Snow Camo SeaDek on Dolphin Super Skiff

I had the pleasure to meet up with Capt. Raul Montoro down in Miami.  He fishes throughout South Florida and the Florida Keys.  Raul runs a 17′ Dolphin Super Skiff that he keeps in great shape.  He was looking for a way to make his boat more quiet for chasing big bonefish in Biscayne Bay and also make it more comfortable for his clients.  Turns out the snow camo SeaDek was just the ticket.  He decided to go with a floor kit, poling platform pad, casting platform pad, and under gunnel pads.  The carpet on his under gunnels had started to tear up after only a few years so he figured he would fix the problem once and for all by going with SeaDek.  The look of the snow camo really sets his boat apart and looks great.  Make sure to check out Raul at www.biscaynebayfishing.com.  If you are interested in getting some SeaDek for your boat feel free to call me at 321-537-2039 or email me at tyler@castawaycustoms.com

Custom bonefish logo

Custom permit logo

Snow camo casting platform

Dolphin Super Skiff SeaDek

Trick out your Maverick HPX-T or Maverick HPX-V

Maverick Boats have been a staple in the shallow water boating market since the beginning.  There is a lot of history behind the skiff company and if boats could talk there are some Maverick boats with stories that could keep us entertained all night.  I have fished with Capt  Benny Blanco down in Flamingo on his Maverick HPX-T and have a few great stories of my own.  The HPX-T is a tunnel hull boat that can cross extremely shallow water and jump up on plane very quickly.  The boat is a fairly flat bottomed skiff so crossing open or rough waters in not ideal in this skiff.  That is where the HPX-V comes into play.  The Maverick HPX-V is a proven hull designed used and abused by guides and charter captains throughout the world.  While it isn’t made for extremely skinny water, it will get you home safely when the wind and seas kick up.  I deal with a lot of customers who have Maverick Boats and they ask me what are some of the more popular options as far as SeaDek and boating accessories are concerned.  On any poling skiff, my first recommendation is to SeaDek their poling platforms and their casting platform, if they have one.  Castaway Customs provides custom aluminum work as well as SeaDek so if you need a casting platform made, feel free to contact us.

A nice example of a custom casting platform on the bow of a Maverick HPX-T

For those who don’t have a casting platform and looking to kill two birds with one stone, a Yeti Cooler is a great option.  The coolers are stable enough to stand on and fish while doing a great job of keeping things cold.  A 35 QT Yeti Tundra cooler fits nicely in front of the console on either Maverick and easily can hold a trips worth of food and drinks.  If you are looking a little larger cooler the 45 QT Yeti Tundra can be turned to run length wise in the cockpit and it still fits nicely in front of the console.

Yeti Tundra Coolers work great as a casting platform

Maverick Boats have used carpet for a long time on the under gunnel areas on their boats.  One of the most common jobs I do on Mavericks is replacing that old carpet with SeaDek.  Unfortunately from boat to boat placement of the rod holders seem to vary slightly so there isn’t a one size fits all kit.  If you would like to order a set for your boat, just contact me and I can work through the details with you.  We can do almost any logos you would like on the under gunnel areas and this really dresses the boat up nicely.

The owner of Maverick Boats, Scott Deal's personal boat

Maverick Boats are known for being very stealthy and quite, but one thing that ruin it is a client or friend stomping around in the boat.  We all have been on a boat with someone who isn’t exactly light footed.  A cockpit kit for the floor of the boat dampens sound and makes it more stealthy when trying to sneek up on a school of skittish fish.  Most layouts for our floor kits cover the helm area of the boat creating a helm pad and making it more comfortable when driving the boat also.

