 Re: key west bay reef boats
The boat built back in 1989 was way different from the one built since 1992 when Key West went al composite and changed the hull design. The old boat was a very wet hull. I remember recommending to folks that they go ahead and jump in first, then get in the boat so it wouldn't matter that the boat ran wet. But the hull they introduced in the early nineties was as dry as the early one was wet. The late eighties also was a time of transition from wood coring to all composite coring, and along with that transition came growing pains. Fiberglass material salesmen were pushing the new composites and among the composites was a material called coremat. It was some pretty good stuff, when used in the right application, but the salesmen would often present the stuff as the answer all to the fiberglass industry. Fact is that the shear strenth of a laminate using coremat was not what it needed to be in an average center console boat. They broke, bottom line. The good manufacturers stood behind their products and replaced hulls, and changed the way they built boats. That' s what Key West did. But all that's history.
Today's key West is a far different boat than it was back then, and today's bay boat is a special breed. Today they have elevated decks front and rear and are made for the guy who wants to stand on the front deck and hunt for fish. The elevated deck creates storage space which to me is a big plus. They also have lower sides which make them less susceptible to wind deflection, again a big plus. Key West has a reputation for a good quality build at a fair price. If the design suits your needs, it's a safe bet. | 
. The Key West Bay Reef series was a little heavier and drafted a little more than what I wanted..... but I'd give a 
