Key West Boats: Worth The Buy?

Key West boats are a popular choice for fishing enthusiasts, with models like the 263FS, 219FS, and 239 offering spacious decks, smooth rides, and good performance. The boats are constructed using composite materials and hand-laid fibreglass, with positive reviews for their stability, speed, and fishing features. However, some customers have reported issues with quality control and warranty repairs, highlighting potential problems with cracking and water ingress. Overall, Key West boats cater to a range of budgets and are well-suited for fishing and family outings.

Key West 263FS is a serious centre console fishing boat with a smooth ride

The Key West 263FS is a serious centre console fishing boat with a smooth ride. It is the latest addition to the company's Family Sportsman series and is designed with both comfort and fishing in mind. The model has a unique combination of plush seating and serious fishing capabilities, making it a versatile option for those who enjoy spending time on the water.

The 263FS offers a smooth ride, even in choppy conditions, thanks to its fore/aft stepped hull design, which transitions from 21 to 24 degrees of deadrise. This design provides a surprisingly comfortable experience, even for those with aching backs, as it effectively absorbs the impact of the waves. The boat's efficiency is also notable, as its lightweight and powerful twin Yamaha F175 outboards provide impressive speed and performance while also saving on fuel costs.

The fishing features of the 263FS are extensive. It boasts 22 rod holders, a livewell, a slide-out cooler, tackle storage, gunwale bolsters, and a standard windlass. Additionally, the boat has a unique side gunwale door with a hidden telescopic ladder, which not only makes water entry and exit easier but also enhances safety for solo anglers. The model also includes twin live wells, an in-floor macerated fish box, and 18 rod holders, ensuring that it is well-equipped for a successful fishing trip.

The comfort and convenience features of the 263FS are also impressive. It offers spacious forward seating with built-in backrests, a large console with a flush mount room, a spacious cockpit, and a self-bailing cockpit. The boat also includes a convenience centre leaning post, a console seat with a cushion and backrest, and a large rear bench seat with removable cushions. Entertainment features such as an eight-speaker stereo system and blue LED helm lights add to the overall enjoyment of the boating experience.

The Key West 263FS is a well-rounded and capable boat that caters to both fishing enthusiasts and those seeking a comfortable and feature-rich boating experience. Its combination of performance, efficiency, and comfort makes it a standout choice in its class.

Key West 219FS offers a smooth ride and neck-snapping acceleration

The Key West 219FS is a powerboat built by Key West as part of their Family Sportsman series. It is a centre console vessel, typically used for day-cruising and saltwater or freshwater fishing. The boat has a modified-vee fiberglass construction and is available with an outboard motor and gas fuel system.

The 219FS offers a smooth ride and neck-snapping acceleration, with a 175 horsepower engine capable of propelling the boat to a cruise speed in the upper 30s and a top speed in the mid-40s. From a standstill, the boat takes off extremely quickly. The stepped 19/24-degree transom deadrise and hull design provide a surprisingly smooth and dry ride, even in choppy waters. This makes the 219FS an excellent choice for those with back problems, as the ride is comfortable and smooth even in rough conditions.

The boat has a spacious layout, with ample deck space for light-tackle casting. It includes features such as rod holders, a livewell in the transom seat, a cooler under the leaning post, and storage compartments that can double as fishboxes under the console and bow seats. The bow seats have removable backrests, which can be stowed away when fishing to provide more space. The console houses a changing room that also serves as additional storage space, and the dash panel can accommodate up to 12" screens and various gauges and controls.

The 219FS has a fuel capacity of 80 gallons and a displacement of 2250 lbs. It has a draft (hull) of 1'2" and a transom deadrise of 19/24 degrees. The boat has a recommended horsepower range of 150-250 HP and comes with a ten-year hull warranty.

Key West boats are middle-of-the-road, entry-level boats

Key West boats are often sold based on looks and price rather than functionality and durability. The construction is light, and the features are not oriented toward serious use. For example, the hull/deck joint is simply screwed together, and the transom area has several places where water can enter the hull. The boats also have typical cheap vinyl rub rails and a low-quality, plastic drain plug.

However, Key West boats do offer some advantages. The company provides excellent customer service and stands behind its products. The boats are also quite affordable, and the construction methods are solid, with a hand-laid and chopper gun layup using high-quality matting and resin. The stringer system gives the boat strength and rigidity, and the foam floatation is kept separate from the hull to prevent expansion and gelcoat ripples.

Overall, Key West boats are adequate for casual boaters who don't need the most advanced features or the sturdiest construction. They offer good value for money and are ideal for those who want a simple, functional boat without breaking the bank.

Key West 239 is a comfortable, stable, and high-performance centre console boat

The Key West 239 is a comfortable, stable, and high-performance centre console boat. It is a big, beamy, and comfortable boat with unrestricted space either side of the console to move around. The boat has a compact console and helm area, with just enough room inside the console to fit a portable toilet. The dash features a Raymarine 127e GPS-sounder with StructureScan and a CHIRP transducer, as well as a neat switch panel for lighting and pumps, and separate controls for Lenco trim tabs, the windlass, and jacking plate.

The construction of the hull is traditional yet timber-free, using a hand-laid and chopper gun layup with high-quality matting and resin. The foam floatation is kept separate from the hull to prevent expansion and gelcoat rippling, and the stringer system alone provides strength and rigidity. The keel line area is also kept foam-free, so that if the boat is swamped, the void around the keel will fill with water to create ballast, keeping the boat level and preventing sinking.

The Key West 239 offers a soft and stable ride, even over nasty chop, and handles high speeds with precision, without undue lean or wallowing. It planes smoothly and accelerates fast, reaching speeds of up to 43.2kts. The boat also features a jacking plate and a 10ft power pole, which allow for anchoring in shallow water and up to 10ft of water, respectively.

The Key West 239 is an excellent choice for fishing, day boating, or family fun, offering a spacious, stable, and high-performance platform.

Key West boats have mixed reviews for quality and customer service

Some customers have expressed concerns about the construction and durability of Key West boats. In one case, a customer reported that their 2021 Key West 239 DFS boat had several issues, including cracks on the deck and gel coat, water coming from inside the hull, and a non-functioning Garmin GPS. Despite the issues, the customer praised the company's customer service, noting that Key West built them a new boat to replace the defective one.

Another customer, who purchased a Key West 263FS, reported a positive experience with the boat's performance and features. They noted that the boat offered a smooth ride, even in choppy waters, and had ample fishing features, including rod holders, a livewell, and storage compartments. The review also highlighted the boat's construction, which included a handlaid and chopper gun layup using high-quality materials.

A long-term review of the Key West 219FS model also praised the boat's performance and ride quality, noting that it offered a surprisingly smooth ride for a 21-foot boat. The review highlighted the boat's acceleration, fishing features, and deck space.

However, not all reviews of Key West boats are positive. Some customers have expressed concerns about the quality and durability of the boats, particularly when compared to more expensive brands. One review noted that Key West boats are "middle-of-the-road" and equivalent to 90% of what is available on the market today. The review also criticized the construction as being too light and not oriented towards serious use.

Overall, while Key West boats have received mixed reviews for quality and customer service, it is important to note that individual experiences may vary. Some customers have reported positive experiences with the company's customer service and the performance and features of their boats, while others have expressed concerns about construction and durability.

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