Not to long ago, the former builder of Lyman Boats was approached by an avid fisherman who was not able to find what he was looking for in a flats boat. He was looking for a boat that covered all the bases. A boat that was roomy, economical, manageable, stable and most importantly, built for people who love to fish.

Being long on experience and a little less long on sense, the builder agreed to "help" formulate a new type of flats boat, one with lots of storage and easily launched by one person. One that fit in the garage.

Comparing the available products on the market to the list of desired attributes, it became clear that a different hull and deck configuration would be needed to meet design objectives for this new boat.

The two primary goals of generous deck space and stability made a true multi-hull configuration the obvious choice. With a continuous beam of 8', the nearly 20 square feet more than a 17 foot model, and it still fits in the garage!

Test mule on "Lake X"

With new configuration as the starting
point, the builder embarked on an
extended period of "proof of concept"
research and development at our facility
on "Lake X".

During development, incorporation of
lifting "skis" at the rear of the sponsons
facilitated short times to plane with
loads of four people at minimal
horsepower. Additionally, the hull
tunnels compress the air below deck
providing a lifting air cushion, reducing
wetted hull area and increasing speed.
without additional horsepower.