From a discussion in another group…
What is a flats boat?
What is a skiff?
Can they be the same?
Can the terms be used interchangeably?
Owner of East Cape Skiffs is on the position that to be a flats boat, you need to be 18’+ and more than 70HP, but a poling platform doesn’t matter. Guess he has to take that position as his company builds small boats with poling platforms and are called EC Skiffs…
What say ye?
Kind of like what’s a bay boat vs. CC. It’s all just marketing. Just a name. Kind of like titles at work. Don’t mean much.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
quote:
Originally posted by GeronimoKind of like what’s a bay boat vs. CC. It’s all just marketing. Just a name. Kind of like titles at work. Don’t mean much.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 JohnsonWilderness Ride 115
So is a Carolina Skiff J13 with a 25 tiller on it a flats boat?
Is a Carolina Skiff J16 with a tiller and a poling platform a flats boat?
I get your point, hence the post. But why not a definitive difference, industry wide?
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I think you just made my same point.
Is a Ridgeline a “truck”?
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I would call a skiff any generic small boat that can be used to fit multiple needs and subsequently marketable to a large variety of consumers.
I would call a poling skiff a technical boat that doesn’t work great for things other than what it was designed to do, but blows everything else out of the water when in its element.
I would also say the drastic difference between a traditional CC and a bay boat will be the gunwale height, unless you have tide rails…
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
02 Carolina Skiff 175 RG Honda 90 -
Everyone looks at these marketing names differently. I have always seen a skiff as a flat bottom boat. Like Carolina Skiff or Jones Bro. Bateau.
I consider a “flats” boat, a boat that you fish on top of, not in. Is fairly wide and stable, saltwater ready, drafts shallow, and has a self bailing hull. It should also have some sort of v-hull to cross channels and jetties. If it has all of the above, except a self-bailing hull, then it is a bass boat in my book.
I think Spanishking nailed the Tech. Poling Skiff description.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
So then what’s this? Its 18.5’ long and only 30hp…
quote:
Originally posted by 23SailfishSo then what’s this? Its 18.5’ long and only 30hp…
I would call that a flats boat, as that’s what it’s designed for…no?
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
That’s what I call it. A 70hp motor on my boat would be redonkulous. It’ll go 28-30mph with that 30Honda. I haven’t met anyone that’s called it a skiff yet. Doubt anyone that’s been around boats would call it a skiff really. When I think of skiff, I think of Carolina skiff type boats. Great for what they are, but skiffs aren’t flats and flats aren’t skiffs.
quote:
Originally posted by leadenwahboyquote:
Originally posted by 23SailfishSo then what’s this? Its 18.5’ long and only 30hp…
I would call that a flats boat, as that’s what it’s designed for…no?
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I could definitely be wrong, but what pops into my head when i see this is a “technical skiff”
Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he got guys off the fishing docks.
I’d call that a technical poling skiff. Some might even call it a micro skiff. Whats the width on that?
I also call Mavericks technical skiffs as well. The lines are definitely blurred between a flats boat and technical skiff.
I say call it a canoe. If you like it, who cares what people call it.
Nah, not blurred. A flats boat was designed to technically be poled around the flats, no?
That would mean it is a flats boat, designed to be poled. In my opinion, if boat is designed to fish the flats, and carries a poling platform, it’s a flats boat. Now, some flats boats have been geared specifically for very technical poling operation, but they’re still flats boats, and NOT skiffs.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
That boat is really awesome though, i bet its seen some fish…
Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he got guys off the fishing docks.
Flats boat is fancy terminology developed by marketers to describe a skiff.Not sure what you are searching for here.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Its narrow, I don’t know the width off the top of my head. Its surprisingly stable for such a light boat. 18.5’ long, dry weight is less than 400 lbs. It’ll float in sub 5" with two guys all day long.
Best purchase I’ve ever made.
Definitely a cool boat. When I retire I want to be like 23.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Under powered!
quote:
Originally posted by 23SailfishSo then what’s this? Its 18.5’ long and only 30hp…
People will forget what you said…
People will forget what you did…
But people will never forget how you made them feel.
Capt. Justin
I would consider all flats boats to be a skiff
however all skiffs are not flats boats
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
quote:
Originally posted by chris VI would consider all flats boats to be a skiff
however all skiffs are not flats boatswww.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
Reminds me of elementary school when i had to learn a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isnt a square…
Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he got guys off the fishing docks.
I agree with chris v.
The easiest way to tell the difference is the price. If you paid too much, its a flats boat.