Among fish-boat companies, Key West is somewhat of a sleeper, with nearly 30 years of family ownership in the boatbuilding hub of central South Carolina. Check the company website and you’ll find great attention to customer service after the sale, with features like an owners’ forum, extensive and thoughtful answers to FAQs and a series of videos showing the all-composite construction process.
Even better, Key West builds fishing boats that adapt well to family use. The latest example is the 219FS (Family Sportsman). It offers a stepped hull with a sharp forward entry that gives way aft to a modified-V running bottom for stability and efficiency. Recommended power is a 150- to 200-hp, 4-stroke outboard, which provides good efficiency in the upper ‘teens and 20s and a top speed in the upper 40s.
While the 219FS offers plenty of fishing features such as live wells, rod holders and space for a 12” multifunction electronics display at the helm, it also comes with a pair of forward-facing lounge seats in the bow (with fishboxes underneath) and an upholstered full bench seat aft that fold out of the way for fishing. The console houses a changing room/head with sitting headroom. A wide range of options allows an owner to fit out the 219FS for anything from fishing and day cruising to serious tow sports.
Details:
LOA: 21′ 9″- Beam: 8′ 6″
- Draft: 14″
- Weight: 2,250 lbs.
- Transom Deadrise: 19˚/24˚
- Max power: 250 hp
- Fuel: 80 gals.
- Base price w/ Yamaha F175 hp & trailer: $42,000
For more information contact Key West Boats on their website or
call (843) 873-0112.