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I am looking at upgrading from the Bass Tracker that I have now to something with a little more fishing space and a little more saltwater friendly (i.e. something isn't corroding out all the time). I am looking at a few 17 foot Carolina Skiff V-series boats, but have a few reservations I was hoping some of you could help me with.

A little background info, I fish mostly out of Econfina for reds and trout. I would like to be able to run out to around the bird rack when the trout are deep, but dont plan to go out much farther. Very seldom do I fish on days when the forecast is anything more than light to moderate chop.

I like the idea that I can easily pull it with my smaller truck, it gets good gas milage, and I can put 4 or 5 people in there comfortably to go scalloping. I am concerned about how wet and how rough it will ride in a moderate chop. I dont mind getting a little wet, but I'd prefer not to have buckets of water thrown in my face.

Every opinion I've read online either goes along the lines of "i'd never buy anything other than a Carolina Skiff" or "I'd never get within 10 feet of a Carolina Skiff"

I was wondering if any of you had one or have fished out of a comperable boat in this area and had any thoughts or opinions about it.

A buddy of mine used to have a 17ft Carolina Skiff with a 50hp Yamaha on it. Said it was the wettest boat he has ever owned and ended up selling it for that reason. At the time I had a 17ft G3 aluminum boat and I can remember a time when we were both on the water riding side by side in a moderate chop. I was bone dry and laughing my arse off while I watched every wave he hit fly over the bow. He was completely drenched!

Now, I have heard good things about the longer ones.







That's what she said.

I fished a V-19 up until a couple years ago. Mostly out of Enconfina and St Marks. Tough old boat that would always bring you home ! Ran a two storke 90 on it. It would wet you and was rough when you got into rough water. I upgraded to a 20' Triton. No more flats fishing than I've done the past year, I wish I'd kept the CS.

I fell in love with Sir Reel's CS 218 when he took me out and found an older model for me.

The room is plenty for 4 fishing and prob. 7-8 scalloping or boat riding. Mine is a flat bottom so a little more nut crunching just makes you tougher and its really nice on HOT days with a little chop cause you can always cool off in the ample spray! (and the kids get a hoot out of it). Ain't much on cornering at speed though (think of a frisbee upside down).

I want to think the gas mileage is much better than most semi's or v-hulls simply because you're just skidding on top of the water..

Go to the CS owners website and read the opinions on the V series. They are the wettest of the skiffs. If you get into the 21 footers, it is better. I had a 19 and my brother bought it from me. It is a rough and tough, stable platform and can do everything pretty well. It is wet. Very wet. From wettest to dryest in the CS is V series, JV(X), DLX and DLV. Mine had a 60 and it sipped fuel. Will run 30 with 2 men and gear. I had it some pretty rough seas twice and it got us home, but brother were we wet. Awesome scalloping boat too. But your already wet then! There is a addon available from someone in Perry that stops a lot of the spray. You can search the name on the CS Owners site - it is a spray rail. I would really look at the 19s if you can find one, they are a lot more room than the 17s and not a lot heavier.

sundown wrote:. I upgraded to a 20' Triton. No more flats fishing than I've done the past year, I wish I'd kept the CS.

Do you want me to come over there and get it so its not just sitting. You know that's not good on that Optimax!

We bought a 198 DLV and love it. We've not found a boat that will do everything but for what we do, ours is fine. As has been suggested, go to carolina skiff owners and read more than you want. I'd also talk with the saleman in Perry Florida. He fishes the gulf out of Spring Warrior mostly. Tell him what you will be doing most and he'll show you the CS that will match your needs and tell you how and why.