July 15, 2021
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Let's take a closer look at the Blacktip 18 Flats in this Florida Sportsman boat review
The combination of flats boat draft and bay boat stability works well together on this model.
Newly formed Blacktip Boatworks debuts their first offering for 2021 with the all new Blacktip 18 Flats model. This 18 footer was conceived out of the desire to provide the solid comfortable ride of a larger Bay Style boat and all of their positive attributes- while also featuring the shallow water capabilities of a traditional poling skiff. The balance between the two styles of boat has to be carefully considered in order to execute this combination effectively. When choosing design aspects- for ride performance and shallow draft to work together- the bottom design and deadrise have to be balanced properly.
The Blacktip 18 sports a 12-degree deadrise bottom which provides enough angle to lay a confused bay chop or large boat wake down comfortably. The deadrise transition from the entry to the transom still flattens out enough for this boat to be poled with ease in single digit depths.
For fishability features in line with a traditional poling skiff, this model comes with a poling tower, a roomy forward and aft casting deck perfect for sight fishing and extra wide gunwales for easy walking. The sunken cockpit and center console layout features a wide enough seat across the helm area for three to sit across. A fourth rider can be seated on the included Frigid Rigid forward cooler seat. Plenty of dry storage is available beneath the foredeck, due in large part to the fact that the fuel tank- unlike many flats boat designs, is under the deck rather than in the forward compartment.
The space required for a 47-gallon tank is considerable- and removing this from the forward compartment makes a huge difference. These large capacity tanks are coal tar epoxied and glassed in with foam under the console and built to last a generation.
Additional dry storage is available aft beneath a pair of outboard corner located long compartments that lift rearward to allow easy access while the boat is on the trailer.
The Blacktip 18 in trying to split the difference between stability and comfort while still offering the flats skiff experience does a remarkable job of pulling the mixture off. On the pole we were able to get quietly into real bonefish depths and rather effortlessly for a 1500-pound boat.
For a 1500-pound boat the Blacktip Boatworks 18 is surprisingly manageable on the pole in tailing depths.
Plenty of dry storage is available beneath the forward casting deck for safety gear and equipment.
A beam of 86-inches makes it possible to seat three across behind the helm if necessary.
An additional fourth rider can be seated on the forward console Frigid Rigid Cooler seat.
This pancake hatch lid opens to reveal a space to lay a reel into on your fully stowed and assembled fly fishing outfit.
A slightly raised helm face provides enough surface space to accommodate a large 16-inch Simrad unit.
Space beneath the aft casting deck is an ideal location for storing tackle trays.
This recessed and covered switch panel is an ideal location to keep switches out of the weather and away from your knees to prevent accidental bumping.
This view from above reveals plenty of fishing room and wide gunwales for circling the boat.
A pair of dry compartments flank the 30-gallon livewell beneath the aft casting deck.
