6 of the Best Skiffs at any Price

With their low cost and carefree character, skiffs are still among the most popular boats in the world. Here are six of the best skiffs – at any price.

I admit it – I love skiffs. While it’s always a treat to enjoy the fine comfort of a luxury yacht or satisfy the need for speed with a go-fast speedboat, other times it’s even more rewarding to enjoy the easy life and just head out without any complications whatsoever. That’s where skiffs come in, and it’s a big reason why these humble boats remain so incredibly popular today among buyers of all ages.

Skiffs are boating at its basic level, with the emphasis on versatility and carefree enjoyment. In terms of big wide smiles per dollar spent, skiffs beat everything else on the water by a landslide. Being so compact and lightweight, they’re super-easy to handle, even in wild waves or wacky tides. They’re also super-easy to tow, and super-easy to launch, whether you’re at a good ramp, a poor ramp, or you have no ramp at all. They’re inexpensive to buy, and even less expensive to operate. And best of all, they’re not only supremely durable, but their simple design means they’re generally maintenance-free. After all, who wants to spend their time cleaning the boat when they could be out in it having fun instead?

Ready to join the fun? Check out our list of the best skiffs available today and see what you’ve been missing.

Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport

Boston Whaler 130 SS

Boston Whaler has long been a leader in the skiff market and comes to the 2021 season with its delightful 130 Super Sport, a small and easy-to-handle skiff with impressive capabilities and appointments. Standards include all stainless steel hardware, Boston Whaler’s fully unsinkable hull with 20 inches of freeboard, a bow locker with an overboard drain, a stylish side console with two drink holders and lockable storage, a comfortable fiberglass helm bench seat. No-feedback steering, a Mercury 40 horsepower outboard with Vessel View Mobile app compatibility, and a matching galvanized trailer. An inviting option list lets you jazz up this skiff to your heart’s content. Learn more here.

• MSRP: $16,218 w. Mercury 40 hp
• Length: 13’ 1”
• Beam: 5’ 10”
• Dry weight: 695 lbs
• Fuel capacity: 6.5 gal.
• Passenger capacity: 4
• Maximum power: 40 hp

Carolina Skiff 162 JLS

Carolina Skiff 162 JLS

For 2021, the Carolina Skiff 162 JLS is one of the best skiffs in the industry and comes with a boatload of standard features including diamond-pleated upholstery, fully stainless steel hardware throughout, molded-in storage compartments, an 18-gallon live well, a three-step telescoping boarding ladder, LED navigation lights, Velcro rod savers, no-feedback steering, six flush-mounted rod holders, bow storage, a 24-volt bow plug for an electric motor and a bilge pump. Learn more here.

• MSRP: $18,972 w. Suzuki 60 hp
• Length: 16’ 2”
• Beam: 79”
• Dry weight:1,372 lbs
• Fuel capacity: 21 gal.
• Passenger capacity: 4
• Maximum power: 90 hp

Glasstream 17 CCR

Glasstream 17 CCR

Standard features on the Glasstream 17 CCR skiff include all stainless steel hardware, four rod holders, four drink holders, a folding stainless steel boarding ladder, a stainless steering wheel, cockpit lighting, a 54-quart console cooler seat with back rest, removable aft seating, dry storage compartments with exterior drains, a 45-gallon fish box with outside drain, in-gunnel storage for four rods and a bow storage compartment. Learn more here.

• MSRP: n/a
• Length: 17’
• Beam: 7’ 4”
• Dry weight: 1,250 lbs
• Fuel capacity: 28 gal.
• Passenger capacity: n/a
• Maximum power: 90 hp

Mako Pro Skiff 15 CC

Mako Pro Skiff 15 CC

Mako’s Pro Skiff 15 rides on the company’s Advanced Inverted V hull for a smooth and dry ride, and comes complete with a trailer and Mercury 40 horsepower four-stroke outboard so it’s ready to go right out of the showroom. Additional standard features include a 65-quart Orion helm seat cooler with top cushion, a bilge pump, an 8-gallon aerated bait well under the console seat, raised bow and stern casting decks, an anchor locker, in-console and in-deck storage and 5 flush-mount rod holders in the console. Learn more here.

• MSRP: $16,395
• Length: 15’ 2”
• Beam: 6’ 5.5”
• Dry weight: 1,140 lbs
• Fuel capacity: 6.6 gal.
• Passenger capacity: 5
• Maximum power: 60 hp

Tracker Grizzly 1648 SC

Tracker Grizzly 1648 SC

Tracker’s aluminum 1648 SC is a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails fishing skiff that is surprisingly versatile for its size. Standard features include a 9-gallon aerated live well, a side steering console, lockable in-deck bow storage, a raised front casting deck, seat bases in the bow and stern of pedestal-mount fishing seats, Tracker’s VersaTrack extruded gunnel accessory mount system, a trolling motor mount pad, 100% wood-free construction, a bilge pump and a custom-fit trailer. If you want a simple and durable boat for fishing, the Tracker 1648 SC is one of the best skiffs going. Learn more here.

• MSRP: $9,795 (not incl. engine)
• Length: 16’ 1”
• Beam: 6’
• Dry weight: 727 lbs
• Fuel capacity: 6 gal.
• Passenger capacity: 4
• Maximum power: 50 hp

Wellcraft 162 Fisherman

Wellcraft 162 Fisherman

Wellcraft might be better known for its big, offshore fishing boats, but the company also looks after inshore anglers with an excellent skiff in the 162 Fisherman. Standard features include a folding and telescoping stern boarding ladder, flip-up jump seats in the aft corners, a USB charging outlet, courtesy lights, LED navigation lights, a self-bailing cockpit and deck-mount rod holders with hook keepers, so you can dry off lures before putting away, and a custom-matched galvanized trailer with a swing-away tongue. Learn more here.

• MSRP: $23,352
• Length: 16’ 4”
• Beam: 7’
• Dry weight: 1,700 lbs. (w. engine)
• Fuel capacity: 12 gal.
• Passenger capacity: 6
• Maximum power: 90 hp