Custom SeaDek on Ranger Banshee Extreme

I got a call the other day from Travis Tucker who runs a Ranger Banshee Extreme and fishes many redfish tournaments.  Travis had seen my custom SeaDek work on another boat and knew that is what he wanted on his boat.  We organized a time a place and place to meet up so I could scan the boat to make sure everything fit perfectly.  We completely covered the boat from the cockpit and decks to the poling platform and Yeti Cooler.  He will now have an easier time sneaking up on those spooky redfish in tournaments and also be nice and comfortable after a long day on the water.  Here are a few before and after shots, that really emphasize the difference that custom SeaDek can make to your skiff.  If you are interested in decking out your boat, big or small, give me shout at 321-537-2039 or shoot me an email at tyler@castawaycustoms.com.

This is a before shot of the front deck

This is an after shot of the front deck. The Ranger logo and ruler stick really set it off.

This is a before shot of the cockpit of the boat.

This is an after shot of the cockpit. We changed out the stock side gunnel pads to match the rest of the boat.

Before SeaDek on the Yeti Cooler and rear deck

After adding SeaDek to the Yeti Cooler and rear deck

Inshore Power Boat Hunting Edition

I got a call from one of the owners of Inshore Power Boats, simply referred to as IPB.  He was going to build a duck hunting boat and wanted to use our camo SeaDek to deck out the boat.  The nice thing about an IPB is the many different options and ways to build it out.  You basically have a blank canvas and if you have an idea, they can make it happen.  This boat is just an example of what they can do.  They added KC headlamps, gun box, poling platform, mud motor, custom grab bar, and of course the army camo SeaDek with custom duck logos to top it off.  Check out a few of the pics of the SeaDek before the boat was fully rigged out and a picture of the boat rigged out, dog not included.  If you are interested in having Castaway Customs deck out your hunting boat, IPB, or any boat for that matter, give us a call at 321-537-2039 or shoot me an email at tyler@castawaycustoms.com.

The IPB ready to hunt

The IPB before Camo SeaDek

The IPB after Camo SeaDek

Castaway Customs puts that custom touch on your boat

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

Faux Teak SeaDek

While teak adds a very classic look to a boat, there are major downsides.  One of the major issues is the cost.  Teak is a very expensive wood and installing teak on a boat is very labor intensive therefore will set you back a good amount.  The other downside to real teak is the amount of time and labor it takes to keep it looking good.  It can be a full time job keeping it oiled up.  While teak use to be one of your only options now there are many different faux teak options.  The nice thing about faux teak is it gives you the look of teak without the maintenance and most of all without breaking the bank.  There are different faux teak options out there, but many of them will still cost you around $50 per square foot installed, about half of the cost of real teak.  SeaDek’s faux teak runs about half of the cost of other faux teak materials while still provide the comfort, traction, and durability that SeaDek is known for.  Whether you are looking to cover the cockpit of a sportfishing boat or the interior cabin on a cabin cruiser, the faux teak SeaDek is a great option from every standpoint.  Castaway Customs specializes in custom SeaDek applications and can design and install custom faux teak in your boat.  Take a look at some of my recent work and feel free to contact me at tyler@castawaycustoms.com if you have any questions or for a price quote.

33 L&H Express Teak Cockpit

33' Grady White WA

27' Searay Sundancer Swim Platform

Interior Cabin on Grady White

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

SeaDek Floor Kits

I get many calls asking what is the most common area of a boat that people choose to cover.  The cockpit or floor area would have to be one of the most popular.  SeaDek comes in a variety of colors so we have something that will look good no matter what type of boat you have.  If you have a flats boat or skiff it will dampen sound and allow you sneak up on those spooky schools of fish a little easier.  SeaDek also works great if you are rebuilding or repairing an older boat.  SeaDek works great for covering up spider cracks and chips in your gel coat.  It not only covers, but also seals up the area so you don’t have to worry about moisture.  The cockpit of a boat also gets more traffic than other areas of the boat, so if you your nonskid has worn down or off, SeaDek provides great traction and makes your boat more safe.  We have many templates for floor kits so contact us to see if we have a pattern for your floor.  If we don’t we can line up an appointment to scan your floor.  If you have any questions you can email me at tyler@castawaycustoms.com or contact me at 321-537-2039.

Contender 27T cockpit kit

Gordon 16 Waterman floor kit