Dimensions & Hull
- Boat type
- Technical Skiff
- Hull style
- Shallow-V
- Length
- 18'1"
- Beam
- 79"
- Draft
- 7"
Catalog
Loading the catalog…

Built by Hell's Bay Boatworks

V-Hull 18ft skiffs · 20 comparable
Draft
Lower is better
Based on 20 models
Price
Based on 20 models
Named after the Marquesas Keys near Key West, because they lie across the Boca Grande channel, which can become 5 miles of hell without much notice. A technical skiff with a buttery ride in a chop that will deliver you dry and happy, and then allow you to silently pole up to a school of bonefish. Room for four and lots of storage.
21 listed
Demo ride confirmed what the reviews said
Yamaha · 115hp
I spent three hours on a demo with a dealer and came away thoroughly impressed. The hull is immediately confidence-inspiring — it's stable at rest and picks up plane quickly without porpoising. Visibility from the poling platform is excellent. The only thing holding me back from ordering one immediately is the delivery time and waiting list. If you are on the fence, do a demo. It answered every question I had.
Biggest Strength
Exceptional visibility from the platform and high quality fit/finish
Biggest Weakness
Long wait times and limited dealer network
Solid boat, but pricey
Suzuki · 140hp · Power-Pole Blade
This boat is legitimately excellent — I just want to be honest about the cost of ownership going in. The purchase price is high, parts and service are premium, and you will need to budget for proper storage. That said, the day-to-day experience on the water is hard to argue with. The hull is stiff, quiet, and the draft gets me into productive water that most of my fishing buddies never see. The layout is well thought-out for solo fishing, which is most of my use.
Biggest Strength
Quiet, stiff hull and great solo fishing layout
Biggest Weakness
High price of entry and ownership costs
The best poling skiff I've ever owned
Yamaha · 115hp · Minn Kota Ultrex · Power-Pole Blade · Jack plate
After three years of ownership and countless days on the water, this boat has exceeded every expectation. The hull rides remarkably flat in a chop, and the draft is shallow enough to push into areas I never thought possible with a motor. Build quality is exceptional — no squeaks, no flex, nothing that hints at compromise. My fishing partners are constantly asking me what I'm running.
Biggest Strength
Incredible shallow draft and hull stiffness
Biggest Weakness
Gelcoat shows scratches more than I'd like
Sold it but I'd buy another one tomorrow
Mercury · 90hp · Minn Kota Terrova
I owned this boat for about two seasons before a job relocation forced me to sell. Regret it every day. The ride quality in rough water is surprisingly good for a hull this size. Poleability is exceptional — it tracks straight and holds heading well in wind. I did wish the storage was better organized and I added some custom boxes, but that's a minor complaint for a hull this well-built.
Biggest Strength
Poles like it's on rails
Biggest Weakness
Storage layout could be improved out of the box
Hull/ride: Hull stays surprisingly dry even in a 15 mph headwind.
Poling: Very easy to push solo into a 10 mph crosswind.
Solid boat, but pricey
Suzuki · 140hp · Power-Pole Blade
This boat is legitimately excellent — I just want to be honest about the cost of ownership going in. The purchase price is high, parts and service are premium, and you will need to budget for proper storage. That said, the day-to-day experience on the water is hard to argue with. The hull is stiff, quiet, and the draft gets me into productive water that most of my fishing buddies never see. The layout is well thought-out for solo fishing, which is most of my use.
Biggest Strength
Quiet, stiff hull and great solo fishing layout
Biggest Weakness
High price of entry and ownership costs
The best poling skiff I've ever owned
Yamaha · 115hp · Minn Kota Ultrex · Power-Pole Blade · Jack plate
After three years of ownership and countless days on the water, this boat has exceeded every expectation. The hull rides remarkably flat in a chop, and the draft is shallow enough to push into areas I never thought possible with a motor. Build quality is exceptional — no squeaks, no flex, nothing that hints at compromise. My fishing partners are constantly asking me what I'm running.
Biggest Strength
Incredible shallow draft and hull stiffness
Biggest Weakness
Gelcoat shows scratches more than I'd like
Sold it but I'd buy another one tomorrow
Mercury · 90hp · Minn Kota Terrova
I owned this boat for about two seasons before a job relocation forced me to sell. Regret it every day. The ride quality in rough water is surprisingly good for a hull this size. Poleability is exceptional — it tracks straight and holds heading well in wind. I did wish the storage was better organized and I added some custom boxes, but that's a minor complaint for a hull this well-built.
Biggest Strength
Poles like it's on rails
Biggest Weakness
Storage layout could be improved out of the box
Hull/ride: Hull stays surprisingly dry even in a 15 mph headwind.
Poling: Very easy to push solo into a 10 mph crosswind.
Demo ride confirmed what the reviews said
Yamaha · 115hp
I spent three hours on a demo with a dealer and came away thoroughly impressed. The hull is immediately confidence-inspiring — it's stable at rest and picks up plane quickly without porpoising. Visibility from the poling platform is excellent. The only thing holding me back from ordering one immediately is the delivery time and waiting list. If you are on the fence, do a demo. It answered every question I had.
Biggest Strength
Exceptional visibility from the platform and high quality fit/finish
Biggest Weakness
Long wait times and limited dealer network
The best poling skiff I've ever owned
Yamaha · 115hp · Minn Kota Ultrex · Power-Pole Blade · Jack plate
After three years of ownership and countless days on the water, this boat has exceeded every expectation. The hull rides remarkably flat in a chop, and the draft is shallow enough to push into areas I never thought possible with a motor. Build quality is exceptional — no squeaks, no flex, nothing that hints at compromise. My fishing partners are constantly asking me what I'm running.
Biggest Strength
Incredible shallow draft and hull stiffness
Biggest Weakness
Gelcoat shows scratches more than I'd like
Demo ride confirmed what the reviews said
Yamaha · 115hp
I spent three hours on a demo with a dealer and came away thoroughly impressed. The hull is immediately confidence-inspiring — it's stable at rest and picks up plane quickly without porpoising. Visibility from the poling platform is excellent. The only thing holding me back from ordering one immediately is the delivery time and waiting list. If you are on the fence, do a demo. It answered every question I had.
Biggest Strength
Exceptional visibility from the platform and high quality fit/finish
Biggest Weakness
Long wait times and limited dealer network
Solid boat, but pricey
Suzuki · 140hp · Power-Pole Blade
This boat is legitimately excellent — I just want to be honest about the cost of ownership going in. The purchase price is high, parts and service are premium, and you will need to budget for proper storage. That said, the day-to-day experience on the water is hard to argue with. The hull is stiff, quiet, and the draft gets me into productive water that most of my fishing buddies never see. The layout is well thought-out for solo fishing, which is most of my use.
Biggest Strength
Quiet, stiff hull and great solo fishing layout
Biggest Weakness
High price of entry and ownership costs
Sold it but I'd buy another one tomorrow
Mercury · 90hp · Minn Kota Terrova
I owned this boat for about two seasons before a job relocation forced me to sell. Regret it every day. The ride quality in rough water is surprisingly good for a hull this size. Poleability is exceptional — it tracks straight and holds heading well in wind. I did wish the storage was better organized and I added some custom boxes, but that's a minor complaint for a hull this well-built.
Biggest Strength
Poles like it's on rails
Biggest Weakness
Storage layout could be improved out of the box
Hull/ride: Hull stays surprisingly dry even in a 15 mph headwind.
Poling: Very easy to push solo into a 10 mph crosswind.
Reviews require a free SkiffReview account so we can verify ownership and maintain review quality.