Month: May 2019

There are many unique types of boats that you can choose. From large yachts to nimble inshore vessels, you have many options when selecting a craft. A skiff is a popular choice for people who want a boat that can handle shallow water. Here are some of the best skiff boats for sale from Scout!

What Is A Skiff?

While the exact definition varies, a skiff is generally a small boat with room for roughly four people, at the most. Skiffs area great for fishing, and they can also be an enjoyable family boat, but you need to know what to look for before you start shopping.

What To Look For in a Skiff Boat

Skiffs are popular for nearshore fishing as well as river fishing. To enjoy a skiff, you need to find a model with the right features and characteristics.

• Shallow Draft. A shallow draft will ensure you have the ability to reach various fishing destinations, including intertidal areas and backwater locations that often hold scores of fish.
• Stable Hull Design. A proper hull design is especially important in smaller boats like skiffs. With an intelligent design, the boat can handle heavier chop while still maintaining a shallow draft.
• Fishing Features. Most skiffs are used specifically for fishing—so you need to find a craft that has excellent fishing features, including rod storage, bait wells, and ample casting space.

Skiff Boats From Scout

These skiff boats from Scout give you performance, comfort, and the chance to catch outstanding shallow-water species!

175 Sport Dorado

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From family fun to elite fishing adventures, this boat gives you everything you desire. You can cast all day and enjoy outstanding comfort and convenience, or you can hit the lake for an afternoon of skiing and tubing. With a convenient swim platform and ample rod storage, this is a truly versatile and convenient boat!

175 Sportfish

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Thanks to the center console, this boat allows you to cast in all directions, making your fishing easier and more successful. With a 94-quart removable cooler, you can keep your catch fresh, while the extensive bow platform and storage area makes the experience more reliable. Thanks to a 10-inch draft, you can take this boat into some of the most remote destinations.

177 Sport

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This boat is ideal for anglers of all skill levels, as it can help you cruise across the water with ease and find the perfect fishing hole. It has a draft of only 10 inches, yet comes with a width of 7 feet and 3 inches, giving you stability and space. Thanks to a variety of fishing features, including an aerated console bait well, this craft if ready to hit all the best fishing destinations!

Build Your Skiff Boat Today

You deserve a boat that meets your specific needs. With our Build Your Scout tool, you can create the exact boat you need for years of enjoyment on the water.

A cruiser boat can give you outstanding pleasure on the water. These crafts are meant for long, luxurious adventures, allowing you to spend hours or even days at sea without sacrificing your lifestyle. With the right cruiser, you can have the luxury you expect with the superior reliability and comfort you deserve. Here are some of the best cruiser boats for sale from Scout!

What to Look for in a Cruiser

• A Luxurious, Comfortable Cabin: You may spend hours or even days on your boat, so it’s essential that you have a comfortable cabin where you can relax. The best cruiser boats will have all the basic amenities, including a head, sleeping quarters, and dining table, as well as luxury features like refined materials, entertainment systems, and elegant lighting.
• Refined Amenities and Conveniences: Throughout the boat, you should find refined materials and conveniences. These are features that enhance your boating enjoyment, such as Wi-Fi capability or a grilling station for your meals.
• Large Size and Capacities: It’s okay to spend a few hours on a smaller boat, but if you will be on the water for days at a time, you need size and capacity. The size of the boat should be large enough so you can relax, and the fuel and freshwater capacity should be enough to last for your trip.

Cruiser Boats From Scout

Here are some of the largest and most popular cruisers found in the Scout Boats lineup:

530 LXF

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The largest and most impressive boat in our entire lineup, the 530 LFX is a craft built for luxury cruising. It has all the amenities you expect, including standard bolster cushions, a transom platform, and a cockpit island with barstools. It also has optional luxuries that increase your boating experience, such as Garmin screens and underwater lights.

420 LXF

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We made sure to include every possible detail when we designed this boat. The engineering process resulted in a craft that has the smooth performance and handling of a smaller boat, while maintaining the comfort and space of a large cruiser. The 420 LXF has a cabin loaded with amenities, including an air conditioner, stove, shower, and a queen-size bed.

380 LXF

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When it comes to combining luxury and technology, few boats match the 380 LXF. This cruiser has all the amenities you need with an advanced hull that delivers remarkable performance. One of the most impressive features is the SeaKeeper Gyro Stabilizer, which helps keep the boat level and reduces rocking. The double-stepped hull sits beneath a deck that has everything you need, from comfortable seating to ample rod storage.

