Flat Boats

Flats boats are pure fishing boats. They are a variation on the center console theme that have a low profile console and a very low draft. This enables them to travel where many other boats can’t go, including very shallow water, and are ideal for fly fishing. They hold up to three anglers comfortably and range between 17 and 25 feet.The downsides are that the flat bottom makes for a very uncomfortable ride in anything other than smooth water. This means they are only suitable for inshore fishing. There are no other leisure amenities, cabins or overnight facilities, but then they aren’t designed to have.There is a compromise to be made when buying a flats boat between “ride and dry”. A buyer needs to decide how much they want to remain dry while piloting the boat in order to have the shallowest possible draft. The shallower the flat, the more water comes in when in motion.Despite these drawbacks, the flats boat is ideal for finding fish that other boats can’t. It can go places “V” hulls can’t, can cruise the shoreline, inlets and other sheltered places where fish often rest up, and are simple to own, use and maintain.Popular manufacturers of flats boats include Ranger, G3, Sundance, Smoker and Voyager.