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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Flats Boats in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Maverick 17 HPX-S
Direct answer

The Maverick 17 HPX-S is the best flats boat, with a 6-inch draft and up to 70 hp. The Hell’s Bay Marquesa (7-inch draft, fully rigged) is #2 and the Chittum Islamorada 18 (7 inches with 70 hp) is #3.

At a glance

#PickBeamBest for
1Maverick 17 HPX-S6 ft 2 inPermit and bonefish poling in the thinnest water
2Hell’s Bay Marquesa79 inA dry ride that still poles quietly for four
3Chittum Islamorada 186 ft 8 inA light carbon poling skiff with a 12-degree hull
4Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 1882 inShallow water with friends or family aboard
5East Cape 18 EVO V6 ft 7 inBackcountry flats plus the run home across open water
6Dragonfly 17 Classic80 inA custom flats boat built around you
7Maverick 18 HPX-V6 ft 8 inFlats fishing with room for four
8Hewes Redfisher 187 ft 11 inThe widest, steadiest platform on the list
9Egret 187 ft 5 inFlats and creeks plus rough open water
10Ankona Caicos68 inA simple micro skiff on a small budget

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Maverick 17 HPX-S
Best for four anglers
Hell’s Bay Marquesa
Best base price
Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 18
Best for rough water
Egret 18
Lowest price
Ankona Caicos

The ranking

1

Maverick 17 HPX-S

Maverick 17 HPX-S
Answrs VerdictThe shallowest published draft here.
Beam: 6 ft 2 inDraft: 6 inMax horsepower: 70 hpLength: 17 ft 8 inFuel: 19 galPrice: Not published

The Maverick 17 HPX-S is 17 ft 8 in with a 6 ft 2 in beam, a 6-inch draft, 19 gallons of fuel and up to 70 hp. Maverick does not publish a price.

Go ifPermit and bonefish poling in the thinnest water
Skip ifYou want to carry four anglers
Why #1 over #2: Its 6-inch draft is the shallowest published here, below the Marquesa’s 7 inches.
2

Hell’s Bay Marquesa

Hell’s Bay Marquesa
Answrs VerdictThe technical skiff for four.
Beam: 79 inDraft: 7 in fully riggedMax horsepower: 150 hpLength: 18 ft 1 inFuel: 28 galPrice: Not published

The Hell’s Bay Marquesa is 18 ft 1 in with a 79-inch beam and a 7-inch draft fully rigged, takes up to 150 hp and carries 28 gallons.

Go ifA dry ride that still poles quietly for four
Skip ifYou need a published price before you call
Why #2 over #3: It runs with up to 150 hp, against the Chittum’s 90 hp.
3

Chittum Islamorada 18

Chittum Islamorada 18
Answrs VerdictThe light carbon skiff.
Beam: 6 ft 8 inDraft: 7 in with 70 hp (full carbon)Max horsepower: 90 hpFuel: 23, 32 or 38 galWeight: 535 lbs unrigged (full carbon)Price: Not published

The Chittum Islamorada 18 has a 6 ft 8 in beam, a 7-inch draft with 70 hp in full carbon, a 535-lb unrigged weight and up to 90 hp.

Go ifA light carbon poling skiff with a 12-degree hull
Skip ifYou want a posted price
Why #3 over #4: Its 7-inch draft with 70 hp matches the Vengeance’s 7+ inches, in a hull weighing 535 lbs unrigged.
4

Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 18

Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 18
Answrs VerdictThe base-priced family flats skiff.
Beam: 82 inDraft: 7+ inMax horsepower: 115 hpLength: 18 ftFuel: 20 galPrice: Base price $54,900

The Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 18 is 18 ft with an 82-inch beam, a 7+ inch draft, up to 115 hp and 20 gallons of fuel; its base price is $54,900.

Go ifShallow water with friends or family aboard
Skip ifYou want a bigger fuel tank
Why #4 over #5: Its published base price of $54,900 is a number the Chittum does not post.
5

East Cape 18 EVO V

East Cape 18 EVO V
Answrs VerdictThe package-priced all-rounder.
Beam: 6 ft 7 inDraft: 7 in to 9 inMax horsepower: 115 hpLength: 17 ft 9 inFuel: 26 galPrice: Package from $57,000 with engine, trailer and rigging

The East Cape 18 EVO V is 17 ft 9 in with a 6 ft 7 in beam, a 7 to 9 inch draft, up to 115 hp and 26 gallons; the package starts at $57,000 with engine, trailer and rigging.

