fish and ski without carpet?

[houston boater]

I live in Houston and enjoy fishing the bays with my Skeeter ZX20 center console bay boat. Over Labor Day I took the boat to a freshwater lake and did some tubing. It's not a very comfortable boat for this and I'm thinking about getting something new that I can still fish the bays with but can accomodate some tubing as well.

My main concern is that all the fish and ski's I've seen online have carpet and I'm worried about how this will hold up/clean up after fishing the saltwater bays. I'd also like something that runs fairly shallow like the Skeeter.

Anyone have a recommendation for a shallow running fish and ski without carpet?

 

[blifsey]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Have you looked at the "dual console" models from the CC mfrs? Sea Hunt, Pioneer, Tidewater, Boston Whaler, etc.?

We are at a point where we are seriously considering trading our carpeted bowrider for a bay boat. We've enjoyed the heck out of our Glastron on lakes tubing, boarding, coving, etc. but the kids are older and doing less of the watersports. So, I'm ready to get back into fishing and a bay boats seems like a good compromise that would still allow the watersports. What was main comfort issues you found doing the "lake thing"?

Wanna trade?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

forget carpet. It's for indoors.
I'm curious too--what's uncomfortable? Spent my life comfortable in boats without carpet and what is a "fish and ski" anyway other than a brand?

 

[convergent]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

forget carpet. It's for indoors.
I'm curious too--what's uncomfortable? Spent my life comfortable in boats without carpet and what is a "fish and ski" anyway other than a brand?

The carpet is comfortable when walking around in the boat barefooted on a hot day, and for sitting or laying on. It also holds up very well over the years in boats doing freshwater fishing, but I can't really speak for salt water wear and tear but I would think it would do fine with the water. I just wouldn't go and clean my fish on it and make a big bloody mess. If it gets worn out, its not that big of a deal to replace it. Its just glued down on fiberglass flooring so you could either pull it up and replace it when it looks bad, or pull it and spray the deck with rhinoline or something. There may be some fish and skis out there without carpeted flooring, but I was looking for carpet so didn't come across any.

"Fish and Ski" isn't a brand. It is a type of boat, like center console, bass boat, jon boat, etc. Although there are some variations to this like the stern drive bowriders that they throw a trolling motor on, to me it is the bass boat type hull design that has a full walk through windshield and and expanded seating area. There are many manufacturers that make these in both fiberglass and aluminum designs. If you look at the fish and skis from Ranger, Nitro, ProCraft, etc., they are all very similar in design. For my needs, its the perfect boat layout. They do bass fishing well and they do watersports well. I bought a 17' at the beginning of the summer and loved it, but was a little tight so upgraded to a 20' and its working out very well.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

"Fish and Ski" isn't a brand. It is a type of boat, like center console, bass boat, jon boat, etc.

Actually, there was a brand spelled "Fish-N-Ski." Produced in Tarpon Springs, FL from the late 1960's to the very early 1970's.


Here's the plate from mine........first the S/N plate and then the name plate on the side of the boat.

As for the carpet question, cannot imagine a boat without it. But then again, I live in the South, endure 100 degree days with nothing but sun, and cannot fathom walking on a deck that's a hot plate, which is what a deck is without carpet. That, and carpeting does quiet down the boat, too.

 

[blifsey]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Our boat actually has snap-in carpet which is nice because you can have it in or not. We have not removed ours in several years. There are companies that will custom make snap-in carpet as replacement or for new fitting. You can make a template by taping together heavy poster board or something similar. If we do go with a bay boat, I might look into adding snap-in carpet for key areas if deck gets too hot.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

My parents have a Triumph 215DC. No carpet, fish and ski. Might want to look at them. I have a Procraft 200 Combo fish and ski. I like the way it's laid out, but will admit there are times when I wish it wasn't carpeted. Then again, I hardly ever go out with out our dog, and she loves the carpet. On my parents boat, she slips and slides everywhere and is generally miserable. Snap in and out would be the best of both worlds for sure. I know the Glastron F&S boats have snap in carpet. Another option.

 

[convergent]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Actually, there was a brand spelled "Fish-N-Ski." Produced in Tarpon Springs, FL from the late 1960's to the very early 1970's.

That's "Fish-N-Ski", not "Fish and Ski".

Sorry, couldn't resist. I wasn't aware that there was a brand with that name, but I think what I was saying about it being a boat design is still applicable today.

 

[Vanover]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

You could always get the style of boat that you want without carpet and just put in a set of Neo-Mats. Styx River makes them. They come in a couple of diff. styles and colors. NOt to expensive, and the are made of neoprean for easy cleaning and mx. They are about a 1/2 inch thick and do not need to be fastened down. Here is a link. Check it out. Kinda cool.

https://styx-river.com/products/?category=1&subcategory=6

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

well to each his own. plain white fiberglass is comfortable on the feet and does not get hot. I can't imagine laying on the floor much less on indoor/outdoor carpet more than a month old. Of course, if you're putting a towel down it doesn't matter.

My 20 year old, seldom covered, white fiberglass floor is as comfortable as the day I bought it. The cost to maintain? $0. The time to maintain? next to nothing. I think you're just creating work for yourself. But I'm a simple guy.

As I said, it's purely personal choice; no right or wrong. Some people put carpet around their swimming pool. But I'd hate for a person new to boating to think, based on preferences, that having carpet or not is like having a bilge pump or not.

