The following review was written by John Page Williams, Editor-at-large, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. John, senior naturalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has been a regular contributor to Chesapeake Bay Magazine for 30 years, specializing in environmental issues, nature, wildlife, fishing and boats. He has been testing new and used boats for the magazine's Time-Tested and New Boat News departments since 1998.

JULY 2009

Length overall  17' 4" Beam  7' 8" Draft  12"  Deadrise  19 degrees Weight1,637 lb Fuel 40 gals Max Power115 hp Base Price  $15,500 w/90hp

Pro-Line has launched its new Pro-Lite line of center-console skiffs and flats boats (17 to 22 feet) at a time when fuel costs have other boat companies sweating over unsold inventories of their top-of-the-line boats. Sold as packages from $15,500 to $21,900, the lowest-priced model is the Pro-Lite 17cc, rigged with a 90-hp Evinrude E-Tec or Suzuki four-stroke. Both engines provide a top speed of around 40 mph with a fuel economy of more than 5 miles per gallon at cruising speeds of 20 to 30 mph. The 17cc is light enough to tow with a six-cylinder vehicle, but large enough to fish Bay waters safely. These unlined hulls are simply built with rolled edges, but the materials used include the latest biaxial cloth, with closed-cell coring in the decks and stringers. Pro-Lite Boats, Crystal River, Fla.; 800-344-1281; www.proliteboats.com