Bonefish Boatworks Back Country 18
For potential boat buyers in the market for a vessel that has the ability to get them to the flats before anyone else, look to the Bonefish Boatworks Back Country 18. Take a ride in this craft, and you’ll quickly see that it can float and run in ultrashallow water, yet it handles much like a catamaran. Right out of the factory, the Back Country has plenty of fisherman-friendly features, but if you spend any time speaking to the staff, you’ll find that the number of available options is seemingly endless.
Running and Fishing
The unique aspect of this skiff is the air-entrapment hull. This design traps a cushion of air underneath the boat that makes it ride high. Because it rides so high, it does not plow water, allowing the boat to get up on plane very quickly. When it’s time to turn and maneuver the skiff, sharp rails molded to the bottom of the hull grab the water and allow it to turn on a dime. The boat isn’t overly long compared with other flats skiffs, but the 8-foot beam is quite a bit wider than that of other boats in this class. The great thing about a supersize beam is that it provides a huge fishing area for multiple anglers and is also a very stable platform from which to fish.
Design and Construction
From the very beginning, the builders at Bonefish Boatworks wanted to construct a bulletproof skiff that would remain functional for serious anglers. To achieve their goal, they chose to construct a foam-filled hull completely of biaxial fiberglass.
Fly-anglers especially will be pleased to see that all of the components on top of the deck are flush-mounted in order to eliminate stubbed toes and dreaded fly-line snags. They didn’t skimp on hardware either. The design team at Bonefish Boatworks opted to go the extra mile on the Back Country and use 316 stainless steel for all of the hardware. They also realized that anglers like space, so they incorporated a rear storage locker, a rear 30-gallon baitwell, underseat storage, an anchor locker and a second 30-gallon storage area up front that can be converted into a second well if you so choose. One thing to keep in mind when considering this boat is that if you can dream it, chances are you can have it. Popular options include a toe rail that goes around the entire deck, jack plates, Power-Poles, trolling motors, engine manufacturers and color, just to name a few.
Specifications
LOA……18′
BEAM……8′
DRAFT……6-8″
WEIGHT……1,000 lbs.
FUEL……32 gals.
MAX HP……150
MSRP……Call for pricing
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Bonefish Boatworks / Hudson, Florida / 727-243-6767 www.bonefishboatworks.com_
