2017 Key West 219 FS

Step aboard and you’ll notice how family-friendly this 219 FS really is. The rear bench folds away to open up a clean cockpit for serious fishing, then pops back up when it’s time to cruise with a crowd. The leaning post with rocket launchers keeps rods ready, while the wide walkaround bow makes it easy to move forward even with kids on board. Tall, secure bow rails and plenty of handholds inspire confidence when the chop kicks up. The hull’s sweet spot is that comfortable mid-range cruise where you’re sipping fuel yet still covering serious water, and the shallow draft lets you slide into skinny creeks or beach up on a sandbar for the afternoon.

For this stretch of coast and its nearby sounds, the 219 FS hits a sweet balance between offshore capability and inshore access. The hull has enough deadrise to soften the ride when the afternoon sea breeze stacks up a short, steep chop, yet it still floats shallow for exploring backwater flats and marsh edges. The open bow layout works just as well drifting live baits along nearshore structure as it does anchoring up at a sandbar with friends. Plenty of insulated storage and thoughtful fish-ready features make it ideal for long days chasing reds, flounder, or nearshore pelagics in these varied local waters.