Action Craft Boats Review

Founded in 1982, Action Craft is a part of the Flatsmaster Marine, LLC family. Action Craft Boats is based in Cape Coral, FL. This manufacturer specializes in high-performance fishing boats that can be used in coastal waterways as well as rivers and lakes. Action Craft boats are acknowledged as one of the leading boat brands for shallow water angling, and the entire Action Craft line consists of nine different flatboat models. Fishing enthusiasts also praise Action Craft’s stability-to-size ratio, and owners point out that two people can fish off of the same side of the 18 ft. model and the boat will remain stable. As anyone who has experienced that “tipping feeling” can attest to, this is a great feature if you plan on going out with company.

Pricing

New Action Craft Boats are generally priced around $30,000 and up depending on the model and size. Used models can also be found online ranging in price from $8,000 to $30,000.

Pros

• Versatile: These boats are great for fishing in or around bays as they can handle both shallow and deep waters.
• Quiet and Dry: The boats feature patented “Qui-Dry technology” in their hulls making them quiet; clearly an asset for any dedicated fishing boat. This patented low draft hull raises the bow of the boat so that water will roll off rather than slap the boat when traveling at speed.
• Safe: The Qui-Dry hull also contains foam making the boat virtually unsinkable..
• Action Craft Boats come stock with a top-notch, live-well system that reciculates water to keep bait alive for all-day fishing.

Cons

• Niche: If you are interested in fishing bays, lakes, or rivers, Action Craft Boats are designed to meet your need. However, this is not a deep sea fishing brand.
• Local brand: Action Craft Boats has a great reputation on the Eastern seaboard, but they are not well known in the Central and Western U.S. They may ship to the Central and Western US, but shipping and transport could be cost prohibitive.

Featured Models

Lightweight Hybrid Series: These boats synthesize light-weight Kevlar and carbon-fiber with the full-featured packages of Action Craft’s Flats Master and Fly Fisher models. The weight reduction and increased flexibility provided by the aforementioned ingredients make these boats the quietest, most fuel-efficient boats sold by Action Craft. The lightness and increased dexterity of these boats allow them to get into shallow-water habitats teeming with fish. 2020 Flats Master: This model is 20 feet 2 inches along its centerline. This model comes equipped with three livewells and a compartment for an ice chest. This model is ideal for 2-3 people. 1890 Flats Master: This model emphasizes storage more than comfort. This would be ideal for an avid fisherman who doesn’t need to travel far to find his favorite fishing hole. 1820 Flats Master: This boat is suited to accommodate 3-4 member fishing parties. It has a cockpit with aft-bench seating. It has less storage capacity than some of the other models, but it can accommodate more occupants. 1720 Fly Fisher: This is one of Action Craft Boats smaller models at 17’2’’. It has bench seating and plenty of storage. It has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of serious anglers. 1622 Fly Fisher: This is the smallest model in Action Craft’s fleet of boats, but it is also the most nimble. If you fish close to shore alone or with a buddy, this boat will get you closer to shore than the others.

Conclusion

The consensus among industry insiders and fishing enthusiasts seems to be that Action Craft Boats builds well-designed mid-size fishing boats for use in bays or around shorelines. These boats offer a smooth and quite ride at a reasonable price, and come equipped with essential fishing features. If you live in the United States on the East coast and you are in the market for a quality fishing boat, give Action Craft a look.