Carolina Skiff Help

While they are dependable rigs, why would anyone want a center console boat that small? Good luck.

Remove and reseal every deck screw on the boat when you first get it.

Google search "Carolina Skiff water in hull" and do your research. The stringers on these boats run side to side and not front to back which doesn't allow the water to drain to the rear. Carolina Skiff claims that their inner hulls are impervious to water however many, many forum posts and YouTube videos prove this wrong and the most common cause is poorly sealed deck and hardware screws from the factory.

When my father in law got his second hand 2007 17DLX he installed a fish finder/GPS unit. When he drilled the holes in the lower transom for the transducer bracket water started flowing from them...and didn't stop for 3 hours. 2 five gallon buckets drained from the 2 small 3/16" holes he drilled.

There's some videos on YouTube that show people using electricians extension bits to drill a 1/2 hole all the way up to the front of the boat, penetrating each of the cross stringers that are 6" apart from one another. This gives the water a clear "channel" to drain out if if should seep into the hull. Most people drill the hole on both sides of the hull so water can freely drain down either side of the boat. Use garbourd drain plugs to seal the hole on the transom.

Check out this forum post from a fella who did a complete restoration of his Skiff. It includes many pictures of the inner guts of a Carolina Skiff hull.

50-75% of commercial fisherman in South Louisiana run them to fish. You'll be fine.