Boat type
Flats boat
Purpose
Flats boats are specialized shallow-water fishing hulls — minimal draft, quiet poling platforms, and sight-fishing layouts for tailing redfish, bonefish, and permit. Not a general bay boat or offshore console.
Best suited for
- Flats, mangrove edges, and inches-deep water
- Sight-fishing with 1–2 anglers and a guide or skilled poler
- Coastal regions with shallow fisheries (Florida, Texas, Bahamas)
- Intermediate to expert shallow-water anglers
Size options
- Technical poling skiffs
- 16–18 ft — ultra-shallow, two anglers max
- Standard flats boats
- 19–21 ft — most common guide and owner size
- Larger flats boats
- 22–24 ft — more range, still shallow-draft
Builders in the primer
11 builders in the primer build this type. A missing name is a hole, not a ranking.
- Beavertail SkiffsFactory directBradenton, FL
Also skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetbeavertailskiffs.com - Chittum SkiffsDealer networkPalm City, FL
Also bay boat and skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetchittumskiffs.com - East Cape BoatsFactory directLongwood, FL
Also bay boat and skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yeteastcapeboats.com - Egret BoatsFactory directWashington, NC
Also bass boat, bay boat, center console, and skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetegretboats.com - Hell's Bay BoatworksSell-through unknownTitusville, FL
Also skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yethellsbayboatworks.com - Hell's Bay BoatworksSell-through unknownTitusville, FL
Also bay boat and skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yethellsbayboatworks.com - MaverickDealer networkFort Pierce, FL
Also bay boat, center console, and skiff.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetmaverickboats.com - Release BoatworksDealer networkHomestead, FL
Also bay boat and center console.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetreleaseboats.com - Shallow SportDealer networkLos Fresnos, TX
Also bay boat and center console.
No owner notes yetNo owner boats yetshallowsportboats.com
Where to get them
New-boat dealers who carry these brands live on the dealers shelf. Enter a city or zip to see nearby options for this type:
Related accessories
Engines, parts, and rigging that typically pair with this hull class. Full list on the accessories shelf.