Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

[bryanwess2000]

Who makes small 13-15' skiffs that can be powered adequately by 20-40hp. Looking for something for use in back bays
and small lakes. I want something stable enough to stand up and walk around in but small enough to be powered by a
small outboard. Not interested in tiller steer or basic jon boats. Side or center console adequate for 4-500lbs of people
plus gear. Self bailing is a plus incase a big offshore boat comes flying by. I know a whaler or mckee would probably
be best but whalers are expensive and mckees are sometimes hard to find. Curious who else makes these style boats
that I can find used with lots of life left. I just want a small stable fishing rig thats not going to kill my wallet every time
I fill the tank. I already have a couple boats I use for family outings. I just hate 11mpg towing and 4mpg on the water.
I've even considered a gheenoe but I'm not ready to go that small yet.

 

[Philster]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

http://majekboats.net/boat_models.htm

http://www.triumphboats.com/boat-models/

http://boats.iboats.com/2010-clearwater-16-super-sport/768064.html

http://boats.iboats.com/2012-mitzi-skiff-17-tournament/558063.html

Try looking up 'flats boat'. Some stray from saying skiff, which toughens the search.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

I've even considered a gheenoe but I'm not ready to go that small yet.

They make a 16 foot Gheenoe, 4'7" beam, center console, up to 40hp

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

chincoteague scow, palm beach, skimmer, bay runner, proline, parker and custom

 

[arks]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

i had similar requirements when looking for a fishing skiff.
All the used Whalers were rough 13 footers (and too small) or wayyy over my bugdet.
Started thinking 'outside the box' and settled on a 14' BigJon with a fabricated a side console. Took some experimenting, but I got it balanced pretty well and she'll run 28MPH with a 25 Rude. Definitely not a rough-water boat, but it does a great job in the backwaters and is stable. It's best for 2 but I've fished with 3. Standing at the helm on plane is no problem! Including the trailer and electronics I'm in it $ 1800.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

Carolina skiff is a whaler clone

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have an aluminum 16ft v-bottom sylvan sportster that needs to be put back together. I have thought about converting it to center console to make it more fishing friendly. It's rated for 85hp and I have a 90hp merc 3 cylinder about to be rebuilt that can go on it. I really want something for 2 people that just sips gas like a 13' whaler or 14' mckee. I know the Mckees are heavier and require more hp but the tradeoff is they're much cheaper compared to a similar condition whaler. I find decent mckee hulls and trailers for as little as $500-800 and nice ones with motors $1200-1600. Most wide bottom jon boats are sold by people that think
they're made of gold. They usually ask twice what a used mckee costs, same with most carolina skiff sellers. I know i'm cheap, but a safe reliable boat doesn't have to be expensive if your willing and able to do some work.

Arks that's a nice looking fishing rig, decent freeboard, you should be proud. Post some more pics if you have any. That's the kind of numbers i'm hoping for, around 10mpg Wot running atleast mid 20's. If I could get those numbers i'd be on the water every chance i got.
I get about 4mpg cruise in my 19ft. I'm guessing I'll get around 5mpg out of my 16ft

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

it's not the hull that sips gas; it's the motor.

McKee and Whaler are functionally the same, for similar models.

Carolina Skiff J series or any copies is the "gas sipper" becuase you can run a smaller motor. We run a 50 on a 19' J series as a work boat.

Carolina Skiff is not a whaler clone. everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts. Some skiffs are similar to Whaler hulls and build-outs.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

For a gas sipper, a lighter aluminum hull would be better...check out Sea Ark Boats, Express Boats, Triton Aluminum Boats, etc.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Who else makes good small skiffs like Boston whaler, Mckee, Carolina skiff?

some other terms that may be helpful in your search are: "Skiff", "Flats boat", "Bay boat", "runabout", Semi v-hull. I wouldn't get too hung up on brand names for used boats. Focus more on the condition and features of the boat instead. I think you'll find a lot of folks here like aluminum boats for their ruggedness and ease of repair, but they do tend to be a little less pretty than their f'glass cousins. Then again, you can fix almost anything on them with a hammer and duct tape, which is nice