Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

[acarter92]

Hi guys,

In about 3 or 4 months I'm probably going to be getting a small (16'-18') center console to replace my alluminum fish and ski that isn't made for the abuse I put it through.... I'm really attracted to the Carolina Skiff JV17CC, the more I look at it the more I like it... I'm waiting on a call back from a dealer but it may be possible that I can afford a NEW one. If not I'll be looking for one a few years old. My budget is around $10,000 for a used boat, but I'd be willing to go above that if I could buy new...

So what can you tell me about these boats? Everything I read says they are build strong, but the retail prices don't reflect that.... And how about the handling, how much worse will it be on rough chop than my v-hull? It's very common for us to go through 1-1/2 foot chop, it would be nice to be able to blast through that without getting wet, anything bigger than that I can accept getting wet.

I mainly boat in the upper Chesapeake Bay, but will go offshore on occasion, and spend a bit of time on lakes. We do a little tubing/ sking, saltwater and freshwater fishing, crabbing, snorkeling when we go on vacation, and will probably be getting into SCUBA diving next year. I understand there is no boat that is great for everything, just looking for something that is more in-between than my current boat and better built...

Thanks for the opinions/ advice,
Austin

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I rented a 19' flat bottom DLX for a week for use in the sound, never went off shore. I used it for fishing, tubing with the family, and for geting out to the barrier islands. I really liked it. They have a great reputation for quality, and are very popular around here. It looks like the JV series has LITTLE vee, but I'm not sure thats enough to keep you from getting beat up at planing speed in 1.5' chop. The flat bottom one did.

I do notice a lot of them around the southern part of the Bay, around the Rappahannock, so they must be good bay boats. You can pull the plug and they won't fill up past the splash well, so they are pretty much unsinkable.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I've never heard anything bad about them. In fact, while I know they're not a Boston Whaler they often get mentioned in the same conversations. Definitely not a big water boat. You'll get pounded pretty good in choppy water.

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Just my .02 about the ride. My buddy has a Carolina 17' CC flat bottom. Great little boat but "dry"....definitely not! Even in light chop you better have a rain coat or be laying down behind the front platform

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I rented one down in Lafitte, LA. to fish the brackish salt marsh. lots of shallow water, but no big waves. Was perfect for that and planed out fast with moderate HP. Quality? Seemed ok.

Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Great boats. My hunt club got a J19 the first year it came out, run it with a 50, beat it to death as a work boat. Carries a horde of people and runs in skinny water. You can outfit them as you want. They are also safe and stable for big water, including the bay and off shore, that would not be so for other hulls of the same size. Being flat and light yuo can run a smaller motor than other hulls, too.

The flat hull of the J series (and the DLX) is a feature that has its advantages, but it will not "blast through" chop; it will bounce over it. They throw water out front, which sprays back in the right wind--however the rolled side rails and high sides make it dry otherwise. They also slide like crazy--requires getting used to, but be sure your children understand this when they take it out. Look at the JV or JVX series (which is basically the Whaler montauk hull) or DLV to soften this issue.

For the money they are great boats, but like all boats that have special features or qualities, each feature has its negative qualities. Your use will determine how to balance them--but it's great that they offer so many choices. They require no care (covering, winterizing, etc.)

If you buy used: they are indestructable and maintenance free, so if the problems are obvious, there aren't any. Look for unsealed screw holes that may let some water into the inner hull but even that is not a big deal, since there is nothing to rot, and the inner hull is made of independent 4-6" wide compartments--the whole interior can't get wet from one hole.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

They are definitely a good value for what you pay for them. It will be a rough ride in 1-1/2' chop, but trim the motor up to lift the bow and take the waves at an angle and you'll be fine.

There are some issues with water in the hull, but that can occur with any boat. Most of these issues are caused by unsealed screws in the deck and the improperly sealed in-floor wire chase if included in the model you're looking at. There are easy fixes to these issues and an easy modification to check for/remove any water in the hull. Of those that I have seen report their results of this modification, some have reported to getting a few gallons out but for most it's just a few ounces. Like has already been mentioned there is nothing in the hull to rot so other than a weight issue there really is no problem with water in the hull, and it takes a lot of water to create a weight issue.

There are also some unique handling characteristics of these boats, especially the flat bottom models, and especially if you're used to a v hull, but that would be true of any flat-bottom boat.

Come over to carolinaskiffowner.com and learn everything you ever wanted to know about them and more.

 

[BruceDeuce]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I had a 19' flat bottom DLX with a 90hp Johnson. I ran it in the Gulf Of Mexico, coming out of the Myakka River Port Charlotte. Great Boat used to catch some big fish with it.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Wow, thanks for the responses. All good to hear... I really like the concept of seperating the foam in the hull, so even if you had a void it wouldn't really be a problem. I was doing more research today and am really excited about getting one of these. I'm still waiting for a dealer to get back to me (I'll be calling another one tomarrow). I would really like to have a new boat, I'm very anal about maintenance and can't stand fixing other people's problems that were easily preventable with a little care.... (been there done that).

Thanks,
Austin

 

[acarter92]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Well, I called two more dealers today. 13,500 for a 2013 JV17 with a galv. trailer and 40hp merc. Not bad for a new boat, but still a little more than I wanna spend. After looking online it seems like the same boat a few years old goes for around 10,000 used. I guess my next step is to take a look at one and make sure it's what I want....

