creeks and flats 95% of the time. The 1720 was a good riding boat and is a good entry level choice. Any 17’er will start getting small once 3 are fishing out o it. If you’re planning on fishing the jetties, nearshore reefs, and harbor, I wouldn’t recommend a flatsboat or skiff and would look for an 18-20’ bayboat. If you can find a 196 KW Bayreef in your price range, it would be a good choice.
I got this for $3500 about 5/ 6 years ago. Absolutley love it. Great inshore boat. It fishes 2 men very comfortably, 3 a little less but doable. In the time I have owned it the trailer has been replaced ($200), no other cost. $15 in gas fishes all day. I will get a bigger boat one day, but will never get rid of this one.
Bro-in-law got a 17 ft. center console Sea Hunt for $12000 two years ago. 150 yamaha on back. Sucker moves scarey fast. Great boat. Not as easy in skinny water as mine but much more comfertable with women and in bigger water.
Good luck finding what you want. My only real advice is SHOP. Take your time and try not to fall in love with the first one that fits the bill.
Thanks, JI, as well as everyone who’s provided their ■■■■■■■■. One of the best pieces of information I received is to wait until after summer when the “peak” boating season’s over, as doing so will give me even greater bargaining power. I’ve been told this before, but I go so caught up in the excitement of the wife finally giving me the green light that I temporarily lost my common sense. I plan to wait a couple of months and then restart my search. Regardless of what I decide, I’ll definitely keep y’all posted. Thanks again!
SCf89 that is a good price very good. That’s the same model I had a few years ago. I had a 90 Yamaha and it would scoot, it will get you wet too, only draw back.IMO
Look at a bunch of different boats, get a test drive in all of the ones in the size and price range you are considering and don’t do it on a blue bird type day. See how the perform in crappy condidtions. Have any engine you are looking at with noticeable age and hours on it checked by a qualified mechanic, this is where the majority of the purchase is, not the hull. And find something you can scratch up and beat to hell and back because if its your first boat, that is exactly what you are going to do to it.
Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
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