17 HPX-V floor kit

Depending upon where you are fishing in your Maverick sometimes staking out with your push pole isn’t a good option.  For instance, many places in Mosquito Lagoon have a harder sand bottom and trying to stake off with the push pole wont work.  If you are fishing down in the Everglades over a soft or muddy bottom, a push pole may work out just fine.  Either way, we always find ourselves in situations where having the capability to stake out is nice.  A great shallow water anchor system I recommend to my clients is the Wang Anchor.  There are different mounting systems depending upon you need.  They make a transom mount system and also a quick release deck mount system.  Both systems have their place in certain instances.  Even just purchasing the pole works great and you can just tie off to the pole with a rope.  The 3/4″ solid fiberglass pole penetrates hard bottom easily allowing you to stakeout and it can easily be stored in the under gunnel rod tubes of your Maverick.

This is the transom mount system on a HPX-V

Every technical poling skiff needs one thing and that is a push pole.  Castaway Customs has you covered there also as we carry many different push poles.  The pole that I’m currently using and for the price can’t be beat is a Loop push pole.  The Loop push pole is made from carbon fiber and is extremely stiff and lightweight.  It can also be made up to 25′ 9″ allowing you to pole more efficiently.

The Loop push poles work great

When it comes to tricking out your skiff, these are only a few of the most popular options and products my customers ask for.  The possibilities are endless and many time the only limits are created by the size of your pockets.  No matter what type of skiff you have, just remember that the purpose is to get out on the water and make some stories of your own.

Castaway Customs featured in SeaDek article in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine

Florida Sport Fishing Magazine recently made a trip to the SeaDek factory for their “Made in Florida” series.  This article features business around the state that actually manufacture and produce products in the state.  The article goes through and informs people a little more about what all goes into making a great product.  Castaway Customs work is featured on the front page of the article.  The boat that is decked out is Capt. Chris Wittman’s Lake and Bay Boca Grande.  Chris fished the ESPN Redfish Cup out of the boat last year.  Check out that article that starts on page 129.  To get your boat decked out contact me at tyler@castawaycustoms.com or give me a call at 321-537-2039.

Check out page 129 in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine

SeaDek Under Gunnel Pads

When working on a flats boat, one of the most common SeaDek projects is under gunnel pads.  They protect rods and reels while running the boat and also add a very nice custom look to the boat.  I have worked on most boats so I have templates for most under gunnel pads.  Whether you have a Hellsbay, Maverick, Hewes, ECC, Dolphin, Egret, you name it and I should have a template for it.  Some manufactures put stock carpet on the under gunnels and it is easy to replace the carpet with SeaDek.  If you have nothing on the under gunnel of your skiff, it is even easier to apply SeaDek because you don’t have to bother removing the old carpet.  I also work in close relation with many manufactures so if you are ordering a new skiff give me a call and I can get the pads installed directly from the factory so they are on  the boat when you come and pick it up.  Take a look at some pictures of under gunnel pads, we  can do many different color options as well as logos to really give your boat that custom look.  Contact me today at 321-537-2039 or by email at tyler@castawaycustoms.com to have SeaDek under gunnel pads made for your flats boat.

18 Egret Rod Lockers

18 Hellsbay Guide

ECC Vantage

Maverick 18 HPX-V

Aluminum Billet Push Pole Holders

Castaway Customs now is carrying anodized aluminum push pole holders made by Renzetti.  They add a very nice look to your skiff and do a great job of holding your push pole.  Whether you are using a Stiffy push pole, Loop Tackle push pole, Biscayne push pole, Moonlighter push pole, or any other brand, they will work.  They are simple to install and light weight.  One of the pieces has a hole machined to put a bungee to make sure you push pole stays attached while running or driving down the highway.  They sell for the $170.00 and shipping is free.  Call 321-537-2039 today to order a set push pole holders for your boat.

