Coast Guard Contractor Warns on Bay Boat Design

[swglenn]

The "flats" boat design utilizes a shallow V bottom, deadrise, to allow it to float shallower than a deep V bottom. The ultimate shallow water design is a flat bottom. Flats boats are also wide for their length so they can float shallow. The lack of a deep V and the wide bottom can lead to a boat that slides in the corners while turning. Incorporating a tunnel and a jack plate to allow the motor to be raised while at speed in shallow water can make the slides worse.

If the boat is turned too sharply at speed it can "swap" ends as shown in the video. To reduce the possibility of this happening the boat can be slowed down, motor trim reduced, and if used, the jack plate lowered before trying to make a sharp turn.

Most of us with boating experience have had or ridden in boats that slide and know to slow down when this occurs. Inexperienced boaters or even experienced boaters in a new high horsepower "flats" style boat can get in trouble before they realize it.