Build Your Scout Today

Scout Boats offers some of the most advanced features and technology on the water. With refined features and advanced engineering, these vessels are the industry leader in luxury and comfort. Build Your Scout today!

Maintaining safety on the water is crucial. You might not have thought about it, but there is a proper way to pass a fishing boat on the water. Here are some tips to help you maintain safety for both you and the anglers.

Why is There a Concern When Passing Fishing Boats?

More people are boating than ever before, and this is creating a unique set of dangers on the water. As people are out boating, there is an increased chance of collisions and accidents.

With a fishing boat, the chances of an accident are increased. That’s because these vessels often have lines and ropes in the water, sometimes to a distance of hundreds of yards.

Understand The Basics

According to practice, and common courtesy, you are not allowed to pass over lines unless the other boat has given you the all clear. As a boat owner, you are responsible for maintaining safe practices on the water. There is always a chance of accidents, no matter how well trained you are, but by doing things properly, including seemingly small issues like passing another boat, everyone will be safer on the water.

Imagine if there were no rules on the road, and everyone could just make up their own way of driving, including the path for their cars and trucks. Chaos would ensue. The same goes for boating: by knowing and respecting consistent rules of boating, you can increase the overall safety.

What Should You Do When Passing a Fishing Boat?

To pass a fishing boat, you should steer to the starboard side, which is the right-hand side of a boat. This means both boats will pass each other on their port side, or left-hand side.

However, there are some situations when passing to the starboard side is not possible. For example, you may come across a fishing boat that has cast lines toward the shore, limiting where you pass. In this case, you can pass on the other side, but you are supposed to communicate to the other boat that you will be doing so.

To pass on the starboard side, it is customary to honk the horn once, then wait for a single honk in reply from the other boat, which signals your go-ahead. If passing on the port side, blast twice and wait for a double-blast in reply to signal your go-ahead.

It’s important that you maintain a minimum wake when passing a fishing boat. This is not only a courtesy, it’s also an important part of maintaining safety on the water—as large wakes could cause a safety issue on the fishing boat you are passing. Someone could fall and hurt themselves, or they could be tossed overboard.

Considering A New Boat?

If you want a top-quality vessel for fishing, cruising, or water sports, you need a Scout. Use our Build Your Scout tool to create the perfect craft for your specific needs!

If you live near a river, you can enjoy the luxury and quality found on all Scout Boats. Here are a few of the best river boats that you can find in our extensive lineup.

What to Look For

Minimal Draft. When purchasing a boat for the river, you will need one that has a shorter draft, which indicates how deep the bottom of the boat goes. A shallow draft is important because there can be many obstructions in the water, including logs and sand bars. Rivers change every year, so shallow spots and obstacles can take you by surprise, making a shallow draft essential.

Maneuverable Size. While boating on a river, you will need to navigate through narrow channels and around branches, sandbars, and rocks. Being able to steer the boat accurately and quickly is important, so look for a boat that is nimble and maneuverable.

River Boats From Scout

Here are a few of the best rivers boat you can purchase from Scout!

235 Dorado

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If you want a boat that has good size, comfortable seating, and a high-quality hull, the 235 Dorado is a great option. This boat uses our NuV3 hull, which creates outstanding efficiency and performance. And thanks to its many fishing features, you can take this boat in pursuit of river catfish, walleye, bass, and more. It also comes loaded with standard and optional amenities, including a swim platform, a folding table, a fiberglass hardtop, and stern seating.

One of the most popular features is the bow rod holders, which are designed to store your fishing rods out of the way. This increases your storage options without creating a cluttered deck.

231 XS

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While this model was created to be a leading inshore/offshore vessel, it also makes an outstanding river boat thanks to its performance, versatility, and handling. This model is packed with innovations that include a hull designed by our in-house experts. It has all the performance you expect and can be equipped with a 300 HP motor to deliver speeds over 60 mph, perfect if you are boating in large rivers like the Mississippi.

The helm was designed with the elite boater in mind, but it’s intuitive enough that practically anyone can use this craft.

175 Sportfish

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If you want to fully enjoy the rivers, perhaps a small, nimble boat like the 175 Sportfish would be best. This boat has plenty of features to enhance your comfort, including a 94-quart removable cooler seat, as well as a large variety of fishing features.

Take to the river with this boat and you’ll enjoy an aerated livewell, ample seating, and a large bow casting platform.

Create Your River Boat Today

You can create your own river boat by using our Build Your Scout feature. Use this tool to create the ideal craft for your needs, then head to your local Scout dealer to pick it up. With innovative designs and advanced engineering, we have the right boat for rivers, lakes, and saltwater.