Just like with any boat, you have to pick your days. The company honors warranty issues and they are super easy to maintain. My 1965DLX is 15 years old and has been a solid performer. Unless you have $100,000 or more to drop on a similar size center consul, fishing boat, the Carolina skiff is a great product and a great value
I had a j16 with twin consoles, and live aerator in the back. Like a bass boat configuration. It was nice. We used it for clamming. Getting up into the shallow water on the sand bars and getting overboard and raking for clams next to the boat. It was a perfect boat for that. Also the positive flotation is nice. you don't have to worry about sinking a skiff. They just wont. LOL!! They are good little boats. But yes, if you plan to get any distance from the shore out into the rougher waters, don't use a skiff. It's not the boat for that. The most i've been off shore in mine was about three miles. But we were still in the bay. But even then, you get into the rougher rolling waves and white caps, that skiff will pound you to death. Just every wave, WAM, WAM, WAM!! and getting blasted in the face with spray every time you go over a breaker. It's just not a fun boat in those conditions. The boat will handle it just fine. Those Carolina Skiffs are tough as nails. But you'll probably need a new spine by the time you get back to the dock. LOL!!
100% agreed. I own a dlx18 and it beats the hell out of you. On a flat day it’s absolutely amazing and pretty quick boat. The stability on these is amazing aswell. But i think you missed an important topic. The cavitation! These boats cavitate on tight turns or getting up on plane. So they have their pros and cons.
I was coming back from up the Kuskokwim River, wind picked up so I said eff it and pitched camp. Skiffs and Jon boats do require maintenance to keep them 100%
My bro has one for the rivers here and for an old 18' with his new 60 Honda he can haul bigger loads than I using a smaller outboard. 0 quams with the skiff but im a Jon Boat guy with a 18' semi-v and a 17' Flat when Im up Kwethluk fishing for grayling and rainbow trout fishing. I have a jet pump but never required it, the tunnel gets me enough clearance along with my jackplate. Great review!
As a first boat purchase in order to get out and enjoy the water, the J14 is great for me. Most of the waters around me are protected waters that also require a small draft. As most have already commented, you get what you pay for and its intended use. But I think this video was intended as click bait and it got my view , so mission accomplished.
Appreciate the info. I’m currently selling a couple kayaks and plan to buy a used Carolina skiff, probably a J14 or J16, maybe a Polar or Sundance depending on what’s on the market. I have a lot of experience with friends’ skiffs so I’m aware of the poor ride in open water but I’ll be using it in Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon in Florida which mostly eliminates that con.
Heads up!! Many dealers have dropped Carolina Skiff because their quality has gone down and they have jacked up the price. This I was told by a Boat dealer today. These boats are built in Waycross Georgia in a low tech area of Georgia. I have a jvx cc 18 footer and the gauges on my boat have faded in just a couple of years from the Sun. You definitely need to keep these boats out of the Sun and they need to go into a building to stay new.
I recommend if you want great fit and finish to buy a custom made brand that makes a boat to your specifications. If not you will always find flaws and things you don’t like with any mass produced brand, even a 90k maverick. Besides for yachts, skiffs are probably the largest custom build market
I have a 14' modified v hull skiff that im commercial crabbing out of in the Chesapeake , there are a ton of days i cant even go out. 1-2 foot waves and its a no go for me. Glad i found your vid, i thought a bigger Carolina skiff might help, but now i know it wont . Thx
what’s your opinion on a 238 DLV? we live on the michigan/ohio line. currently have jet skis. we’re not huge fishermen but we like pulling up on sandbars and cruising rivers and going out on lake erie occasionally. nothing too far out.
Probably a lot of truth in this video, but he is talking about the cheaper Carolina Skiff models. I have a CS 21’ Ultra Elite which does well in the chop with its modified V bottom, has lots of rod holders and seems well built. My CS stays in the water 8 months out of the year and I have never had a water intrusion problem.
Hi.. I liked your review as it prompted me to ask you for recommendations. I currently own a 21CC and i am finding that is way too big for me as most of the time i am flying solo. Hence, i am looking for something a lot smaller and easy to manage as i get older. I have never owned a flats boat, but i know that design isn't meant for choppy waters. I have been looking at the Carolina Skiff JV15; however, i wonder if you have any other brands that you seek are best suited for shallow water. Thanks.