 

[Philster]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Great examples: Wellcraft Sportsman. Sea Swirl Striper Dual Console. These are the ones I'd consider, among some others. But these are really good rides. Some address the need for both fishing gear storage and for ski gear storage etc. I think these are definitely worth considering. I can vouch for outstanding rides in both and great layouts.

Both are made with consideration that they will be used in bodies of water other than inland lakes . Good deadrise and purposeful deep V with proper gunwales and other design considerations.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

That Wellcraft is sweet

 

[convergent]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Both are made with consideration that they will be used in bodies of water other than inland lakes . Good deadrise and purposeful deep V with proper gunwales and other design considerations.

See, those don't appeal to me at all but then I stay in inland lakes and like the more "bass boat" type design. I guess that's why there are so many kinds of boats since everyone has different likes and dislikes.

The OP mentioned in the original post getting something that had a shallow draft. I haven't measured my current boat, but the one prior was about 15" I think (with the motor raised). I wonder how deep these welcrafts ride. Its odd that none of the big fiberglass bass boat makers have built something using their fish and ski overall design, but with this type of floor and carpeted mats that snap in. That would seem like a good seller to me.

 

[convergent]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

well to each his own. plain white fiberglass is comfortable on the feet and does not get hot. I can't imagine laying on the floor much less on indoor/outdoor carpet more than a month old. Of course, if you're putting a towel down it doesn't matter.

My 20 year old, seldom covered, white fiberglass floor is as comfortable as the day I bought it. The cost to maintain? $0. The time to maintain? next to nothing. I think you're just creating work for yourself. But I'm a simple guy.

As I said, it's purely personal choice; no right or wrong. Some people put carpet around their swimming pool. But I'd hate for a person new to boating to think, based on preferences, that having carpet or not is like having a bilge pump or not.

My daughter and her friend were laying on the bow of my boat this weekend on the carpet... no towel... and looked pretty comfortable. I've done the same. My boat is 15 years old and the carpet looks and feels pretty fresh, but it has been kept in a garage all its life so that is a key difference. I don't think carpet (or seats) are going to hold up well in the elements 24x7.

I agree with you that its purely personal choice. We had a pool at our last house and I would have never thought of carpeting the deck. I also don't think that carpet is the primary concern in picking a boat. For some reason, the fiberglass bass boat makers seem to like carpet. If I liked the boat design and it didn't have carpet, I don't think that would stop me from buying it.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Wet fiberglass floors are also slippery, which can cause some inpromptu dance moves. The snap-in carpet is the best solution so that it's there when you want it, and stowed away when you don't. Also makes it very easy to remove and clean/spray off when it gets nasty.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

OK I looked at the pictures of the "fish and ski." I'd describe the hull as a "bay boat" design but that is not much different than a pointed-bow bass boat: low flat profile.

As for the interior, the "fish and ski" is about the same as boats that call themselves "dual console." And there't not a whole lot of difference between DC and bow rider, when you put them side by side.

I have an old Key West 17' dual console which, now that I am enlightened, I think is better described as a "fish and ski" even though it has no carpet. It has a flat bay boat profile. Thanks, y'all; it's like I got a new boat! I'll post pics later if I can find any.
Also, my fiberglass is never slippery when wet unless the wet is frozen or soapy. Also very easy to clean/spray off when nasty but I skip the removal part.

 

[convergent]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Congrats on the new boat!

 

[houston boater]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Thanks for all the responses guys. I'm still trying to find pictures of some of the recommendations, so my answer is probably here already and I'll find it when I have time to do more searching this weekend.

In response to some of the issues brought up -- the comfort problem with my Skeeter ZX20 is seating -- not enough of it. I've attached a picture to illustrate. It seats 2 on the driver's seat and 1 on the bait well in front of the center console -- not a good place to sit to watch someone wipeout while tubing

I've seen several, what I call "fish and ski's", that fit the bill of what I'm looking for, but they all have carpet. I'd really like something with a casting platform at the front and back of the boat. The second picture I posted is a Skeeter SL210, which is the layout I'm looking for (I've seen several models like this).

I appreciate the recommendations for replacing the carpet on these, as this might be the way for me to go. My Skeeter has skid resistant decking and I love it. I haven't had any problems sliding around, even with a wet boat, it isn't hot at all and it cleans up very nicely after a day on the saltwater.

As far as what I brought up about needing something that runs shallow for the bays, my Skeeter has a 10" draft and I've already been hung up once on a night with a very low tide It took about 15 minutes of wading to get out. I really need something that runs about as shallow -- either that or something with a bed below deck that I can sleep in until the tide comes back in

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Most of the "fish and ski" boats I have seen are from the bowrider/sportboat companies like Searay (although I don't think they make one anymore), bayliner, montery, tracker etc. They're basically bowriders with a trolling motor mount, a few rod holders, maybe a bait well, and usually snap out carpet and a ski pole. There are still a few brands out there that make this boat. Bowriders have plenty of seating in them and are comfortable. I saw one at a boat show late last year but don't recall what brand it was.

 

[Philster]

Re: fish and ski without carpet?

Sorry.... I saw 'bay' and that means a serious, V-bottom fishing boat around here.

I need me some gunwale height and freeboard.