Tim,

    After my first season in the Curlew, the biggest surprise I have experienced has been the open water performance of the boat. I basically knew what she would do in shallow water as a result of spending several satisfying years in the Avocet. Since 1967, I have spent way too many hours running on, and sometimes under, the water of Aransas and her related bays. At some time, even fun endeavors become work. The Curlew has put the fun back into boating for me. The boat is the driest boat that I have had since my low profile Boston Whaler (1977). I am totally comfortable crossing the middle of the bay as well as the protected waters. I just can't imagine a more seaworthy vessel and since carrying passengers is a major responsibility for me, I would rather be in this boat on a rough day than in one of the Florida canoes. I guess that sooner or later, I'll come up with some suggestion for my new Curlew, but for now I'd say, "just like the other one."

Tim,

    As you know, Kathy and I purchased our Curlew sight unseen, based on your reputation as an artist and master boat designer. When it arrived, we could see that is was the most beautiful fly fishing skiff ever created, but would it handle the punishing flats of the Lower Laguna? That's what I had to find out.

    Two days later, I was guiding a man from Deleware. I'd poled into a lagoon that became progressively shallower as we floated downwind. At any moment. I was sure we'd hear the sound of the hull against the sand, so I jumped down, and stepped out of the boat to turn it around. I said, "I'm going to have to push us back to deeper water. But since it's so far, I'm going to try to get up, even though it would be a miracle in this water." I looked down and saw that the water was well below the edge of my bootie, which was only nine inches high. And the bottom was rock hard.

    Turning the steering wheel all the way to the right, I gunned the Yamaha 90. At first the Curlew barely moved, but within half a turn, she jumped up and was heading back upwind. I was ecstatic, and screamed, "I can't believe it!" Later my client voiced what I've heard so many other experienced shallow water anglers say: "I didn't know there was a boat that could do that."
    On another occation, I was guiding a well-know fly fishing author. We were poling into a bay known for it gradual decreasing depth. I wasn't monitoring the depth as carefully as I should have, because I was watching three fishermen up ahead. Two of them had gotten out of the boat, and third stayed with the boat and pushed it behind them. Still in denial about what I was seeing, I told my client that the guys were obviously onto fish, and had gotten out of the boat to pursue them. I kept poling, hoping that we could get into the same fish. Then the Curlew came to a halt. I looked down and realized why the other guys were wading: it had gotten progressively shallower. I was pretty sure we couldn't get the boat up on plane. I got out of the Curlew and, with effort, pushed it over exposed turtle grass, until we came to a small grass-free area where I hoped we'd have a chance at getting up on plane. I jumped onto the boat, turned the wheel to the left, and gunned it. Again, the Curlew spun and lifted, and we were on our way to safety. My client, who has fished around the world, yelled, "Incredible!" I couldn't believe it either.

    In the world of shallow water boat makers -- where there are plenty of boasting emperors barely clad -- the Curlew quietly reigns supreme.

Capt. Scott Sparrow
Arroyo City,  Texas

Tim,

It's hard to believe that 15 years have transpired since my first order was placed with you. In that time you have routinely produced fine quality boat components and accessories for both my business and personal use. Now that I have operated the Curlew for 18 months, I feel that congratulations are long overdue for you and your staff at NewWater and Pro-line. The long hours spent designing and tooling each part of this boat were well worthwhile and it is evident to anyone who has looked closely, or been fortunate enough to fish from one. My customers and friends are always quick to compliment this craft and are amazed at the versatility of the Curlew.

You should be proud of your accomplishments as a boat builder. Good things come slow, so your patience and attention to detail will be a plus in the long run. Thanks again for steering me to the finest flats boat available anywhere!

Sincerely
Capt. Ray Box

Arroyo City Lodge
Gruene Outfitters
New Braunfels, T

Chris Brandt

Tim,

We have been meaning to write to you to tell you how much we love our Avocet. It has met or exceeded all of our expectations. Each time we load or unload the boat at a boatramp, we have so many people come up to ask about it. We were just in Pine Island fishing and a fellow from Texas was there who had one of your boats. Both of us were bragging about how pleased we are with it's performance.

Thanks for all your attention to detail and to putting up with all of our questions and all while we were making our decision. We could not be happier.

Keifer and Sande Calkins
Gainesville, Florida

Tim,

    As the service manager for a San Antonio boat dealership, I have been around coastal fishing boat for 30 years. I have owned four different shallow draft boats ranging from 16 to 24 feet. After purchasing my 18' Curlew in September, I have been using it every chance I get and am amazed at the shallow water performance. The hole shot is unlike any that I have seen, and it is hard to believe how the boat can stay on plane at such slow speeds. Poling my Curlew in shallow water is almost effortless. The fishing room on this boat is equivalent to a 22' boat that I once owned. Indeed, the layout of the deck was well thought out. In all my years in the boating industry, I have never seen a boat that is as versatile as the Curlew.

A job well done!