Oh, you can definitely run. I worked there for many years. Sometimes, you’d get boats with bolts in the console; other times, they’d just use screws. Remember that one time the console flew off while they were driving? Yeah, they guess the weights. I was hired to build an ERP system, but once the CEO realized it would hold him accountable for his guesswork, he didn’t want it. Not a single engineer works there. The guy who invented the boat deserves credit, but the man running the company is a fool. And as for the investors in Buffalo, they’re either blind or just using the company to dump money. If you’re looking for some real juicy content for your show, I know where all the skeletons are buried. Let me know if you need any!
But.. are they really inexpensive still? I emember when these boats were only a few grand for the hull. All boats have gone up in price and from what I see in the market, CS has been following the rest of the industry with only building bigger boats with lots of options and features. Hopefully we get back to some basic utility boats at affordable prices.
Hog wash. The perfect catfishing boat. You can mount rod holders everywhere. I sold my j16 with 40 Yamaha. Big big mistake, that said the J14 with a 15hp motor is the ultimate 2 person catfishing machine. Yes will beat you IF your in a hurry in chop. I will find a 14 DLX. Great freaking all night fishing machines !
All of this was a weird take. Dude, you're talking about getting beat up in a 16ft flat bottom and blaming the brand. Come on now. Saying that a bad ride is a CS characteristic rather than your choice of vessel size is weird. You purchased the cheapest version of CS and claim it wasn't very good. It really sounds like a champagne taste on a beer budget thing. Don't like the CS, get your cash out, and buy a tactical skiff like a Hewes or Beavertail.
I agree on the ride got a dlv 218 the ride to and from your fishing hole makes me cuss rough as hell a6” chop will rattle your teeth nice and roomy for fishing thinking about selling mine
How about the JLS series that have a modified V hull. I have nothing but how good they ride and take chop as well. I know a guy in St.Augustine that takes his offshore and fishes the inlet on a regular basis with NO issues as far a s ride and it's a 16 foot skiff!
I think people’s experience with boat is all relative. A jls rides better than the flat bottom version but 16ft jls is not the best riding 16ft skiff out there as far as ride. BUT in my opinion, what ever your happy with works for me!
I WONT BUY ANOTHER PERIOD !!!! If you let water stand in the hull the foam in the floor becomes water logged and it gets HEAVY ! It wont plane off correctlt and you cant get it out . Look it up on youtube and never buy one. Ors was a 21dlv junk. Dealer knew it but wouldnt do anything about it
Just like with any boat, you have to pick your days. The company honors warranty issues and they are super easy to maintain. My 1965DLX is 15 years old and has been a solid performer. Unless you have $100,000 or more to drop on a similar size center consul, fishing boat, the Carolina skiff is a great product and a great value
Great points
I had a j16 with twin consoles, and live aerator in the back. Like a bass boat configuration. It was nice. We used it for clamming. Getting up into the shallow water on the sand bars and getting overboard and raking for clams next to the boat. It was a perfect boat for that. Also the positive flotation is nice. you don't have to worry about sinking a skiff. They just wont. LOL!! They are good little boats. But yes, if you plan to get any distance from the shore out into the rougher waters, don't use a skiff. It's not the boat for that. The most i've been off shore in mine was about three miles. But we were still in the bay. But even then, you get into the rougher rolling waves and white caps, that skiff will pound you to death. Just every wave, WAM, WAM, WAM!! and getting blasted in the face with spray every time you go over a breaker. It's just not a fun boat in those conditions. The boat will handle it just fine. Those Carolina Skiffs are tough as nails. But you'll probably need a new spine by the time you get back to the dock. LOL!!
You nailed it. They are great utilitarian boats but you definitely make a trade off on the ride
Love my Skiff's. But if you buy a flat bottom boat you get the ride that comes with it.
Agreed!
You know it, flatbottoms are the best in the shallows but.... yeah rough damn ride when it gets choppy as hell
100% agreed. I own a dlx18 and it beats the hell out of you. On a flat day it’s absolutely amazing and pretty quick boat. The stability on these is amazing aswell. But i think you missed an important topic. The cavitation! These boats cavitate on tight turns or getting up on plane. So they have their pros and cons.
