I have 6000 to play with and I am needing some advice. Key West or Carolina skiff? and i want something that goes skinny but takes waves alright. I really like how the 1520 Key Wests look but am questioning their draft compaired to a Carolina skiff. Point me in the right direction for what kind of boat/motor/year of both boat and motor/hp I can get for 6000.
I have a 16’ Sea Hunt that does incredibly well in the chop as it has 16 degrees of deadrise. I think they stopped making them in 2000; why I don’t know because it is a great little boat with lots of storage and good build quality…probably weren’t making enough margin on them. I have seen a couple for sale around that price point. I paid a little less than what your price point is for mine. However, I did put a shiny new 90 HP Etec on mine as the original Johnson 70 got tired. It does draw the better part of 10-12", but with a small boat it is not big deal to bump bottom every once an awhile as you can always push yourself off. You are going to have to decide if you want really shallow or a better ride.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
WOW! that thing is nice! I wish I could find a happy medium of 7 or 8 inch draft with a good ride
Draft and ride are at opposite ends of the deadrise spectrum. You get one or the other or some mixture of the two.
The older I get the more I like deadrise at the transom.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
There’s no need to get that skinny and sacrifice the ride… I have a 22’ Scout Winyah Bay boat that drafts 10’ of water and rides like a dream in the chop. Although its out of your price range my point is that I don’t really see you catching more fish in 7" of water than you would in 10" to make it worth it.
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
Do not limit yourself thinking skinny all the time.Think comfort and dry ride.
Stonoman
I own the key west 1500 sportsman, and don’t get me wrong it is a great fishing boat for charleston and goes as skinny as I want it to and has a lot of walking room but it is one WET ride ( no homo). I mean with the slightest chop in the water you will be soaked! But I would definitely recommend it to someone looking for a boat in this price range.
172 Sea Hunt Triton
1500 key west sportsman
My McKee has that cathedral style front end and it stays surprisingly dry. I take it out some to the near reefs and even with 2’ wind waves you stay dry. When anchored into the wind, there is not a lot of hull slap like on a Carolina skiff. It will also run in 6-7" of water.
The Montauks have a similar design. They may be the same way, I don’t know. A good friend has a Dauntless 15 that is nice riding and will run skinny.
2000 McKee Scoundrel 160, Honda 75hp