Aluminum Billet Push Pole Holder Set

Another view of the push pole holders

Integrated Bungee Holder

HT Tournament Series

Castaway Customs is happy to have teamed up with the HT Series for the redfish and bass tournaments for 2010.  The HT Series has been around for a while now and got started in bass tournaments.  The formats over the the past few years have changed and with the ESPN Redfish Cup folding in 2010, HT Series has stepped up for next year.  On the redfishing side of things there will be a 2 day pro events called the HT Cup as well as 1 day amateur events called the HT Series.  Both the pro and amateur events will be run from Florida to Texas and as far North as South Carolina.  The HT Cup and HT Series events will conclude towards the end of October out in Venice Louisiana for the championships.   Castaway Customs will be attending a few of the events throughout the year so keep and eye out.  Castaway Customs recently decked out the weigh in stage in SeaDek.  Check out some of the pictures of the stage and a little one day event put together up in Titusville, FL near Mosquito Lagoon.  Despite the bad weather there was a decent turnout of anglers and first place was taken home by tournament veterans Mark Sepe and Scott Guthrie.  Check out http://www.htseries.com/ for more information and keep checking back for updates.

The HT Series stage before the SeaDek install

The HT Series stage after the SeaDek install

The HT Series stage being setup and leveled

The trailer rig with the foldout stage and weighin table setup

The Titusville event winners Mark Sepe and Scott Guthrie

SeaDek Helm Pads

SeaDek helm pads are designed to provide you a comforting time on the water.  Helm pads vary in thickness depending upon your application and needs.  Stock helm pads are 15mm thick, but we make them in a wide variety of thicknesses also.  We also offer our pads in a wide varitey of colors so you will be able to find something that looks great at the helm of your boat.  While we sell stock SeaDek helm pads on our webstore, we also specialize in custom SeaDek helm pads.  So if you don’t see a size that fits your boat or just want a custom logo contact us and we will get you all taken care of.  We specialize is custom logos and design so if you just want one of our stock fish designs, the name of your fishing team, or name of your boat that is not a problem at all.  Shoot me an email at tyler@castawaycustoms.com or feel free to give me a call at 321-537-2039 for more information.

Stock SeaDek Small Helm Pad

Custom 33' Hydrasport Helm Pad

Custom Logo for Surfari Charters

Carpet replacement for your boat or skiff

Whoever invented carpet surely did not intend it to be used on boats.  Carpet always finds a way to get moldy, dirty, filthy, and a whole other slew of adjectives which aren’t appealing.  SeaDek is a great application for replacing old worn out carpet.  SeaDek is a closed cell EVA foam so you wont have to worry about water absorption, mold, or mildew.  The only advantage of carpet over SeaDek is the ability to bend and conform around corners and edges.  Whether you are looking to replace the carpet on the undergunnel of a fishing boat or the carpet in the cabin of a boat we can take care of you.  I deal with many customers who just remove and mail the old pieces of carpet so I can scan and create templates to cut their new SeaDek pads.  We are also mobile and can come to you to scan an area on your boat if the carpet is to deteriorated to be removed in one piece.  Contact us if you have any questions at tyler@castawaycustoms.com or give us a call at 321-537-2039.

Old stained and mildewed carpet

Faux teak carpet replacement

Maverick 18 HPX-V carpet replacement

Poling and Casting Platform Pads

If you have ever spent any time fishing on a flats boat or skiff, you realize that most of the time is spent on either a poling or casting platform.  You are either poling an angler around on the poling platform, or you are the angler on the bow or casting platform.  SeaDek is a great application for both.  If you are strictly looking for traction our 3mm would work, but most customers choose to go with either 5mm or 6mm SeaDek.  The 5mm is a single color foam and has a nice beveled edge which provides a neat finished look.  If you want to add a little flare you can choose to go with a two color laminated foam.  This allows use to route down through the top layer of foam and engrave logos, it also give the beveled edge a two tone look.  For those who guide or just spend long periods of time on a poling platform and need a little extra cushion our 8mm material will provide that extra comfort.  We have a wide variety of patterns and templates to fit most platform tops.  If we don’t already have a pattern we can either scan it or you can order a template kit and make a template we can work off of.  One way or the other we will meet your needs.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me at tyler@castawaycustoms.com or call me at 321-537-2039.

Custom SeaDek on Bluepoint casting platform

Custom SeaDek on Hellsbay poling platform