Carolina Skiff 16'DLX Hull

roy brewington

roy brewington

Well-known member
Anyone out there been using this hull hunting? Curious as to its ice breaking capabilitys or lack of. Need a smaller boat to mount a boat blind on for when its just me and dog or one other hunter. Been using my Blackjack for this but don,t have the capability for 2 people blinded up. Whats your thoughts on this hull? How much water do they draw and horsepower it takes a loaded boat to run nicely.
 
Roy they break ice the issue i have had with a skiff hull is the broken ice it difficult to get out from under the boat after its broken where a V hull pushes it out to the side. My buddy has a hard side blind on his and it hunts great runs with 3 guys with a 25 hp motor. All skiffs plane with minimum HP but beat you up in rough water.
 
Thanks. Hard to believe he can get away with just a 25 on that hull and plane that load but I guess bottom width helps out. I would have guessed it would take a 40. In the past I had a little J14 Carolina skiff with an A frame fast grass blind on it I used in certain circumstances and It took a 25 to break it out with 2 hunters ,dog, decoys and blind. Just need a little more room and higher sides is why I,m considering the 16DLX. I,ve got a 20' Seaark that I use when breaking thick ice but just to much boat when I,m by myself. Never did break over 3/4" of ice with 14 in time I had it and just not sure how that fiberglass holds up to thicker.
 
I've got a buddy who had a DLX hull. My buddy sold his and got a v hull bay boat.
As noted, very stable, min. HP needed to get it going but it will beat you up in a chop. Not as bad as the J hull (which are horrible in rough water) but definately does not cut water like a V or even a semi-V.

We don't break much ice down here, so cant comment on that!
 
Am aware of the beating. Going to mostly be used in river with little chop . Made the mistake one time only of takeing that little J14 into a moderate chop and it was definitely not the hull for anything more than a ripple. Sides way to low to even start to turn spray. I,m keeping my eye out also for a 15' sandpiper but they,re scarce as hens teeth in bare hull $ priced right.
 
No Phil there was a company building skiffs Called Sandpiper 15 in North Carolina. They quit production a few years back but those little skiffs are everything the Carolina Skiffs are but v bowed. Full foam in floor , wide and stable under foot for a 15 and plane nicely under load with a 25. Draw about 4" water. Quite a few were sold as work skiffs to crabbers and pound netters and occasionaly some show up with center consoles. There is a Sandpiper skiff now being built down south but its a different hull and decked out for flats fisherman. The little 15 is very hard to find on used mkt. because of limited years of production and owners just won,t cut loose of them.
 
I fish commercially out of a Carolina 19 with a 40hp Honda, I regularly put a 1,000# of product ,spread out on it and still get it on plane,I had a J16 with an 18 hp outboard that was scary fast with a full load of eel pots, boxes and a 12 year old son.
A 16 CS with a 40 should be way more then you need. A 25 would probably/ might be, enough with 2 men and gear, unless you like to go fast. as always YMMV
 
I run a 16' dlx Carolina skiff here in NY. its a true work horse! I break thru 3" of ice with ease transport 3 hunters dog and decoys no problem. I have a 40 HP Yamaha 4 stroke. it does have a wet ride on choppy days but you cant beat the stability. great boats! I have a 19' DLV model also that's even better!

Good Hunting!

Dennis


View attachment CAROLINA SKIFF (68).JPG
 
Yea ,I figured the wet ride issue. Whats the bottom width on the 16 dlx? Want to mount a colapsable A frame style blind on boat so stand up to shoot will be basically down centerline of hull. Does hull move under foot enough in that situation to not throw off shooting on calm water? Glad to here that it holds up to a little ice. Use my 20' seaark when friends going and freeze produces thick ice but don,t want to mess with that boat when its just me and dog going. How much water does it take to float hull?
 
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