Flatsrat Skiffs, 5.2M and 5.7m available, 270mm (10.6 inch) draft. Designed to Survey, Built to Australian Standards, for Australian Conditions.

Pole on the flats, Fish the Estuaries for those big Flathead and Impoundments for Bass or Barramundi. Manufactured for Australian conditions, built to last and to be stealthily silent when poled on the flats.

Flatsrat Skiffs

Here in Australia when I looked for a new boat there was no Australian made and designed flats boat that was suitable for survey. I also wanted a boat that I could fish everywhere inshore with confidence, not having to worry about scraping the bottom in shallow water and be able to get home in bad conditions.

As I got on this journey friends encouraged and supported me, giving me ideas and suggestions for building this innovative fishing boat. This is the result of 3 years work, listening to the best in the business give constructive feedback and being seriously impressed with how stealthy this vessel is on the flats.

The boats are built in Hervey Bay by a reputable boat manufacturer. One of my reasons to use this local fastidious boat manufacturer is my confidence in their ability and proven track record manufacturing boats to Survey **. I can also keep an eye on every boat being built, quality check each one before its delivered to clients.

Built to Survey ** means Built to a specific standard that is equal to a boat that is used commercially by a guide or hired out. These boats are built to a higher standard of manufacturing processes than most standard recreational boats which includes, positive floatation of closed cell foam, design & manufacturing requirements. This gives you confidence that you are buying a quality boat that also meets the highest safety standards.

Boats that are Built to be put in Survey for guides etc. are inspected during the build by a qualified inspector to ensure its manufactured correctly, in all aspects of design, materials used and to a specific set of approved plans designed for commercial use. It may even be swamped tested when completed. Built to be put in survey includes additional costs.

Why Buy a Flatsrat Skiff?

Flatsrat Skiffs designed and manufactured in Australia for Australian conditions. Whether your chasing sportfish on the flats with a flyrod, spinning for big flathead in the estuaries, jacks in skinny water or Barramundi in the impoundments then this is the boat for you.

Manufactured in Hervey Bay from marine grade 4.0mm aluminium plate you’re not going to be too precious about this tough all-rounder. With approximately 270mm draft they can pretty much go anywhere. The Seadeck is great under your feet and can be power washed so cleaning the boat becomes a breeze.

The boat has been designed with the angler in mind. It has full walk around stability, great visibility for fish spotting, clean decks to prevent line tangles, convenient rod / tackle storage and access to safety equipment are essential design components of the Flatsrat

Whisper quiet

The design angles, 4mm aluminium plate , level floatation and even the colour, are some of the design attributes that make this boat so easy to pole, a stealthy vessel, tracks well, stable on the water with virtually no hull slap.

Advantages of Poling

Poling is the art of propelling a vessel using a large pole generally 18-21 feet long, while standing on the rear platform. It’s important that the vessel is designed to be poled easily for change of direction, hull shape and weight are also the key factors.

Poling boats is nothing new and in the USA fishermen have been poling for Tarpon, redfish & snook since the 60s. For the past 20 years more and more people here in Australia are learning the advantage of poling on the flats. Once you have experienced the ability to slide quietly up to fish on the flats without spooking them and getting that cast in to big fish, you will see the advantage you have over other anglers that don’t have a purpose-built flats boat that can be poled. Electrics are so noisy compared to the pole.

Recently with a few reputable Australian fishermen onboard the Flatsrat, they were all impressed with the lack of hull slap & the number of fish seen on the pole compared to their experiences with an electric motor. My estimation is I would see 20 plus times the number of fish on the pole than with the electric on. Having a Flatsrat gives you the ability to stalk fish on flats that normally don’t get fished and having the opportunity to pole the boat onto those fish is the ultimate bonus.

Flatsrat Skiffs

Safe, Designed to survey, Manufactured to the highest Australian standards, Competitively Priced, Comfortable, Versatile, Economical, Easy care, Innovative, Super quiet Poling, Shallow, Locally made, and Fun.