Feature: It’s Beavertail and Bonefish by 2 lengths

If you wanted to know what’s new in anything marine related – it was there at the Miami Boat Show

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his year’s Miami Boat show opened and closed with weather that yacht brokers pray for. Not a cloud in the sky, light winds, very low 80s and bearable humidity. The show was packed. Languages from around the world could be heard all day. Shows of the magnitude of Ft. Lauderdale’s and Miami’s are boat shows with an international overtone. Both shows are places to visit if you’re seriously in the market to buy a vessel.

This year’s visit was to report things that might be of interest anglers of our persuasion, which seems always to lead to flats boats, bay boats, kayaks, SUP boards, canoes and other fishing technologies. We focused this year entirely on flats boats. NOTE: The mentioned shows have none or just barely a few items that relate to fly fishing – like rods, reels or fly fishing specific paraphernalia. The Miami show’s focus has always been more about conventional fishing, especially offshore, and fishing boats, cruisers, trawlers and performance boats.

With a specific new model “flats syle” boat in mind, I arrived at the Miami Beach Convention Center before the opening bell. I found the target booth on the convention hall floor – ready with camera and pen to meet appointed head sales guy. Several models were on display, but no sales force in attendance. I looked at the model that the company had sent us press releases on. The PR specifically stating that materials technologies and hi-tech design allowed them to be more sticker price friendly and lighter than conventional flats boats. Well, the boat was not what you’d call an upscale fit and finish. The hardware was double-bogey poor, the price was way too high and it weighed in needing a serious weight loss program. Nonetheless, I stayed the course by coming back to the booth about every 15 minutes. At 45 minutes and still no representative, I vamoosed to the outside where the traditional flats boats were. Surprisingly, there were only three traditional flats boats manufacturers this year. Last year around a half dozen. Attendees were Bonefish Boat Works, LLC (Tampa, FL area), Aeon Marine, LLC (Tampa, FL area) and the ubiquitous Hells Bay Boatworks (Titusville, FL).

BONEFISH

The Bonefish Boat Works had what might be called the catch-all approach – something for every pocketbook. Three treats on display for Bonefish were the Bohemian, a full fledged flats boats that a pro would want – coming in at a doable $38,400 with trailer and a 60HP / 4-stroke Suzuki (add $3,000 for full Kevlar). Next, the Inshore 16 at slightly over $16,000 with a 50HP and trailer and lastly, a down and dirty go-fish now flats boat called the inshore 14 with a 30HP that is $11,470. Bonefish also has several other models – bay boats to offshore performance fishing machines – up to 41-feet.

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BONEFISH BOATS

BOHEMIAN:

Max Persons: 4
Beam: 6-foot
Draft: 6.5-inches to 7-inches
Weight: 700-pounds
Length: 17-foot, 9-inches
Fuel: 24 gallons
max power: 115 / 2-stroke

INSHORE 16:

Length: 16-feet
Beam: 6-feet
Transom Height: 15-inches
Max Power: 50HP
Max Persons: 4
Draft: 6-inches
Fuel: 9 gallons
Weight: 550-pounds

INSHORE 14:

Length 14’
Beam 5-fot, 10-inches
Transom Height: 15-inches
Maximum Power: 30HP
Maximum Persons: 3
Draft: 5-inches
Fuel: 6 gallons
Weight: 400-pounds

Website: […]  or  […]

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BEAVERTAIL

Beavertail (Aeon) had two new candidates on display, one was built expressly for Capt. Will Benson (World Angling) called the BT Elite. Will is well known for his understanding of permit fly fishing, activism in conservation matters involving his Key West fishery and is contributor (film maker) to the Fly Fishing Film Tour 2014. The BT Elite will enter the Beavertail regular lineup. It has some great features; 30 gallon livewell, built completely out of carbon-Kevlar and it has a cored hull.

The BT Strike has been in the lineup since day one. It has morphed a few times to become a high performance technical skiff. The BT Strike is one of best performing flats boat in a field filled with some top notch manufacturers. One of its many distinguishing features is the “Carolina” flair, which assures a dry ride and weighing in at a light 550-pounds a 90HP will take you anyplace you need to go; fast. It’s a favorite with tournament anglers for the latter

Newest in the lineup at Beavertail is the Micro, a perfect backcountry flats boat and perfect for folks that want to get in tight to take better shots at tialers on tidal exchanges.

Round-up

For the non-pro, the Micro and Inshore 14 are skiffs to look at. They’re easy to maintain, simple to run and real easy on the pocketbook. The fit and finish are not compromised in either skiff. Just get in, go fish, trailer it home, put a hose to it and you’re done. Head for the barbie with a cold one – life can’t get any better.

If there were Best of Show in skiffs, the Micro and Inshore 14 would take the prizes home.

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BEAVERTAIL BOATS

BT MICRO

Length: 16-foot, 8-inches
Beam: 60-inches
Draft: 5-inches (measured with a 30HP, fuel and two anglers)
Fuel: 6 – 12 gallon
Gross: 400-pounds
Power: Up to 30HP – Etech
Configuration: Tiller or Side Console
Cost Approx: $18,000 Tiller, $19,500 with Side Console

BT STRIKE

Length: 16-foot, 8-inches
Beam: 60-inches
Draft: 5-inches (measured with a 30HP, fuel and two anglers)
Fuel: 6 – 12 gallon
Gross: 400-pounds
Power: Up to 90HP
Configuration: Tiller, Side Console, Center Console
Cost Approx: $18,000 Tiller, $19,500 with Side Console

BT STRIKE

Length: 17-foot, 6-inches
Beam:73-inces
Draft: 6-inches (measured with 60HP, fuel and two anglers)
Fuel: 20 Gallons
Weight: 500-pounds
Power: To 90HP
Configuration: Tiller, Side Console, Center Console
Cost Approx: $29,500

BT ELITE

Length: 16-foot, 8-inches
Beam: 60-inches
Draft: 6-inches
Fuel: 20 Gallons
Weight: 600-pounds
Power: To 90HP
Configuration: Center Console, Side Console
Cost Approx: $38,000

Aeon / Beavertail website – click here […]

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