Look at the picture again. Yep, that’s a boat with no sides. No gunwales, no rails, just a deck with a console on top. It’s called a Dargel Scooter, and it’s unique to the Gulf coast of Texas. What’s so special about it? This boat can run in water so shallow, your feet don’t get wet.
I know—it sounds crazy. But to prove the point, when we were testing this boat the Dargel rep ran it less than two feet from exposed sand. As in, dry exposed sand. Trim and raise the motor properly with the jackplate and the prop is basically even with the hull bottom, pulling its water from the tunnel. And even though static draft is about six inches, once the hull rises out of the water and the tunnel feeds clean water to the prop, the words “skinny water” gain new meaning.
As a result of its unique nature, captaining the boat is both fun, and tough. Perched atop the large center console you get a bird’s-eye view (all the better to see those weedbeds and potholes with,) and with the 150-hp E-Tec powerplant hung on the transom we skipped across the bay like a tarpon with a sting in his jaw. But it’s not all roses. Trimming this creature is tough, and getting it onto plane and into turns without ventilating can be challenging, too. The Dargel rep spent at least an hour tutoring me before I felt comfortable behind the wheel, and I still needed advice from time to time. That’s why Dargel puts one of their experts onboard with every customer. They provide the know-how you need to go from customer to captain—but it might take a few lessons before you’re ready to skip over those sand bars.
Of course, the whole reason to get through the shallows is to make it to a hot new fishing spot. Once there, you’ll enjoy features like a livewell in the front of the console, three rod holders on either side, plenty of stowage space, and an anchor locker/stowage compartment in the foredeck. Construction, meanwhile, consists of a foam-filled fiberglass stringer system. And, considering that such a small amount of fiberglass is in the water when you’re up and running, handling is surprisingly predictable.
Crazy looking? You bet. Unique? Definitely. The least running draft of any 19’ boat in the galaxy? Yup, it’s that too—get a Dargel Scooter, and you’ll be running through water so shallow that the shrimp have to duck.
Check 'em out at www.dargel.com.
LOA – 19’10”
Beam – 7’6”
Draft – 6” to sand
Dry weight – 1,300
Fuel capacity – Variable
Max. HP - 150
Price – POR
Bonus test notes: Due to the nature of this boat I was unable to run full fuel flow and speed tests. (Hey—would you want to crouch down on an open deck with no sides or back, while flying across the bay???) However, at WOT we were running near 40, and at cruise, in the neighborhood of 30.
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