5 Places You Can Take a Shallow Draft Boat You Can’t Take a Motor Boat

Popular motorized fishing boats like a center-console or sport fishing boat can get you a lot of places quickly, especially if you’re going offshore.

On the flip side of this coin though, there are many out of the way places that you can’t even take the smallest jon boat. A motorized flats boat may not have that much “draft” itself, but an outboard motor adds at least a foot or two to how much water you need to safely navigate.

Simply defined, the draft of a boat is “…the depth that the hull protrudes into the water.”

Naturally, the deeper the hull goes into the water, the more depth it will need to not run aground. Responsible boaters in a higher speed, motorized craft allow for at least 4-6 feet of breathing room.

A shallow draft boat on the other hand doesn’t require as much water to be able to move. Some in fact hardly require any at all, especially if you’re using a pole to push your way through the water.

Being able to reach out-of-the-way places in shallow water is a primary reason why many anglers and general water enthusiasts like a shallow draft boat. Continue reading for a list of 5 places you can take a shallow draft boat but not a larger, motorized boat with a deeper hull.

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1. Rivers – Many rivers have a lot of twists and turns, and while it’s possible to safely pilot a deeper draft boat if the water level is high enough, unknown rock formations, stumps and other hazards make a shallow draft boat preferable. If you’re close to a river’s source, the channel won’t be too wide or the depth very deep. If you’re fishing with a shallow draft boat, you’ll be able to easily move closer to little nooks and crannies where a bass may be waiting.
2. Creeks – Although you can get a motor boat up a river, it’s virtually impossible to take one into a creek where turns can be even more dramatic depending on where you are. Also, like some spots in a river, a round shallow draft boat will be easier to take around any unnavigable areas.
3. Ponds and shallow lakes – Large motor boats for fishing have to be brought by trailer and launched from a ramp. Many shallow draft boats on the other hand can be picked up by one or two people and launched from just about anywhere. Many a roadside pond holds a lot of fish that most people overlook. If you’re moving between different spots, loading a shallow draft boat will take much less time.
4. Backwater areas of estuaries – Many large estuary systems like Tampa or Chesapeake Bay have bayous and cutouts that extend into what seems like a remote jungle. Some of these spots only see water during high tide, and are impossible to reach unless you have a boat with a shallow draft. Although they can be a bit of a challenge to reach, these spots can offer prime fishing or bait opportunities, as well as the chance to see wildlife you won’t see on the open water. 
5. Swamps – Last but not least, a shallow draft boat is ideal in swampy regions like the Okefenokee in Georgia or the Bayou country of Louisiana. If you find a spot to get onshore, the shallow boat will work better for getting you up close. You’ll also be able to better maneuver around trees, which is especially helpful if you’re using a shallow draft boat for hunting.      

Besides these five spots, a shallow draft boat can be handy in open bays and estuaries in certain spots will get pretty shallow during low tide. Maneuvering a shallow draft boat in shallow waters, regardless of location, is easier than trying to navigate a boat with a deeper draft.

Shallow draft boats from Round About Watercrafts provide fishermen, hunters and general water enthusiasts a cost-effective, light weight option for reaching out of the way spots. However, it isn’t just limited to the 5 places listed above. Round About’s design and motor mount provides the stability and speed you need to safely use it in a larger river or bay.

We invite you to visit http://www.roundaboutwatercrafts.com/ to learn more.