Yep the cavitation is no joke. That flat hull really makes the boat act weird in turns and on the hole shot at times
I was coming back from up the Kuskokwim River, wind picked up so I said eff it and pitched camp. Skiffs and Jon boats do require maintenance to keep them 100%
My bro has one for the rivers here and for an old 18' with his new 60 Honda he can haul bigger loads than I using a smaller outboard. 0 quams with the skiff but im a Jon Boat guy with a 18' semi-v and a 17' Flat when Im up Kwethluk fishing for grayling and rainbow trout fishing. I have a jet pump but never required it, the tunnel gets me enough clearance along with my jackplate. Great review!
Thanks!
As a first boat purchase in order to get out and enjoy the water, the J14 is great for me. Most of the waters around me are protected waters that also require a small draft. As most have already commented, you get what you pay for and its intended use. But I think this video was intended as click bait and it got my view , so mission accomplished.
Appreciate the info. I’m currently selling a couple kayaks and plan to buy a used Carolina skiff, probably a J14 or J16, maybe a Polar or Sundance depending on what’s on the market. I have a lot of experience with friends’ skiffs so I’m aware of the poor ride in open water but I’ll be using it in Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon in Florida which mostly eliminates that con.
Heads up!!
Many dealers have dropped Carolina Skiff because their quality has gone down and they have jacked up the price. This I was told by a Boat dealer today. These boats are built in Waycross Georgia in a low tech area of Georgia. I have a jvx cc 18 footer and the gauges on my boat have faded in just a couple of years from the Sun. You definitely need to keep these boats out of the Sun and they need to go into a building to stay new.
Great advice and inside information
What about mako’s pro skiff?
I recommend if you want great fit and finish to buy a custom made brand that makes a boat to your specifications. If not you will always find flaws and things you don’t like with any mass produced brand, even a 90k maverick. Besides for yachts, skiffs are probably the largest custom build market
If you have a boat that can go super shallow, how shallow would you trot line for crabs? What's ideal?
I love them. Had 2 j 14's and my current 16 DLX that I have owned for 20 years since I bought it new will be replaced by a 2025 18 jvx.
I have a 14' modified v hull skiff that im commercial crabbing out of in the Chesapeake , there are a ton of days i cant even go out. 1-2 foot waves and its a no go for me. Glad i found your vid, i thought a bigger Carolina skiff might help, but now i know it wont . Thx
Thoughts on the new E16 JVX? 2024?
So what boat would you say is a good boat and affordable that’s like the Carolina skiff but better?
I have a 15’. Did they stop making those?
So what boat would you get that similar to the Carolina skiff?
I love my Maritime skiff. Also a privateer, maycraft or c-hawk would be great choices
Is the mako ride any better?
what’s your opinion on a 238 DLV? we live on the michigan/ohio line. currently have jet skis. we’re not huge fishermen but we like pulling up on sandbars and cruising rivers and going out on lake erie occasionally. nothing too far out.
I think it would be a good fit for what you’re describing. It’s does a decent job at cutting chop. I do think trim tabs would be a must have.
Carolina Skiff J16 flat bottom are great boats and they don’t pound as bad as a flat aluminum in choppy water
Probably a lot of truth in this video, but he is talking about the cheaper Carolina Skiff models. I have a CS 21’ Ultra Elite which does well in the chop with its modified V bottom, has lots of rod holders and seems well built. My CS stays in the water 8 months out of the year and I have never had a water intrusion problem.
You’re 100% correct
Hi.. I liked your review as it prompted me to ask you for recommendations. I currently own a 21CC and i am finding that is way too big for me as most of the time i am flying solo. Hence, i am looking for something a lot smaller and easy to manage as i get older. I have never owned a flats boat, but i know that design isn't meant for choppy waters. I have been looking at the Carolina Skiff JV15; however, i wonder if you have any other brands that you seek are best suited for shallow water. Thanks.
