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Cayo Boats

16K views 66 replies 30 participants last post by  Fishshoot 
#1 ·
I haven't started my build yet, and most likely several months from it. I put a deposit on one in May and can't wait for it to start. That being said i'm contemplating back and forth of the layout and stuff i want and will text JB every few days and bother him with questions. I know there's been posts on here about how hard it is to get in touch with JB but just wanted to share my experience so far for anybody looking. i put a deposit on the 173 but have been debating the 18 instead due to the type fishing and practicality for me. I shot him a text and within about 20 minutes had a phone call from him more than willing to give me all the information i needed between the two. Take into account the man is getting married tomorrow and probably has a ton more to be worried about than my boat the day before his wedding.

I obviously don't have my boat yet, and it's still early in the game, but certainly look forward to working with them in the process.
 
#3 ·
I've been in the queue for a few months now. JB has been super responsive and has invited me to the shop just to hang out and check out the process a couple of times. I've not really bothered him with questions so far but I'm sure that will all change once the build starts.
 
#4 ·
Honestly, I haven't owned a Cayo, but I have seen the 17-3 in person and for me even fishing creeks here in Jax is a little too narrow for me. Very nice boat and good craftsmanship from what I have seen but looks a little tippy especially for someone bigger.

On that note personally I would look into the 18 as the beam is wider and most likely drafts very little due to water displacement and is more stable in that manner.

You also have the option of running a 60 on up as far as motor size so you can keep the weight down and if I remember the 18 was getting some really good speeds on a video I watched a while back??
 
#5 · (Edited)
I don't find the 173 to be tippy but I am pretty agile. If I were a big dude fishing with another big dude I might think otherwise. Also, it is a two man boat max. I wouldn't want to put a third guy on it unless you were just sitting there soaking bait.

If I were building a 173 I'd build it linerless with a tiller. It doesn't seem like a console boat to me. It's a great glades type skiff and perfect for getting super skinny and the quality is unmatched for the price.
 
#10 ·
We put almost 800lbs on one gunnel and the rub rail did just touch the water. My 17v Maverick would of flipped.


Have had no problems with JB and he has been very responsive. I was apprehensive after hearing from some folks on here but after demoing the boat and a few others I decided to try it and have been happy so far.
 
#8 ·
i test drove the 173 w a 30hp and thought it was a really nice boat. i didn't think it was tippy at all but it does feel relatively small. for comparison, i have a 16 whipray now which is shorter but the deck and cockpit space feel considerably larger.

would love to get on an 180 someday
 
#12 ·
Tippy gets thrown around a lot, not sure what people expect from a 65 inch boat. I don't find mine to be tippy. Moving from front to back is easy even with the console. Stepping around the front platform lean bar can be tricky the first few times you do it but there aren't really any sudden movements or surprises from the boat. My last boat was very sensitive so this thing feels very predictable and surprisingly stable for it's beam. Walking the gunnels is a cute party trick but I can't really think of a situation where it would be necessary. It's not something that has even been important to me.

The boat runs fast with the 50 tohatsu. Mine has a full liner with center console and it draws about 7 inches of water. If you bury the tabs it will get up and run in water shallow enough to make you nervous. Construction is very very good, as good as any one of the big names. Everything fits as it should and is finished nicely. The console jump seat cooler holds ice as well as anything and drains into the bilge making it very to clean.

The hull itself is very well thought out. It's not someone else's mold that's been tweaked and renamed. You can tell someone spent a lot of time on this thing. It feels very solid and stable on plane. No movement when the passenger leans to one side and I can bend over and pick up something off the floor without any issues. I'm 6'2" and this is by far the most comfortable seated position I've ever experienced in a skiff along with plenty of room to stand.
 
#14 ·
I've had mine since march, and fished the hell out of it most days since. I'll echo most of what @jmrodandgun said, except I walk the gunnels all the time because it's just faster from one end to the other and it saves me a few steps up and down along the way. I'm also a lifelong surfer, so agility isn't a problem for me... I have a linerless hull with a 30hp tiller and closed front and rear bulkheads so I can have permanent fuel forward. This seemed like the perfect niche for the hull design in my eyes and I've been more than pleased with everything.

I cruised her 25 miles up and down biscayne bay wednesday morning and she just skimmed along at 28kts in a good chop with a full yeti, 10 gallons of fuel and a pile of fly rods along with myself onboard. It really is the little skiff that does.
 
#18 ·
If I ever was to buy a brand new boat, I would be looking hard at the 180. Just looked at some pics and that thing looks sick.
 
#19 ·
Mine just went in for it's first service. The boat is itself is holding up well. I've beat on it pretty hard and everything is still nice and tight, rattle free. The Tohatsu 50 is great. I wish it had a little smoother idle and the plastic cover on the controls is worthless, those are my only complaints. It will run 40 if you try really hard but he best part about the boat is it hums along nicely at 30 with no fuss. At first I thought I wanted to replace it with a 180 but it's done everything I need it to do so far, and it's even kept us dry on windy days. It's got more storage than I really need and the jumpseat cooler is the best thing since sliced bread. I ran a waterman for a short time while waiting on the 173 to be built and while I don't think it's a fair comparison, I much prefer the 173 because it performs better underway. Fit and finish is wash with the two boats. Side by side with my friends Caimen they are pretty similar in size. If you ignore the sponsons on the Caiman they are within an inch or so of each other rub rail to rub rail.
 
#23 ·
They are fairly comparable (with in a few thousand) when you add all the options on and do an apples to apples comparison. I looked at both really hard before putting my deposit down on the cayo. What made the decision for me was the standard trailer on cayo is hands down better and the center console is roomier for flush mounting electronics and guages.
 
#25 ·
I've fished the hell out of mine the last 7 months since I took delivery, averaging at least a few days on the water weekly and I still don't have any complaints. I have the no liner hull with a 30 zuke tiller. It is recklessly fast with just me in it, and I've even fished it with two friends on board a few times and it still gets on plane in a hurry and hums along just fine in the mid 20's.

I've done some pretty long range navs and crossed a few 10-15 mile stretches of open gulf and while it's certainly not what the skiff is designed for, the damn thing just takes it in stride. Not to mention I average 15mpg depending on the sea state and how much tab I use.

In my opinion, no other manufacturer can walk down the same block as JB when it comes to what you get for the money. I've spent time on them all and fit and finish is on par with the best of them. I don't think I'll ever sell my 173 but I will definitely be adding a 180 to the stable when the time is right.
 
#27 ·
That's insanely cheap when you compare other builders base package price. You get a TON of boat for 17g's and you don't have to skimp on the trailer.

An 18 shadow cast w/ 30 tohatsu is only a thousand dollars less than the base package Cayo with the same motor :eek:. You would have to be high on really crappy drugs to not cough up that extra thousand.
 
#29 ·
I have a 2016 center console Cayo 173 and really like it with the Tohatsu 50, however, I may sell it for the 180! I've been toying with the idea the last week after getting some quotes from JB. I wish there was someone here in Charleston, SC that had one for me to demo!
 
#32 ·
^ my 2 cents from test driving the 173. It struck me as an awesome boat and great value but it's definitely not big. I would say my 16 Whipray 'feels' considerably bigger than the 173. So would imagine some folks looking for something slightly bigger might be looking to trade up to the 180.
 
#34 ·
ReelFisher- That would be sweet! Shoot me a PM with your contact info. What are you fishing out of now?
 
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