Austin

 

[V153]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Carolina Skiffs are popular down here too. Gotta crapload of em around. Good for shallow bay & inshore fishing but boy I'm not sure I'd venture too far out in the Gulf in one. They will beat you to death in a chop. Not so sure they're 'unsinkable'. Saw a fairly new J20 sunk at a dock in Boca Grande not too long ago.

Not that I dislike the brand, or to say they're unsound. If'n yer into bay or lake fishing one might suit you just fine.

Fwiw I've done a fair amount of canvas & cushion work on Carolina Skiffs. Never thought they were junk. Just not my cup of tea ...?

 

[BruceDeuce]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I had a 19' flat bottom DLX with a 90hp Johnson. I ran it in the Gulf Of Mexico, coming out of the Myakka River Port Charlotte. Great Boat used to catch some big fish with it.

Ive taken this boat out a few miles into the gulf on a calm day. I see your in PA, this boat would be ideal on the Delaware and get you pretty far up into Trenton river on it.

 

[BruceDeuce]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

acarter I just seen this on CL in NJ check it out 05 Carolina Skiff 17DXL 60 HP - $10330

05 Carolina Skiff 17DXL 60 HP - $10330 (Sea Isle)

 

[acarter92]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Ive taken this boat out a few miles into the gulf on a calm day. I see your in PA, this boat would be ideal on the Delaware and get you pretty far up into Trenton on it.River

Yep, I'm in PA, but I rarely boat in PA.... small dirty lakes where I can't seem to ever catch anything is about all that's around me. I usually drive down to the bay.

I'm not buying the boat to go offshore with it, but I just want it to be capable, for the few times that I want to. Obviously I would be going out on nice days.


I'm confused as to how it would sink??? Untill I look at one I'm not 100% sure of how they are set up, but what I'm picturing is a sealed deck that has self bailing thru-hulls in the transom. So any water that comes over the gunwales goes right out the back? Now even if the deck wasn't sealed, 2/3's of it is filled with foam, so to my understanding you could fill it up with water and it would still have positive floatation??? I'm not arguing, just trying to get the facts.

Hopefully next weekend I can take a drive to see one in person.

Thanks,
Austin

 

[V153]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

The skiff in Boca: Not sure what the 'root cause' was. Coulda been a bad battery or bilge pump or float switch? But the boat filled with rainwater, then seawater, then sank right next to the dock.

I'm guessin it was 18 ft or so, couldn't tell fer sure cuz it was underwater ... From what I could see it had a new 150 Yammie 4stroke on it. (That had to hurt at the repair shop ...?) Moral being Carolina Skiffs can & will sink. For that matter Boston Whalers can sink too.

Personally I think it's bad karma to imply that any boat is unsinkable. Whether yer a good captain or not, mother nature may beg to differ. Look what happened to the "unsinkable" Titanic?

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Moral being Carolina Skiffs can & will sink. For that matter Boston Whalers can sink too.

The boat you saw was either weighed down with gear or (more likely) had a failure in the hull that soaked the foam. Intact these boats are positively buoyant, even full up to the gunwales with water. I imagine at that point there would be very little of that boat above water but it shouldn't go to the bottom.

I was told it it best to moor with the plug removed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

yes they self bail and most are moored with the plug out--perhaps not with a super heavy motor. Plug in, no pump, big motor could swamp but not sink.

Perhaps caught under the pier will sink them but we've used our J19 as a platform for pier repairs!

40 is on the light side for a 17 but doable.

Used ones are hard to find b/c the owners love them. Be ready to grab one almost sight unseen. With a boat that size, there will not be surveys and sea trials. The best you will be able to do, if you don't know boats, is to get a deal to take it to a mechanic for major problems and a 1 week return. The motor is the only thing to be concerned about; any hull problems will be obvious to anyone.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

Thanks again for the replies... I'm going to check one out at a dealer this coming Saturday, if all goes well I may be getting a new one...

Home Cookin, The "JV" has a max hp of 40, I know the "JVX" series is higher even for the same legth boat but they are also much heavier. From what I was reading online a 40hp should be adaquite for me. I have no need to go super fast (that's what the jet-ski is for), as long as it get's up on plane and will pull a tube I'm happy. I rarely find myself going over half-throttle on my 70hp and that's a heavier boat, so I think I'll be alright....

Austin

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

probably so and I was guessing. One thing about the flat boats and tubing is that the tube really pulls the stern around. This is not a fault; just something to be aware of and get used to.

More important, but similar, is that they slide and then grab suddenly, at least the fist hulls did, and can throw stuff around in (or out of) the boat. Learn this in safe conditions so you don't get caught by surprise and hurt. Teach all your drivers this, too. It's merely the downside of the benefit of running in a few inches of water!

 

[agallant80]

Re: Carolina Skiff quality and handling???

I have a friend that has one that is about 5 years old. His is a 19 with a 115 on back. It is a great boat, he has been all over the intercoastal and local lakes with it. They are simple and don't have many frills but they are build very well. Not sure if I would want to be out in the bay with one when the white caps get 4-5 feet. You won't regret it. If you get a chance check out Chatlee Marine in Sanford, NC its about 5-6 hours away from Baltimore. They seam to have the best prices up and down the east coast.