A good boat is one that gets used, and the best boats become a family’s favorite way to spend time on the water. Scott Arnette’s 18-foot Maritime Skiff exemplifies that ideal: a compact center-console skiff that the whole family can enjoy cruising, fishing, crabbing, wakeboarding or simply relaxing at sunset.
Arnette and his wife, Trude, bought the 2002 Maritime Skiff in 2007 and have kept it active ever since. Over the past decade the skiff has been their primary vessel for exploring the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and nearby Sandy Hook Bay off the New Jersey coast. Their four children—now adults—grew up aboard, learning to drive and to appreciate time on the water. Today, the boat remains central to family gatherings, weekend outings and social evenings spent cruising and dining at waterfront spots.
Scott, a trial attorney from Monmouth Beach, traces his own boating roots to childhood rowboats and small sailboats, including a Hobie Cat. That early love of boating helped shape the family’s preference for a simple, reliable craft that’s easy to launch, tow and maintain. The Maritime Skiff’s modest size, light weight and practical layout made it the right fit. “It had nice lines, the right size, a center console and it was a dry boat, which appealed to Trude,” Arnette recalls. The purchase was finalized with the help of broker Bill Bergin, who Arnette praises for a smooth transaction.
When Arnette bought the skiff it came with an 80-hp outboard and trailer for about $10,000. The current powerplant is a 2002, 80-hp Yamaha 4-stroke mounted on a reinforced transom. With a 10-gallon fuel tank located beneath the forward seat, the skiff planes quickly and comfortably; Arnette reports reaching about 26 knots when he wants to move. Most outings are leisurely, however—slower cruising lets passengers savor the scenery, fish, or swing by a dock-and-dine for a meal and cocktails.
One of the boat’s biggest strengths is versatility. The foredeck with anchor locker doubles as a casting platform and extra seating, while the open cockpit provides ample room for fishing, watersports gear or socializing with friends. The skiff’s shallow 9-inch draft and the ability to tilt the engine up allow the boat to be beached on sandbars or brought close to shore—an advantage in tidal estuary cruising where shoals and mudflats are common.
Maintenance needs are minimal, which keeps the boat ready to use. Arnette handles routine troubleshooting himself, while Sandy Hook Yacht Management performs winterization and occasional service. The combination of a simple hull, modest engine and practical systems means fewer headaches and more time on the water.
Even now that the kids have left home, the couple continues to use the Maritime Skiff for hosting friends, evening cocktail cruises and casual explorations of the rivers and bay. When family members visit, the skiff is still the first choice for a quick outing. With a crab net and a willingness to explore, a short trip can turn into dinner on the boat or at a favorite waterfront spot.
WALKTHROUGH
The Maritime Skiff 18 features clean lines and an open, uncluttered interior. Built entirely from fiberglass using vacuum-bag technology, the hull incorporates closed-cell foam for flotation. The design favors light weight and fuel efficiency while maintaining a sturdy feel. The molded center-console helm is equipped with a destroyer-style wheel and an instrument panel protected by a durable windscreen, flanked by stainless-steel grab rails. Behind the helm sits a cushioned leaning post with storage beneath; a separate forward seat with cooler/storage completes the centerline accommodations.
Forward, a raised bow platform houses an anchor locker and serves as both a comfortable seating area and a practical casting station. The single outboard engine mounts on a high-density cored transom that handles the skiff’s power and provides a responsive ride. The self-bailing cockpit is especially useful for boats kept on floating docks or operating in choppy tidal waters.
BACKGROUND
The Maritime Skiff originated in 1992 when Paul Hureau and Bev Brown developed an 18-foot center-console with a rounded bow, wide chines and a variable deadrise hull. The Maritime Skiff 18 was the first in a line of compact, foam-filled center consoles designed for efficiency and simplicity, capable of being powered by small to midsize outboards. Today, Maritime Skiffs are produced by Chislett’s Boating and Design in New Hampshire, continuing the model’s reputation as a practical, family-friendly boat for shallow-water cruising and day boating.
This article was originally published in the October 2020 issue.