North By South

Tashmoo 18 marks the return of classic New England skiff designs for today’s boaters.

The original Tashmoo skiffs were developed by Dan West, who drew inspiration from a traditional wooden lobster boat discovered around Martha’s Vineyard and translated their simple, seaworthy lines into fiberglass production. Built through the 1980s and 1990s, the boats earned a loyal following across the Northeast for their durability, practicality and distinctive character. Now, decades later, that legacy is being revived with the launch of the new Tashmoo 18.

A growing number of boaters are looking for something with more identity than a typical center console. This is where the Tashmoo 18 comes into its own. The project is led by Florida-based Tashmoo Boatworks, founded by David Reiter. “A lot of modern fishing boats have become highly technical and efficient, but they can feel a bit sterile,” Reiter says. “We feel that the Tashmoo models offer a balance between performance and something with more personality.”

Although the same philosophy drives the Tashmoo approach today, it is executed differently. Built with the support of Mark Castlow at Dragonfly Boatworks in Vero Beach, who has been building skiffs since 1979, the new generation of Tashmoo models maintains that workboat heritage while benefiting from a modern build process. Constructed from durable and easy-to-maintain fiberglass, this delivers the same structural integrity and toughness for which the original Tashmoo line was known, but with meaningful improvements. The Tashmoo 18 is lighter, more efficient and better performing than its predecessors.

Staying true to the clean simplicity and seaworthiness of classic New England workboats, the Tashmoo 18 features clean hull lines, practical layouts and a design built for coastal use. Each boat is fully customizable and built to order. From colors and materials to seating arrangements, deck configurations, power setup and electronics, owners can configure the boat around how they plan to use it. Whether conceived as a stripped-back cruiser or a fully equipped fishing platform, each build reflects a highly personal vision.

The Tashmoo 18 is equally at home in the coastal waters of the Northeast, the tropics of the Bahamas and South Florida, and beyond. Thanks to its shallow draft, it is ideal for bay cruising and inland fishing, allowing access to areas that remain out of reach for many larger boats. Its pronounced bow enables it to handle choppier conditions with confidence, delivering a dry and comfortable ride even in more challenging weather.

As for the Tashmoo 18’s competition and reception so far in the industry, there is nothing quite like it, as Reiter explains. “For us, it is less about competing with like for like models, as Tashmoo really sits in its own lane. It is about offering something you do not typically find in today’s market. … Each boat is built with a level of care and finish that is hard to replicate at scale.”

With additional models already in development, the line is set to appeal to those who value character, quality and a meaningful story behind what they own.

For more details, visit tashmooboatworks.com

**Photos courtesy of Tashmoo Boatworks.