Back Country 18 Pro Guide

While the traditional flats boat is a wonderful tool for working skinny water, often the price owners pay is a long, wet, pounding ride out to the flats. Not so with the 189 Pro Guide, say the builders at Back Country Powerboats. Along with its bigger brother, the 202 Pro Guide, this model is designed to give both shallow-water ability and open-water stability.

With a draft of 10 inches, there might be some water too shallow to get into with the 189, but the boat will easily acces’ the lion’s share of fishable flats. And the bonus is that the exclusive hull design channels water away from the boat to provide a smooth, dry ride. The 189’Pro Guide’s generous 92-inch beam ensures a stable fishing platform in nearly any nearshore condition.
The 18-foot, 10-inch hull offers plenty of storage and plenty of room to cast and fight fish. All hardware is recessed, including optional pop-up cleats, to keep the deck clear of casting obstructions. The lockable rod boxes are large enough to handle one-piece, 12-foot fly rods, while the large dry storage compartment can handle most everything else easily and seals with an O-ring gutter system to make sure it stays dry.
Standard features include a nonskid UV-resistant gelcoat finish on the hull, Teleflex Seastar hydraulic steering system, large center-console control station with anti-fog gauges, 38-gallon livewell, bow trolling motor harness, self-bailing cockpit, poling platform and a hydraulic jackplate. The list of optional equipment is vast and includes everything from trolling motor to custom gauges to adaptable seating arrangements to flush-mounted davit kits. Power options range from 115- to 150-hp outboards.

SPECIFICATIONS