Dargel Skouts

[Empty_Stringer]

Can anyone comment on the performance of the Dargel Skout boats? What kind of shallow water performance do they have? Do they compare with the shallowsport/flatscat/majek type of boats, or is it not that type of super skinny machine? thanks.

[Fishdaze]

ES, I don't have any personal experience with a Dargel. I have looked at them before, and was impressed. Dargel is one of the original shallow water manufacturers. A guy I do business with bought one about 6 years ago and has been very pleased with it, and I know he test drove a lot of boats prior to purchasing. He's not a wader so he likes to drift shallow a lot. My wife's uncle also has a Dargel, and he's happy with his.

I know this isn't a lot of info, but maybe someone else will chime in that owns one.

[Empty_Stringer]

Fishdaze,
Thanks for the info! I test drove one & was impressed, but I didn't get to get it in shallow water as we were on a lake in central texas. It looks like it ought to be pretty skinnny, & I know they have a good rep in south texas, I just don't see very many around POC & was wondering why. I am also looking at the shoalwater laguna for grins.

[Fishdaze]

ES, you should like the Shoalwater to! A good friend of mine had the 19'. Great little boat. It would go shallow, but every boat has it's limits. We hit an un-seen sandbar in POC a few years back and couldn't get the boat off. We had to spend the night on the boat and wait for the tide to come in, and those boats don't sleep well. One good thing was, we were right where we needed to be when the sun started coming up the next morning. Limited out on trout and Reds!

[Catn' Around]

They have some of the best storage I've seen but are almost as rough and wet as a WET-FIN I mean RED-FIN. There shallow water performance is ok but not the best although I was impressed with it's cornering. They are suppose to be well built but my money will stay with flats cat or maybe shallow sport.

[BertS]

Dargels will run you in the OH ***** skinny water. We run a 17-6 Dargel Scout and it isn't the smoothest, or the dryest. I'd think it's still great for the $$ you can spend.

We have a 90 on the back, and it runs around 35-38 per the GPS @ WOT. Literally feels like yer flying!!!

[Catn' Around]

They are a good bang for the buck

[TooShallow]

I know several people who run them in the lower Laguna. They will run shallow enough to get you in trouble and can get up in <12" if you know what your doing. The down side is wet, wet, wet. Did i say wet.

[kenny]

I like the looks of the Shoalwater laguna. It has a Flatscat deck and a Shallow Sport hull. Don't have any experience with the Dargel.

[Billy S.]

They have some of the best storage I've seen but are almost as rough and wet as a WET-FIN I mean RED-FIN. There shallow water performance is ok but not the best although I was impressed with it's cornering. They are suppose to be well built but my money will stay with flats cat or maybe shallow sport.
LOL.......I have the Skout 170. I hear you on the "wet" part. You get drenched in it just backin' down the ramp. Same thing on the "rough" part also. Been in some pretty good waves before(just ask BertS). Wasn't necessarily worried about going over, but by no means the smoothest ride you'll get. As far as the shallow performance goes, it by far and away goes as shallow as I want to be(if I can get into water that, when I shut 'er down, I can't float, I'd say that it runs pretty d*** shallow). Now, as far as the cornering and storage things. LOL......man, I sure wish I had the one you are talking about. Mine ain't got enough room in it to store a roadkilled snake. The cornering; naw, I ain't even gonna talk about how bad that is. Two other things about it. Don't know if I just got a lemon in this department, but the wiring in it is POOP. Last of all, 100% displeased with the trailer(yeah, that's the one BertS is asking for help on). I know it's not a reflection of the boat, just part of the package I got. Bottom line, and I know this may sound like I'm contradicting myself, but, I think it's a pretty d*** good boat.

[Empty_Stringer]

Sounds like the Dargel is a good boat for the money, maybe a good first time skinny boat???? I talked to a shoalwater guy yesterday, & apparently the new 21' lagunas are cat hulls similar to the flats cat. Very interesting. I wish someone would hurry up & buy my Haynie so I could get on & scratch this itch!

[FISHTEXX]

Hey Stringer !!!!!
Why Are You Selling The Haynie Seadrifter?? I Really Like Mine...except For The Handling [ Slides Bad On Hard Right Turns At High Speed ]

[Empty_Stringer]

Tex,
I Love the Haynie, it has been a great little boat. I am trying to move up to something a little bigger with higher sides. I have some family members I am trying to get into fishing (nephews) & their mamma doesn't like the low sides on the Haynie Hence they can't go with me. I would also like a bigger boat so I can take more people out at a time.

[Fishdaze]

Tex,
I Love the Haynie, it has been a great little boat. I am trying to move up to something a little bigger with higher sides. I have some family members I am trying to get into fishing (nephews) & their mamma doesn't like the low sides on the Haynie Hence they can't go with me. I would also like a bigger boat so I can take more people out at a time.
My friend with the 19' shoalwater had to trade up to a bigger boat with sides also. He had 3 young boys that he was trying to get into fishing, and they kept falling out. Luckily, not while the boat was moving!

[FISHTEXX]

I Understand About The High Sides.i Really Have To Keep An Eye On My 6 Year Old Fishing Partner !!!lol We Both Cant Wait Till He Is Tall Enough To Wade......

[Capt. Forrest]

Other than Dargel and Shallowsport, have you considered Majek, Flats Cat, or any of the other skinny water boats?

[Empty_Stringer]

capt,

yes I have. I would like to test drive a flats cat, but that's pretty hard to do with their factory direct sales method (I'm in Austin).

[Capt. Lowtide]

Hey Brandon, I fished a new 21 Dargel Scout w/140 Suzuki on New Years eve...not bad. The engine was very weak, I liked the storage and the huge console, but it wasn't as stable at drift as I'm used to. I ran the boat through the back of Fish Pond and stuck it big time...jackplate all the way up and the engne trimmed out. When we got out to push/pull out of the mud it measured 5"... not bad, but I ran a 21 Majek w/Yamaha 150 single prop through there the next day, same water depth, and never bumped the bottom.

There is no substitute for the best!

[waterspout]

Here's another boat that will get you as skinny as you want or need be. I have the 20' and really like it. Built alot like the Dargel.

http://www.baymaster.com/cat/shallow/19baymstr.html

[Empty_Stringer]

Curtiss,

That's a heavy boat to stick, how was it getting her out? That's one really nice thing about the Haynie, she's so small I can dang near put her on my back & carry her our when I get in trouble.....;)

[Redfishr]

Dont say that "got it stuck"
Gives me chills and a back ache