Guide owner here. Great compromise skiff. It will pole skinny (8” measured with 60 merc bigfoot, 2 guys, gear, half a tank), take 4 people to the sandbar with coolers and chairs, can still be poled quite easily (not as easy as the other two) and will take a great chop (with some spray, definitely not the driest skiff in the world). The freeboard is also a plus if you go on the beach or run busy channels. I live in tampa and take my skiff through some irresponsible stuff, i get wet, but feel 100% safe.

If you will be fishing 2 people total and really only using it for poling/fishing the pro/waterman will be fit the bill better in most scenarios. If you want you skiff to do double duty and have lots of storage, Guide

 

awesome, thank you for the info!

 

I recommend you pole all three options. The guide is definitely tougher to pole and you won’t be moving that boat in the wind for very far etc, obviously a compromise but definitely go pole each one and look at the room etc.

 

Have you poled a Guide?

 

I've poled/fished all 4 of these. All are significantly better at poling and pole shallower than a MA. MA will ride better than all three in chop. The Guide and pro are very similar in terms of poling ability. I own the Guide and my buddy had the pro. Switched back and forth and you really can't see much difference. The Pro seems smaller on the platform and poles differently, but the amount of effort is similar. Of the three HB's, they can all do Tarpon on the beach, but, Guide is the best because it is the biggest. Guide will have challenges getting out of the inlets if its ripping, but, it will be fine if you can get out. Its flat bottom after all. Waterman is the lightest and is obviously best at poling, but, they are all very close. I couldn't stand the draft of the Master Angler. If you are sight fishing most of the time, all three of these are just way better.

I would add, the Pro is my fave of the group, but, I needed to be able to take more people occasionally. If I could buy anything I wanted, I would ideally have a Pro with tunnel and a Marquesa or Chittum for tarpon beachside. The waterman is essentially the same hull as the Pro, but, pro (17.8) was the more finished version. For a stupid skinny liner only skiff, I would prob just get a spear with tunnel vs a waterman.

The coolest Waterman's usually have have finished deck, etc. and are basically Pro's.

 

I've poled/fished all 4 of these. All are significantly better at poling and pole shallower than a MA. MA will ride better than all three in chop. The Guide and pro are very similar in terms of poling ability. I own the Guide and my buddy had the pro. Switched back and forth and you really can't see much difference. The Pro seems smaller on the platform and poles differently, but the amount of effort is similar. Of the three HB's, they can all do Tarpon on the beach, but, Guide is the best because it is the biggest. Guide will have challenges getting out of the inlets if its ripping, but, it will be fine if you can get out. Its flat bottom after all. Waterman is the lightest and is obviously best at poling, but, they are all very close. I couldn't stand the draft of the Master Angler. If you are sight fishing most of the time, all three of these are just way better.

I would add, the Pro is my fave of the group, but, I needed to be able to take more people occasionally. If I could buy anything I wanted, I would ideally have a Pro with tunnel and a Marquesa or Chittum for tarpon beachside. The waterman is essentially the same hull as the Pro, but, pro (17.8) was the more finished version. For a stupid skinny liner only skiff, I would prob just get a spear with tunnel vs a waterman.

Awesome, thanks for all the info, one more questions... if you have any experience on a 16 waterman: what's your thoughts on it vs a 18 waterman? There is a really nice 16 for sale so if I go that route it would be jump on a nice 16 or wait for a 18 for god knows only how long.

 

Honestly I would figure out what you like to do 90% of the time and that is what decides for you. I wanted to be able to get out to the beach for two months a year, take the kids or bait chuckers a couple times a year and still sight fish in really skinny water most of the time. Guide was easy choice. It does all of those things. I also have a small tunnel skiff for negative lows and only two people. Once the kids are gone etc. I'll pick up pro tunnel or whatever lighter skinnier one that comes along that has resale value.

 

I've got a waterman, but generally keep to the skinny stuff. If i was planning to do more beachside/open water, I'd likely be considering the pro or the guide. My understanding of pro vs waterman it that they are very similar, with slight differences in the dead rise and the gunnel height.

Oh and if you're referring to the 99' waterman (16") recently listed, I've spent some time on that boat and it's a badass little rig. It is the older 16' model, and doesn't have the sponsons that the newer 18'. That said, it scoots with the three guys + gear with that 60 on the back.

 

I've got a waterman, but generally keep to the skinny stuff. If i was planning to do more beachside/open water, I'd likely be considering the pro or the guide. My understanding of pro vs waterman it that they are very similar, with slight differences in the dead rise and the gunnel height.

Oh and if you're referring to the 99' waterman (16") recently listed, I've spent some time on that boat and it's a badass little rig. It is the older 16' model, and doesn't have the sponsons that the newer 18'. That said, it scoots with the three guys + gear with that 60 on the back.

That was my concern is I fish 2 most the time but there is the rare occasion I take a 1 extra angler so 3 on that boat sounds cramped but this def helps. I am assuming it gets plenty skinny then too. Do not have anyone I know that have fished here and have experience on a older 16 to help me know if it can handle the crappy chop our bay turns into.

