The SaltMarsh family of inshore skiffs have secured a strong foothold in the flats boat / skiff market in recent years. Starting with their entry level, SM1444 skiff to their gorgeous technical poling skiff, the Heron 16. This family of skiffs are a nice compliment to their sister company, Ankona (pictured). These two companies & skiff designs (same owners) enjoy a reputation for providing some of the best support not only before/during a skiff build but also after the sale. When building a custom skiff having support after the build is critical. SaltMarsh has done exceptionally well with building a loyal customer base.
SaltMarsh skiffs feature Kevlar laminate materials in their lay-up as their intended use is in wetland environments where hidden stumps, rocks as well as the brutality of the oyster bed can be a common occurrence. Kevlar is the very same material used to equip & protect combat troops with lightweight helmets and law enforcement with bulletproof vests. If it’s good enough for our troops and law enforcement who put their lives on the line daily, these boats can easily handle the equally dangerous (to boats at least) oyster bed or rock.
The benefit of these newer skiff building materials is that not only are they sturdy but the weight savings is spectacular. Some of the smaller models are actually light enough to be loaded, un-loaded in the back of a pick-up truck.
The SaltMarsh Heron 16 takes that toughness heritage and combines them with a skiff performance that rivals even the most expensive skiffs in the boat building industry.
Customers commonly report a skiff that tracks straight while on the pole and an easy spin. Most importantly, this skiff is reported to be dead quiet with zero hull slap in skinny water.
One of the common complaints with technical poling skiffs is that you sacrifice comfort for performance. SaltMarsh solves this with The heron by providing a nice front “V” entry which helps temendousely in a chop. The SaltMarsh Heron skiff also has built in deep forward spray rails which solve the problem of a wet ride when in less than perfect conditions.
A recent creation, a stand-up operator station we thought was purely inspired. This type of station allows for the operator to not only navigate but also to scout, which is much more difficult to do from a sitting position. This is the benefit of using a custom skiff builder, if you can dream it, a custom builder like SaltMarsh can build a skiff to match it.
Here are some quick skiff stats, check out the weight…that is fantastic for a 16′ skiff rated for a 50HP motor!
- Length: 16′
- Beam: 52″ Waterline / 70″ Deck Level
- Weight: 340 Lbs
- Max Hp: 40 Hp Tiller / 50 Hp Remote Steer
SaltMarsh Skiffs are located in Fort Pierce, Florida with representatives through-out the country that you can speak to and schedule a wet test. We’ve had the pleasure to meet some of the team recently at a Boat Show and the passion for boatbuilding is alive and well. You’d be missing out if you don’t consider these folks for your next skiff build.
Contact Information:
SaltMarsh Skiffs
(ph): 772.801.3052
(email:): [email protected]
(website): http://www.saltmarshskiffs.com/
Shop: 2310 N. Old Dixie Highway, Fort Pierce, Florida, 34946