Go ifBackcountry flats plus the run home across open water
Skip ifYou want a stock boat off the shelf
Why #5 over #6: Its 26 gallons beat the Vengeance’s 20 for longer runs.
6

Dragonfly 17 Classic

Dragonfly 17 Classic
Answrs VerdictThe custom hull-only price leader.
Beam: 80 inDraft: 8 inLength: 17 ftFuel: 24 galWeight: 700 lbsPrice: $32,000 rigged hull only; engine and trailer not included

The Dragonfly 17 Classic has an 80-inch beam, an 8-inch draft, 24 gallons and a 700-lb weight; it is $32,000 as a rigged hull only, without engine or trailer.

Go ifA custom flats boat built around you
Skip ifYou want engine and trailer in the price
Why #6 over #7: Its 8-inch draft is shallower than the Maverick 18 HPX-V’s 9 inches.
7

Maverick 18 HPX-V

Maverick 18 HPX-V
Answrs VerdictThe four-person flats boat.
Beam: 6 ft 8 inDraft: 9 in with a 150 hp engineMax horsepower: 150 hpLength: 18 ft 4 inFuel: 29 galPrice: Not published

The Maverick 18 HPX-V is 18 ft 4 in with a 6 ft 8 in beam, a 9-inch draft with a 150 hp engine and 29 gallons of fuel.

Go ifFlats fishing with room for four
Skip ifYou pole the thinnest water
Why #7 over #8: Its 9-inch draft beats the Hewes Redfisher 18’s 10 inches.
8

Hewes Redfisher 18

Hewes Redfisher 18
Answrs VerdictThe wide redfish boat.
Beam: 7 ft 11 inDraft: 10 inMax horsepower: 150 hpLength: 18 ft 10 inFuel: 31 galPrice: Not published

The Hewes Redfisher 18 is 18 ft 10 in with a 7 ft 11 in beam, a 10-inch draft, up to 150 hp and 31 gallons of fuel.

Go ifThe widest, steadiest platform on the list
Skip ifYou want the shallowest draft
Why #8 over #9: Its 7 ft 11 in beam is wider than the Egret 18’s 7 ft 5 in.
9

Egret 18

Egret 18
Answrs VerdictThe big-water flats hull.
Beam: 7 ft 5 inDraft: 10 in to 12 inMax horsepower: 175 hpLength: 18 ft 9 inFuel: 50 galPrice: Not published

The Egret 18 is 18 ft 9 in with a 7 ft 5 in beam, a 10 to 12 inch draft, up to 175 hp and 50 gallons of fuel.

Go ifFlats and creeks plus rough open water
Skip ifYou want a skinny-water poling skiff
Why #9 over #10: Its 50 gallons and 175 hp go well beyond the Ankona Caicos’s 40 hp.
10

Ankona Caicos

Ankona Caicos
Answrs VerdictThe micro technical poling skiff.
Beam: 68 inDraft: Not publishedMax horsepower: 40 hpLength: 16 ft 7 inWeight: 350 lbs hullPrice: Sample water-ready price $24,720

The Ankona Caicos is 16 ft 7 in with a 68-inch beam, a 350-lb hull and up to 40 hp; Ankona lists a sample water-ready price of $24,720 and no draft.

Go ifA simple micro skiff on a small budget
Skip ifYou need more than three people aboard

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on its builder-published draft first, then on ride, capacity and published price, using each model’s own builder page. The Ankona Caicos publishes no draft, so it ranks last. Maverick, Hell’s Bay, Chittum, Hewes and Egret post no price. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best flats boat?

The Maverick 17 HPX-S, with a 6-inch draft, a 6 ft 2 in beam and up to 70 hp.

Which flats boats here have a published price under $35,000?

The Dragonfly 17 Classic at $32,000 as a rigged hull only, and the Ankona Caicos at a $24,720 sample water-ready price.

How much does a Beavertail Vengeance cost?

Its base price is $54,900.

How much power can an Egret 18 take?

Up to 175 hp, with a 10 to 12 inch draft.

Max horsepower (as published) at a glance

Ankona Caicos40 hp
Maverick 17 HPX-S70 hp
Chittum Islamorada 1890 hp
Beavertail Skiffs Vengeance 18115 hp
East Cape 18 EVO V115 hp
Hell’s Bay Marquesa150 hp
Maverick 18 HPX-V150 hp
Hewes Redfisher 18150 hp
Egret 18175 hp
Max horsepower (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.