What Is A Flats Boat?
A flats boat is a type of boat that’s primary use is for fishing in shallow and protected waters. Hot fishing spots like the Florida Keys are known for their expansive shallow waters which have been termed “flats” by anglers, and a specialist boat is needed to safely fish them.
In this article, we are going to fill you in on all there is to know about flats boats so you can make an informed decision about whether fishing flats is for you.
Hull Designs Of Flats Boats
Against popular opinion, a flats boat hasn’t gained its name for having a flat-bottomed hull. You can find flats boats with both flat and v-hull designs, and each of them has its benefits.
This is where the boating industry can get a little confusing because there are many boat types that cross over in design, and have only subtle differences that set them apart.
For instance, flat hulled boats are most commonly referred to as skiffs, but some flats boats also have flat-bottomed hulls as well.
If a flats boat does come equipped with a v-hull, it will have a very small deadrise (the angle of the v-hull), which makes it easier to glide over shallow sandbars.
The issue with having minimal deadrise is that a boat won’t handle choppy waters as well, and may feel unstable and unpleasant to drive.
For this reason, most flats boats are a specialized type of boat that’s intentions are for solely fishing in shallow waters, unlike bay boats.
Difference Between Flats And Bay Boats
Before bay boats were invented, there was no middle ground in the fishing industry between large offshore fishing boats and flats boats.
Bay boats are kind of like a hybrid between the two, allowing you to fish relatively shallow waters as well as perform well in the open waters of bays, lakes, and even offshore spots on calm days.
While bay boats are often the same length as flats boats, they are made heavier with more draft that is brought on by a deeper v-hull.
They blend characteristics of both large and small fishing boats to create a perfect balance of performance in both shallow and open choppy water.
However, if you’re looking to predominantly fish shallow waters, we’d recommend picking up a premium v-hull flats boat like the Maverick 18HPX-V over a bay boat.
This is because you’ll benefit greatly from its lighter weight that makes polling a possibility. Premium v-hull flats boats like the 18 HPX-V are also designed to handle their fair share of open water chop.
This will help you to get back to the boat ramp when the afternoon sea breeze picks up unexpectedly and you’ve got to get a good few miles across deeper water.
Common Features Of Flats Boats
Flats boats are predominantly built in the 15 – 25ft range which makes them easy to handle and just as easy to trailer.
The majority of flats boats are equipped with outboard motors and come, as standard, with a shallow draft that allows easy passage over oyster beds, sandbars, and other precariously shallow waters with submerged rocks.
Allowing the boat’s skipper to lift the outboard motor out of the water vertically, jack plates are another common feature of flats boats.
This is a great addition as it allows a flats boat to cruise through particularly shallow waters with zero chance of the motor hitting aground.
A poling platform is also super beneficial in a flats boat as they offer a stable and tall platform to push the boat forward from when the motor is not in use.
This, coupled with a jack plate, gives anglers the best chance of moving through super shallow waters and hopefully catching a few fish along the way.
Due to their small size, a designated casting deck up the front of a flats boat is essential, as the back will be taken up by the polling platform.
Fishing with a friend is hugely beneficial when flats fishing as one of you can be casting upfront at the same time that the other is polling the boat through the shallow waters.
Water Depth That Flats Boats Can Handle
Flats boats are incredibly nifty boats that are purposefully crafted to cruise through the most shallow of waters.
Flat-bottomed micro-skiffs (which are classed as flats boats) are designed to handle the shallowest of waters, and some models can even move, untouched, through water that is only 5 inches deep.
Larger flats boats with v-hulls can still get through incredibly shallow waters, often just 12 inches deep.
Weight Of Flats Boats
The idea with a flats boat is to make it as light as possible in order to reduce its draft and make it easier to poll through shallow water.
But just like boat type, there are ultra-light flats boats and there are the more equipped, and heavy-duty flats boats that are designed to handle choppy waters as well.
The weight will often have a direct correlation to the length of a flats boat. At the end of the day choosing the right flats boat for your specific set of needs comes down to a compromise of weight/ length and ability to handle a variety of conditions that aren’t just shallow waters.
You’ll find today’s flats boats can have a dry weight of as little as 360 pounds for a Hell’s Bay Eldoro at 16’4” in length.
On the other end of the scales there are some flats boats that weigh as much as 2,850 pounds like the fully-equipped, state-of-the-art 21’6” Hews Redfisher 21.
Though, on average, the majority of flats boats weigh around the 1000 pound mark dry. This dry weight excludes all fuel, water, and most fishing gear, so the boat’s total weight will end up being a few hundred pounds heavier by the time it’s ready to hit the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Flats Boats Go Offshore?
If the sea conditions are particularly calm and show no signs of swinging on the angling reports then there is no reason why a flats boat can’t be taken offshore when there’s an experienced captain on board.
However, a 15ft skiff is going to have a much harder time navigating even the smallest of ocean swells when compared to a 25ft v-hull flats boat.
So, make sure you, and your boat are up to the challenge before making the journey into deeper offshore waters by taking extra safety precautions onshore first.
What Is The Difference Between A Skiff And A Flats Boat?
The line between what is classed as a skiff and a flats boat often gets blurred, as they are both lightweight boats designed with minimal draft to handle shallow water.
However, poling skiffs always have a flat-bottomed hull whereas a flats boat can have a v-hull, as well as a flat-bottomed hull.
The general consensus amongst anglers is that skiffs are a subcategory of flats boats that is more specialized for shallow water fishing specifically.
Summary
Thinking about buying a flats boat is a very exciting prospect as it allows you to fish in places you never even dreamed of before.
Polling through waters as shallow as 12 inches with a fully-equipped fishing boat is a truly unique experience that allows you to catch a variety of flats species like Tarpon and Bone.
We hope this article has helped you to decide whether fishing in your own specialized flats boat is something that sounds like a little bit of you, and a whole lot of fish.