If you can find a Maritime skiff that’s a great one. Boston Whaler, Privateer, maycraft, and c-hawk are also solid boats
We opted for an older heavy-duty overbuilt Jones Brothers Bateau. Flat bottom girls make for a rough ride.
Oh, you can definitely run. I worked there for many years. Sometimes, you’d get boats with bolts in the console; other times, they’d just use screws. Remember that one time the console flew off while they were driving? Yeah, they guess the weights. I was hired to build an ERP system, but once the CEO realized it would hold him accountable for his guesswork, he didn’t want it. Not a single engineer works there. The guy who invented the boat deserves credit, but the man running the company is a fool. And as for the investors in Buffalo, they’re either blind or just using the company to dump money.
If you’re looking for some real juicy content for your show, I know where all the skeletons are buried. Let me know if you need any!
What about Mako’s?
I like the older ones a lot
had 2 , they are not a replacement for a boston whaler, good for watching your girl bounce up and down on the front deck.
No problem since Carolina Skiff stopped making them. Bet some flood victims would like one before the flood.
Comparing a J16 to a sportsman is like comparing a VW bug to a Corvette. Just can't do that. 😂
But.. are they really inexpensive still? I emember when these boats were only a few grand for the hull. All boats have gone up in price and from what I see in the market, CS has been following the rest of the industry with only building bigger boats with lots of options and features.
Hopefully we get back to some basic utility boats at affordable prices.
They’re inexpensive compared to other boats but I 💯 agree
❤ my J16. Perfect. Indestructable.
It’s a solid boat for the right purpose
@@Bythewater Ive remade mine a few times. Center console could be a little choppy. Now bench in back rides me smoother. Down from 40 to F25 Yammie.
Hog wash. The perfect catfishing boat. You can mount rod holders everywhere. I sold my j16 with 40 Yamaha. Big big mistake, that said the J14 with a 15hp motor is the ultimate 2 person catfishing machine. Yes will beat you IF your in a hurry in chop. I will find a 14 DLX. Great freaking all night fishing machines !
All of this was a weird take. Dude, you're talking about getting beat up in a 16ft flat bottom and blaming the brand. Come on now. Saying that a bad ride is a CS characteristic rather than your choice of vessel size is weird. You purchased the cheapest version of CS and claim it wasn't very good. It really sounds like a champagne taste on a beer budget thing. Don't like the CS, get your cash out, and buy a tactical skiff like a Hewes or Beavertail.
I agree on the ride got a dlv 218 the ride to and from your fishing hole makes me cuss rough as hell a6” chop will rattle your teeth nice and roomy for fishing thinking about selling mine
Love em for the reasons you said
My 14 footer eats chop and it’s a 91 when shit was built good
Love your contents, keep it up :)
Thank you!
They changed to v hull bottom now I think.
It flaps like a flounder
Good analogy 😬
I owned a regular 16 with a Honda 30. I called it the kidney killer.
That is 1000% accurate!
Or you could just slow down... and get some rod holders
They save money by being made in Waycross Georgia. Enough said
Gotcha
Do you think 32000 is a good buy? Thats thousand
For what model? Engine?
Hi neighbor, upper Potomac here! How’s my pee taste.zzz lol
My buddy has a house down there and that’s my favorite line. River rats!
How about the JLS series that have a modified V hull. I have nothing but how good they ride and take chop as well. I know a guy in St.Augustine that takes his offshore and fishes the inlet on a regular basis with NO issues as far a s ride and it's a 16 foot skiff!
I think people’s experience with boat is all relative. A jls rides better than the flat bottom version but 16ft jls is not the best riding 16ft skiff out there as far as ride. BUT in my opinion, what ever your happy with works for me!
Dog shit customer service will never buy one
overrated and overpriced.
Just buy a SeaArk
I WONT BUY ANOTHER PERIOD !!!! If you let water stand in the hull the foam in the floor becomes water logged and it gets HEAVY ! It wont plane off correctlt and you cant get it out . Look it up on youtube and never buy one. Ors was a 21dlv junk. Dealer knew it but wouldnt do anything about it
Yep that’s 100% accurate. Other boats with similar construction has identical issues
How does water get under the deck?
So what boat would you say is a good boat and affordable that’s like the Carolina skiff but better?