July 06, 2015
By Dave East
Fly Boatworks new Backwater Edition pairs the leading edge technology of a skiff built from 100% composite materials with the battle proven propulsion of a surface drive, air-cooled, mud motor. Their goal was to create a boat that excels in the most demanding shallow water conditions while offering a true all-purpose utility platform that can be used for stalking wary fish in skinny water, hunting waterfowl in a flooded swamp and filling your tags during gator season. There was no need to go back to the drawing board, the engineers at Fly simply took the proven shallow water design of their F-18 technical poling skiff and built it in a stripped down version. The ability to float, fully loaded, in 4 inches of water typically is a compromise when it comes to rough water performance but the Fly F-18 handles a choppy bay surprisingly well. The most distinguishing feature of the Backwater Edition is the S.W.O.M.P™ shallow water motor made by Backwater Inc. Cajuns, in the swamps of Louisiana, know all too well how a surface drive mud motor can gain you access where a tradition outboard motor would sustain severe lower unit damage. At first when you see this type of motor skimming a boat across a shallow flat you may have the impression that the prop is acting like a Cuisinart to the grass beds. The fact is that the surface piercing propeller protrudes beneath the surface of the water a scant more than the hull itself and far less than an outboards lower unit. This will virtually eliminate the boat from leaving a flats-scaring wheel ditch. MSRP $17,250. See www.flyboatworks.com.
Fly Boatworks
31997 County Rd 10
Albany, MN 56307
(320) 310-1999
