So i just got back from Port O' Connor and noticed everyone there had shallow water boats. I stopped by Shoalwater and checked them out and let me tell you they do some awesome work there. The boast they make are awesome but way out of my price range. (40k-50k) I was wanting to know if there was a cheaper company that made the same kind of quality boats?? I like the catamaran style hull but i jsut want something that can go skinny, thats in the 20-30k region. Thanks guys

Tight Lines,

I am not an expert on these boats, but are you looking for new? If you like the Shoalwater boats, there several nice ones on boattrader.com and several on the used boat section of the shoalwater boats website. There seems to be a good selection under $30K with warranty. Just a thought.

There is also dargel, shallow sport, majek, and many more. One thing that i must tell you is that these boats have a real ruff ride. That is why i sold my shallow sport and bought a blue wave 190 super tunnel. The v-hull of the blue wave will break the waves and help not to get wet as with the flat bottom boats. However, it can't go to skinny mine does about foot or less while on plane.

There are several companies that make copies of popular flats boats. I run one myself. The shallower you go the crappier the ride so you need to think about what you will compromise. I don't want to give up any shallow ability so you'll lose some teeth fillings when it's rough.

Carolina Skiff. Shallow draft excellent boats...

Carolina skiff would not get you far at POC/Seadrift. Just about the mouth of the flats, with the tides right now the medium running boats will get you half way back, and no way to the second back lakes.

Here's the scoop on a really true shallow running boat vs one that really isn't. I can absolutely see everything I can run in. If it's a dark bottom, I know I'm good, if it's anything but absolute shoal water, we're through it. Something less, will not be quite so easy maybe you can, maybe not.

And proper setup is success or failure on a tunnel hull, props, compression plates, jack plates all have to work together to optimize your abilities.

And *always* remember when you're shopping your sled, whatever you choose, visualize pushing it off a mud bank. Especially at POC, because things will come up on you faster than anywhere else. That same pass you went into that back lake yesterday, or worse you're already in and the tide drops out, is now a wall to wall mud flat.

ya that is true there are just so many different options, and shoalwater seems to be the best boat so far, but there is no way i can afford a 50k dollar boat. There has got to be someone that makes a boat that can go just as skinny.

I would call Shoalwater and get the boat you really want. They have some nice barely used ones on their website in your price range.

http://www.shoalwaterboats.com/used_fishing_boat.htm

There's some other really good builders in the area, Johnsport in POC, Haynie in Seadrift, Marine service in Pt. Lavaca builds the "chiquita" which is an amazing shallow running scooter.

Lot's of hulls will run pretty shallow, that's not the big trick, it's how shallow you can get them up and going is the real deal.

Flats Cat is another awesome skinney water boat. Check out www.flatscat.com

Yeah...whenever looking at boats is the draft how shallow it can go? I never understood that. Also I see alot of these boats with 150 hp or more..is that really necessary i mean i was thinking a 150 tops but they are gas guzzlers supposedly so maybe a 115 or 130?

Draft is not the same thing as how shallow a boat can "go". Draft is where a boat sits at rest with no power. Lot's of "flats boats" can run in much shallower water than they draft. My boat will run in 6" of water, but I better not come off of plane in less than 1'. Mine is not a true flats boat, but it get's me skinny enough! As for motor size, as has been said before, put the biggest motor your boat is rated for and you'll never be disappointed with performance. Listen to Pat Goff, he is the man when it comes to true skinny water performance.

There are many choices in shallow water flats boats. Anything from 12' to 25' I'm not affiliated with any manufacturer, or really care who sells a boat. Used to sell shallow sport, alumacraft, famous craft, and before that tracker and before that champion.

First thing to keep in mind, nobody does it "all" the more you compromise to make everyone happy, the less satisfied you'll be when you're really needing something to perform.

Here's how to narrow your search down to a few select models.
1. Where exactly do you plan on using your new toy?
2. What exactly is your passion? sight fishing reds? drifting reefs for trout? Is your boat simply a transportation to wade from?
4. How many people do you really need to lug around?
5. How far will you be towing it? And with what?

*HONEST* answers will quickly narrow the field.

Okay well I would say the POC area Aransas Rockport Area, and then of course also in the lakes and what not. I like sight fishing and wadefishing but i also like to go to the jetties and out in the bay. Probably be taking 3-4 people with friends and dad and bro in law and what not. Would be towing it from New Braunfels, so about 2.5 hrs and i have a f150 v8 5.4 liter. So alot of my time would be done fishing in lakes and maybe once or twice a month down at the coast

Pretty broad stroke you've painted. Nothing made will do all that well.

You can choose something like a tunnel hull kenner, will suffice for the lake, rockport, and jetty jaunts, but you won't be able to get into the back lakes at POC with it. So, this isn't an insult, but you really aren't looking for a real flats boat, because they would suck at everything you want to do *but* sight fish. You'll have to decide exactly what you want to compromise on.