 

I’ve fished three people out of my 18 Waterman pretty regularly, never really had a problem. definitely poles great with just two people on the boat. I’ve also run through some pretty snotty stuff and have been impressed with how well I’ve gone through it l, never felt unsafe at all. The boat gets real skinny which is 90% of my fishing. Have had it anchored on the beach too with no issues.

 

Waterman 18 vs 16 is that they added sponsons so you could hang a bigger motor. 16 is more of a backwater skiff like others said. I have a Whipray classic and have been through some pretty strong slop in it. My previous boat was a B2 (splashed 18 Waterman) - it really won't take that much bigger water - still a low sideboard. I've taken rogue waves over the bow and stern and got pretty wet in it. Fishing 3 is no problem on the 18 if you pack light - did it numerous times. Fishing 2 is ideal on the 16 - 3 can be done depending on the layout.

I've fished out of a guide on several occasions with a friend who guides here on the TX coast. Comfortable, takes bigger water, has more storage, you can hang a bigger engine on the back, and it poles and drafts great. If you want a good all around boat, this is it. Now he does have a tunnel that allows him to run very skinny, but it poles shallower than I could have predicted.

 

I think the biggest thing for me is either waiting for an 18, or jumping on the 16 that is available now, seems like if I go 16 the beach side tarpon is out which would be tough for me.

 

I looked at several brands and owned Beavertail mosquito before buying my current Chittum Laguna Madre. I thought long and hard about getting a pro or a guide but HB didn’t seem too terribly interested in setting up a boat properly for Texas. Chittum checks all the boxes I need it to and I can’t think of a better brand of boat for the shallows we fish here in TX. I definitely encourage you to test a Chittum as they are very different than the Hells Bay. Having had a couple of skiffs with sponsors, I would not have one with sponsors ever again. The Chittum is just so darn quiet on the pole that you get ridiculously close to fish.

 

I’ve looked at chittums but think they may be outside of my price range… beautiful boats though!

 

Former Guide owner here and have spent time on all of HB’s smaller skiff. Pierson pretty much nailed it on the Guide. It’s a decent ride in a chop with the occasional spray. Definitely does not feel like a feather when poling. But for me that was the biggest boat I have ever owned. It will however feel like a feather to you coming off your old ride.

 

I have had significant time in old (pre ‘05) Hells Bay Waterman and Guide. Both side consoles- the Guide is a funky boat rigged that way. It actually belonged to Roger Waters for a while, but that’s a story for another time. These are my opinions, so for whatever it’s worth…
The guide is wide and flat. Stable with a lot of surface area. Poles skinny for a big boat. I notice it gets pushed around by the wind easily when running and poling. It’s also wet and harsh I’m chop with little deadrise.
The waterman is a backcountry skiff in my opinion. I have run one for years from a mothership (anchored in deep water) and it is not the right tool for that job or beach side/ big water/ long runs. Probably my favorite of the Hells Bay line-up for fishing two clients in shallow water for bonefish, redfish, etc.
With the changes made to the transom (no sponsons) the Marquesa is a sweet option. If you want skinnier than that while still having the comfort of a center console, the Professional seems like their flagship all-around skiff since they changed the hull slightly after 2004(?) 2006(?).

 

I have had significant time in old (pre ‘05) Hells Bay Waterman and Guide. Both side consoles- the Guide is a funky boat rigged that way. It actually belonged to Roger Waters for a while, but that’s a story for another time. These are my opinions, so for whatever it’s worth…
The guide is wide and flat. Stable with a lot of surface area. Poles skinny for a big boat. I notice it gets pushed around by the wind easily when running and poling. It’s also wet and harsh I’m chop with little deadrise.
The waterman is a backcountry skiff in my opinion. I have run one for years from a mothership (anchored in deep water) and it is not the right tool for that job or beach side/ big water/ long runs. Probably my favorite of the Hells Bay line-up for fishing two clients in shallow water for bonefish, redfish, etc.
With the changes made to the transom (no sponsons) the Marquesa is a sweet option. If you want skinnier than that while still having the comfort of a center console, the Professional seems like their flagship all-around skiff since they changed the hull slightly after 2004(?) 2006(?).

thanks! I believe I found a 03 waterman!

 

 

You're gonna love it. Great find!

 

I dig the back rest.... mind giving me a ballpark price or was that on the boat already?

 

Congrat's. I have an '07 Waterman 18 (Gordon) and it's the perfect boat for me. Is that a 90 on the back?

 

no, it is a 60 2 stroke

 

I have the backrest/step on mine. I rarely use it as a backrest, Couldn't live without it as a step up though. Makes getting up and down from the platform simple.

 

The older and fatter I get the more I like the idea of an installed step. If I'm fishing solo or with just one other person I leave the bigger Yeti that I use as a center seat home and just bring a 25qt ice chest that I have. It makes a perfect step up onto the platform. Once I'm up there I can pole all day, wind, dragging bottom, whatever, but climbing up and down kills me.

 

the guide is basically a waterman with a tapered in spray rail at the stern

 

guide is definitely wider and longer than the waterman.