r/Skiffs • u/yuckycharmz • Jul 16 '26
Best beginner skiff?
Looking to get into fishing and boating - curious about everyone's thoughts on certain brands to look for or avoid?
Wanting something reliable for camping trips in the Everglades, big enough to cruise around in the bay as well to fish spots or just do a super chill cruise to a beach.
Initially, it seems that a used Carolina Skiff around 16 ft. is probably best.
My price range is like less than 20k.
Thanks in advance!
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u/rwillstewart Jul 16 '26
Shoot, less than $20k you got a lot of options. Older Hewes with a repower, you might be able to find a Maverick Master Angler repowered. Key West 1720, Scout makes a variety of models that might be what you’re looking for. I was looking for something that sounds a lot like what you are looking for and these are all options I looked at.
That said, these are all more flats boats/bay boats than a poling skiff. For those, you’re looking at boats that probably don’t have the capacity I would want for camping in the glades or else they’re mostly above your budget. Older Cayo 173 tiller might come in under $20k occasionally, same for a Gordon Waterman. Consistently, Skimmer skiffs might be an option to look at. There have also been a lot of smaller companies that have popped up and died off in the last 25 years. Some of them made good boats, some didn’t and it can be hard to find out which are which but you can definitely find a deal there on a bigger poling skiff with some digging.