They Cast: The 191 Bay Scout is a versatile bayboat at home in shallow water or in chop.
We Cast: This 18’10”-by-8’6″ boat certainly gets skinny, with just 10″ of draft when the drive is up and the 1,390-pound boat is floating. That lets you get in after tailing reds and other shallow-water species. Although it can handle a 150-hp outboard, Scout packages the 191 Bay Scout with a Yamaha F90 for better fuel efficiency. On test day with two aboard and a quarter tank of fuel we hit a top speed just a whisper over 40 mph. That means you’re not going to blow by anyone and will likely cruise in the 20s. But if you’re shopping for a versatile boat to run in shallow water, do you need much more speed than that? The 191 Bay Scout has inwale rodracks that hold three per side and the standard four topside rodholders. An aerated baitwell also comes standard. Fly casters will appreciate the recessed casting platform on the bow, to keep everything copacetic in the wind. The pullup cleats are a plus too. Our test boat performed well in a wind chop on a blustery day. We tracked straight and felt stable in turns. We took a little spray over the windshield in a quartering sea, but that’s to be expected in a small shallow-water boat.
Who Will Fish It: The hardcore bay and shallow-water fishermen.
Another Choice: The Pathfinder 2000 is a slightly bigger boat that claims an 11″ draft.
MSRP: Test power – $27,197
Contact: 843.821.0068 www.scoutboats.com
