Flatback:
The nickname given to some of the first center console fishing boats that were produced in the late 1960’s. The nickname came from the almost total lack of deadrise at the back of the boat (Check out our blog post on deadrise here). The bottom was essentially flat at the back, hence “Flatback.” Easy enough, right?
The Design
The flatback is a wide-beamed, stable, and efficient boat design. It runs in very shallow water for its size and has a higher bow and deeper gunnels than your traditional bay boat, making it a great choice for guides and families.
The relatively wide beam coupled with the flat bottom results in a very stable boat that can fish multiple people along one side with ease. That beam combined with the flat bottom also allows the boats to run efficiently with lower horsepower motors. They are solid, economical platforms for fishing, diving, and even some commercial operations.
The Place
The flatback was especially loved in the shallow waters of Southwest Florida. From Cedar Key down to the Ten Thousand Islands, these boats were, and still are, highly sought after. The flat bottom design allowed fishermen to run the boats in about a foot of water. Unlike jon boats or other flat-bottom boats, the higher gunwales also offered protection when running out into the Gulf to near-shore reefs, drifting exposed passes like Boca Grande, or crossing larger bodies of water like Tampa Bay or Charlotte Harbor.
Where Did They Go
Like anything that people have opinions about, the flatback design was not without its compromises. While the flat bottom ran shallow, it also pounded mercilessly offshore when the waves got over a foot or two. Also, like any boat with a flat bottom, the hull slid in corners and had a tendency to bow-steer in a following sea.
Over time, the various manufacturers decided they wanted to “fix” the issues with the flatback design to help appeal more to the average boater. They added deadrise to help with the pounding and sliding. Adding more “Vee” resulted in a deeper draft and more horsepower needed to power the boat. Eventually, the changes stacked on top of each other and evolved the design away from the flatback hull and into what are today’s modern flats, hybrid, and bay boats.
Cue the Atlas Boatworks 23F
For those who still appreciate the old flatback-style boats’ style, functionality, and economy, we humbly offer the Atlas Boatworks 23F. The Atlas Boatworks 23F is a 23’ flatback-style hull with a few modern upgrades.
We have added a full-length keel and a modest, but present, 3 degrees of deadrise. Reverse chines knock down the spray and keep the ride dry. Combined with today’s modern trim tabs and the porta bracket, the Atlas Boatworks 23F brings the benefits of the old boats while minimizing compromises.
Happy to be powered with a 150hp-200hp outboard, the Atlas Boatworks 23F is a return to that solid, economical, inshore fishing boat. Not just for Southwest Florida anymore, these boats are also at home in the Carolinas, the Lowcountry, the Chesapeake, Texas, and anywhere else that running shallow, crossing big waters, and enjoying the security of higher gunwales all converge.
Let Us Build You A Boat
Each boat is built to order. You decide what matters. Ready-to-power hulls start around $60k.