Mark Singleton
San Antonio, TX

Tim,

    I can't thank you enough for designing and building this boat. Thursday at Aransas, it was terribly windy -- 30 mph.  It was a great time to test the Curlew, and it was a totally dry run! It spins up like a scooter with two people on the left --  a hard left turn on the wheel and unwinding the steering when she bites. A hole shot in six to seven inches was easy on a soft bottom. We ran the inside of the  white sand between shamrock and "e" flats and I swear it wasn't over 2 1/2" for at least 1/4 mile or more, and we didn't stick it. We had good water pressure even though we had dry ground behind the boat! Fish were gone from our early am spots, but they really piled onto the outside edge of "e" flats starting 1 PM Thursday w/sun peeking thru occasionally and low incoming tide. Friend Rick had line management problems, so he eventually went to a gold spoon, and caught fish.Tim, this is the finest boat I've ever seen, and I'm slowly learning more about just how great she is as I go along. It's no Ferarri -- hell it's a Lamborghini. Also, I enjoyed your company on the water immensely, and will share my boat with you anytime, and would love to pole you around up north.

Charlie Moore

Tim,

    The new Curlew is awesome and a fish catching machine. Going to the ramp, she turns heads like a supermodel. Having run my HPX, I did not know what I was missing but the Curlew is in a class all by itself. Best decision I ever made. I am looking for a fault or something you did not think of but so far -- nada. The ability to stay on plane at such low rpm,  and its skinny running is unsurpassed.  And the hole shot! She is a shallow water engineering marvel. Look me up when your ready to fish.

    Thanks
       
Tom, Patty, and Clint Dorrell
Port Aransas, TX

The open design of the deck maximizes fishing space, and promotes an organized boat. The storage below the deck protects your rods in transport and allows you to vary your arsenal without cluttering the boat.

But to me, besides the boat's function and performance, it's most striking feature is its appearance. What a pretty and unique boat! It draws comments and complements on every trip.

Thanks to Tim Clancey and the good people at NewWater Boatworks for the design and construction of the Curlew.

Sincerely,

Dennis Yanowski
Boerne, TX

Tim,

    Well it has been 5 seasons now since I have purchased my Avocet. Still I cannot believe how impressed I am with this boat. Having been a boat captain and traveled the world on some of the most impressive large and small fishing boats, the impeccable detail, construction and performance put this boat in top of the class.

    I have routinely taken this boat in the back lakes and in the tightest of channels with 4 people and all there gear with no problem. Other flats boats have problems getting to the water we travel as they cannot either handle the weight load or make the difficult turns while staying on the plane or the so called "wipe out".

    We just fished an all lure tournament in Rockport and we were the only boat that was able to bring all of our fish in alive. The release well you created works awesome keeping six redfish live all day. This is invaluable to me and great for the redfish as they were able to be released after weigh in.

    Although I only am able to fish on the boat about 100 hours a year now, it sill looks brand new. All the maintenance I perform, is to wash it, do a light chamois dry, and give it a coat of wax every year. People stop me all the time to gawk over the boat and ask where it is built. They cannot believe that it is five years old and also built in San Antonio (they all think it comes from Florida somewhere).

    The best compliment came a year or so back. One of the best guides for redfish (who drives a fancy customized airboat) caught me in one of the back lakes. He asked me how I was able to get where I was and I responded the same way he came in. After we were done fishing, he followed me back out with even less water than there was initially. He stopped me back at the ramp later and had total praises for the way it rode out of pretty much no water in the channel and also that it was the skinniest running thing he had ever seen with an outboard. That was a huge compliment to both me as well as to you the creator! Thanks again and look forward to seeing you soon.

Capt. Jorge More
Rockport, TX.

Tim,

I have had my Avocet for about a year now and I just wanted to update you on my excursions. I have fished much of the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River Lagoon systems in East Central Florida. Overall the boat is absolutely amazing. Except for the ride in heavy surf and seas, the boat will out perform my old Hewes hands down. I have now upgraded to a Mercury 150 hp with a 5 bladed prop. This seems to be the real ticket for me. Maximum speed is around 42 mph and with the 5-bladed prop, I can raise the motor well into the tunnel and plane across some very skinny water.

Recently I was fishing there west coast of Florida around the Charlotte Harbor area. The Flats there are really interesting because in order to get to the fishable areas along the Mangroves, you have to skim across some really shallow sand bars. At first I was a bit timid about how skinny I could go, but I finally figured out that with the correct combination of speed, trim and motor elevation, I could get across these areas with ease and without churning up the seagrass beds on the other side of the sand bars.

This boat has really changed my way of fishing. Although it is rather bulky to pole into the wind (and what boat isn't), its ability to be poled quietly is really amazing. On several occasions,  I have poled into an area of feeding redfish without spooking them off. I think that says something for the stealth of this boat. Often, I pole into an area of feeding fish, and then anchor off to begin wading. The molded in steps on the stern make for a quiet entry even with my 215 pound frame.

Sincerely

John Hardeman
Orlando, Florida