FishTalk readers know that every month in the magazine we take a look at some of the most unusual, outrageous, and downright weirdest fishing boats on the water, but these are very short pieces and don't commonly make it into our online archives of Fishboat Reviews. We do not, however, want these wacky but wonderful creations to be doomed to the dustbin of history. So we've taken our top five weirdest fishing boat reviews from recent editions and compiled them here.
Sealegs 7.7m Sport D-Tube: Surf and Turf
That run through the winding creeks of Wachapreague takes way too long, so why not get a boat that can go to the inlet in a straight line—going over both water and land with no problem? In the category of strange but real fishboats for 2017 we have the Sealegs 7.7m Sport D-Tube. (The little “m” stands for meters because this boat is built in Auckland, New Zealand, one of those places that still hasn’t recognized the obvious superiority of sticking with good old ‘Merican feet and inches).
Fishing features include six rodholders, a cutting board, and a spot for a 12” MFD at the helm. You can add a T-top or Bimini. Power on the water comes from an outboard of up to 200 horses, while the legs and wheels are hydraulically lowered and get their power via a 22 HP inboard engine. Both run on the same fuel tank.
Sealegs just announced the 7.7m a couple of months ago and it’s a long way to Auckland, so don’t expect to see one driving around the Baltimore beltway any time soon—though we note that in this baby, with a land-speed top-end of 4.3 MPH you could finally stop worrying about all those speed cameras.
Specifications:
Forget it—we’re not about to deal with all those meters, kilograms, and liters. If they want to sell these things in ‘Merica, they need to get with the program.
Local Dealers – Would you believe that Sealegs actually lists one in Annapolis? Yup: Ocean Craft Marine, 301 Fourth St, suite B-5 Pier 4 Marina, Annapolis, MD 21403. 410/263-3242.
Ultraskiff 360: Take Me To Your Leader
What looks like a flying saucer, has a top-end of about five MPH, can be turned on its side and rolled down the boat ramp, and is also a floating fishing machine? Why, the Ultraskiff 360, of course!
This rather unique roto-molded mini-mite tips the scales at 123 pounds and has an identical LOA and beam (that’s a first!) of six feet. We’re certainly not going to suggest that anyone try cruising one out into open waters, but this peculiar little PWC could certainly be a lot of fun—and an effective fishing machine—in small lakes, ponds, and protected waterways. Cost is a bit steep, with a price of around $1,500. Beyond that, it’s hard to see any down-sides. The Ultraskiff 360 has three molded-in stowage compartments, a seat base receiver for a pedestal mount, and molded-in threaded inserts that allow you to add whatever sort of accessories you want from rodholders to fishfinders.
Could the Ultraskiff 360 be the right choice for a solitary angler in the Mid-Atlantic region? Quite possibly. But mostly we just wanted to include it here because of that awesome photograph. Can ya believe it?!?!
Specifications:
LOA – 6’0”
Beam – 6’0”
Displacement – 123 lbs.
Draft (hull) – 0’3”
Transom deadrise – There is no transom deadrise. Wait a sec—there is no transom.
Fuel Capacity – A 12-V battery
Max HP – 2.0
Area Dealers – Much to our surprise, there actually is an area dealer: Oak Tree Outfitters, Hayes, VA, 804/815-4669.
Cruisin' Tiki: We're Speechless
The Cruisin’ Tiki can make a whopping five knots thanks to a 30 hp outboard, an onboard blender, and the optional 12-gallon piňa colada tank. Rod holders do not come standard, but give us a hole-saw and in 10 minutes we could easily turn this party platform into an angling machine. Visit Cruisin' Tikis for more info.
Specifications:
Ummm... does it really matter?
Sea Breacher X: Shock Value
We admit that the Sea Breacher would be a pretty horrible fishing boat. There’s no open deck, no rodholders, no livewell, and the boat spends as much time diving beneath the surface as it does floating on top. There is, however, one over-riding redeeming value for us anglers: between the 260 supercharged horses, the shark-like body, and the radical paint job, instead of having to tempt those stripers into biting we’re pretty sure you can just scare the fish to death instead.
The Sea Breacher X can jump 90-degrees out of the water, dive beneath the surface (and can be outfitted with an optional snorkel for extended underwater viewing), and is maneuvered via a jet nozzle. Though price varies depending on the options you choose, you can get a Sea Breacher X for under $100 grand. Would this be a pretty nutty way to spend your hard-earned dough? Absolutely. Would owning one also automatically make you the coolest mariner in the marina? Absolutely, again. If you want to safely do 360-degree barrel-rolls across the water’s surface, however, you’ll need to upgrade to the Sea Breacher Z model.
Specifications:
LOA – 16’6”
Beam – 3’4”
Displacement – 1,450 lbs.
Draft (hull) – +16’ to -16’
Transom Deadrise – Ummm…
Fuel Capacity – 14 gal
Max HP – 260
Area Dealers – It’s not exactly in our area (or even close to it) but the nearest dealer is Nautical Ventures, in Palm Beach, FL.
Hot Tug: Turn Up the Heat
The Hot Tug is, well, one of the hottest boats we’ve ever seen. That’s mostly because it has an onboard wood-fired stove that heats 530 gallons of water in the swamped cockpit to a luxurious 100-degrees. We’re a little miffed that there aren’t any gunwale-mounted rodholders, but we’re pretty sure we could find a way to add ‘em. We’re also sure that fishing from a Hot Tug would trigger endless laughter, especially if you released your catch inside the boat.
Surprisingly, the Hot Tug actually meets USCG standards. (Or on second thought, maybe it’s not too surprising that this thing floats level and upright when swamped). Range is a bit limited, as power is provided by an integrated Minn Kota electric motor with just 2.5 hours of running time. Top-end is advertised at 4.3 mph when empty and 3.1 mph when full, if the motor is set to full steam ahead. WARNING: Not for use at the CCNPP due to overheating danger.
Specifications:
LOA – 12’5”
Beam – 7’8”
Displacement – 1,400 lbs. (plus or minus 4,399 lbs of water.)
Draft (hull) – Full, or empty? Either way, no one seems to know.
Transom Deadrise – 0 degrees
Fuel Capacity – six oak logs
Max HP – One
Area Dealers – We really thought it would be HotTug, 3011AE Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where this boat is built. Amazingly, however, there’s a US dealer… and it just so happens to be right in our own back yard: Chesdin Boat Sales, Petersburg, VA. Can ya believe it? They don't have a web site, but you can find 'em on Facebook.