Sundance, Carolina Skiff, or neither?? Opinions please!! - The Hull Truth

whit · 04-30-2003, 08:58 PM

I have got the hard part done. My wife wants a bigger boat. I like the price of these boats. Fish mostly in the bay run the family to the island. I need room, affordability, and fishability. I hear good and bad about both of these. I have been hearing some bad hull stories and lack of cooperation from the manufacturer in regard to the Sundance. Give me any info you have, please. I'm ready to make a decision!!!

Oouthere · 04-30-2003, 09:32 PM

You really need to ask a more specific question as Carolina Skiff makes many different type boats.

I owned a 2000 Sea Chaser 175 and do not recommend that hull do to water entering the rear access hatch while at rest with a full load. The 185 does not have this problem but I'm never road in one. My father has a 16' J-series with a 40 four stroke Merc. The boat is good for it's job but is over powered. His has a tiller handle and you cannot hold the boat at full throttle even on a long straight away as it starts bouncing (even with trim tabs) plus it grabs in corners terribly (threw him out once). Would probably be a great boat with a 25hp or so engine.

Rich

OTL · 04-30-2003, 09:52 PM

I have a 1999 Carolina Skiff 198 V-Series with a Suzuki DF 70. I love it. If you are going to be running with lots of gear and people I would recommend a 90HP.

bayreef216 · 04-30-2003, 10:04 PM

I have been looking and debating for about a year now and have decided on Carolina Skiff.
The price,layout,quality,and resale value swayed me.Looking at 21 dlx model with 115 yamaha.
The Sundance had been mentioned to me about quality and price but when I looked at them, the finish was pretty rough and features of rhe boat did not compare in my opinion to the dlx.
Good luck on whatever you choose,
Mike/Bayreef

captd · 04-30-2003, 10:28 PM

lots of carolina skiffs on the water, and many are used daily for commercial fishing.. never heard any negatives about them... the sundance, to me is a very "tender" boat and have heard many negatives on them. if its between these two,, i'd go with cs

twentynine · 05-01-2003, 12:01 AM

I can't say anything about the Sundance, but I owned a Carolina Semi-vee skiff model 1765. 17' long 65" wide at the bottom.
On the plus side. The boat was well built and sturdy, never once did I feel unsafe in it, price was right, options available are virtually unlimited.
Now the down side. The boat road very rough, basicly flat bottomed, it is what you would expect. In any kind of sea from slight chop or small boat wake on up you are going to get wet, REAL WET!!!!
I have been told that the new flat models have an antispray chine on the front and they are not as prone to being wet.
All in all I enjoyed my Carolina very much, the price allowed me to own a boat when I couldn't have gotten anything else, but you have to remember it's limitations.

never eneough · 05-01-2003, 04:50 AM

I have a carolina skiff 1965 with merc 90.The negative is it will beat you to your knees,and is wet. The positive is you cant beat it to its knees.Friend has a sundance...cost 500 less than my boat,there is no comparison.The skiff is a no bull boat .No beauty,no real pride of ownership{I have a hydrosport for that},but can be rigged anyway you want it.Mine is a 1998 and has been abused,used and put up wet.Keeps comming back for more!!!!!!!

Sully · 05-01-2003, 05:01 AM

Mine is a 1999 19foot Skiff. I love it. It, too, has been "rode hard and put up wet", no problems. Have a 60hp Yammie on it, and it runs about 40mph (gps) with no wind or chop. It will slap yo a$$ some in chop, but I can fish some skinny water, and catch those reds. One tough boat, I've done a lot of work on mine, decks, lockers, hatches, full rails, etc. Did it all myself.

"In the beginning there were fish in the sea, and it was good.
Then there were boats and skillets, and it was very good."

Mumblerone · 05-01-2003, 06:26 AM

Carolina Skiff! Tremendous Value! It's almost like your buying a motor and trailer and getting the boat for nothing.

Boston Whaler, "MUMBLER", 24' Outrage, twin 175 HP Evinrude Ocean Pros.

Snowball, the cat...

Ben Had · 05-01-2003, 06:43 AM

Also, take a look at Wellcraft. They are making skiffs now. I was at our local Yamaha dealer yesterday and he had a brand new 20'(1980) and was in the process of installing a F90 on it. This boat is high quality and looked solid as a rock. It comes plane jane, this one only had a center console and can be put togather however you want it.

captbone · 05-01-2003, 07:39 AM

DONT BUY A SUNDANCE!!!!! Get the Carolina skiff, great boats, my sundance story will turn your gut into a knot.

MarshManiaC · 05-01-2003, 08:57 AM

Dude, ride on over to Louisiana and I'll take yall out in my 1965 SemiV, the Froggin Aye!...I'll show you how to fish the really skinny water and how to ride the swells so ya don't get too wet. I have a 75 Merc on it but I'd recommend the max, a 90....

I bought this boat because the price was right and the safety angle was most excellent with Marshwife and the 3 Marshlings in it....of course, my next one is gonna be bigger and faster.

My dad has a J14 with a 20 hp...we been abusing it since they were first introduced down here and it keeps on ticking.

See the Marsh, Smell the Marsh, Feel the marsh, BE THE MARSH!

captbone · 05-01-2003, 07:01 PM

Go to EDSMARINESUPERSTORE.COM and they have the 24dxl Carolina Skiff for $6500 or less brand new, you cannot beat that.

sammyk · 05-01-2003, 07:52 PM

I have the 238 semi v series with a F100 Yamaha. I can't say enough good things about it. Loads of room and an excellent light tackle fishing boat. You just can't beat it for the money, I run mine all over the Chesapeake Bay.

Tight Lines!

aahhh!!!! · 05-01-2003, 08:42 PM

Through the winter, I was thinking the same as you. I wanted to get rid of the 20' cc and down size without losing fishability or safety. I picked up the cs1965 with the 90 yamaha as recomended at this site. I am working on breaking it in and am extremely pleased. As I throttled up for the first wide-open run, the speedo just kept going up. Topped out at 42. Left quite an impression, going 40 in a bigger boat doesn't scare me the way that ride did. It is nice to know its there if a need to get out of the weather in a hurry.

T