Heron 16
ALl-ARound Shallow-Water Performance
At one end of the spectrum, the Heron 16 can be built as a minimalist, no-liner, hose-and-go skiff with a portable fuel tank and a tiller 30 hp. At the other end, it can be spec’d out as a fully loaded center console inshore machine with molded liner, extensive dry storage, livewell, and a 60 hp delivering top speeds close to 40 mph.
What both versions share in common is top-tier performance both under power and on the pole. With its 6˚deadrise, aggressive spray rails, and carefully tuned strakes, the Heron 16 runs smooth and dry on plane, slices through turns, tracks silently and efficiently on the pole, and spins effortlessly.
As a bonus, with a 16’5” length, the Heron 16 fits comfortably in virtually any residential garage with a swing tongue trailer.
Heron 16 Specs
16’5”
Length
72”
Beam
450lbs
Weight w/ Liner
400lbs
Weight no Liner
4
Person Cap
6˚
Deadrise
52”
Waterline Width
12gal
Fuel Cap
7”
Draft
40hp
Max Tiller
60hp
Max Remote
$26K
Boat-Motor-Trailer Starting Price
World-Class Performance on the Pole
Running performance, build quality, aesthetics, and value are all important considerations when choosing a poling skiff. But at the end of the day, if it doesn’t pole well, the rest doesn’t really matter. And the Heron 16 performs incredibly on the pole — tracks like a canoe, spins like a top, and slips through wind ripples in total silence. In fact, although our Heron 18 is an amazing skiff, when it’s time to tilt the engine and get on the platform, the little 16 outperforms her big sister with one or two anglers on the bow.
Big Capability in a Small Package
At 16’5” long with a 6’ beam, the Heron 16 is among the most compact poling skiffs on the market — and one of just a few under the 17’ mark. That means it fits comfortably in a typical 19’6” garage with a swing tongue and performs admirably with just 40 to 60 hp. At the same time, though, thanks to a wide beam, deep cockpit, and aggressive spray rails, the Heron 16 delivers exceptional stability while fishing, rides comfortably and capably in bay chop, and comes with a rated capacity of 4 adults.
Unmatched Value in a True Technical Skiff
Add a platform to almost any small, lightweight boat and you can call it a poling skiff. But a true technical poling skiff is a different animal — specifically designed to eliminate any noise from ripples slapping against the hull, to balance level for minimum draft with one person on the platform and one or two anglers on the bow, and to track straight at poling speed, even across or into the wind. While there are less expensive ways to get on the water, the Heron 16 is arguably the most affordable true technical skiff on the market, starting around $26,000 ready to fish with a tiller 40 hp Suzuki and quality aluminum trailer.
Lodge Edition
No liner — just floor and deck with rolled gelcoat interior
Larger cockpit and shorter forward deck
HDPE hatch in forward bulkhead
Open access in aft bulkhead
Open access to bilge
No toe rails
Center console, side console, or tiller
Lighter weight, easier to maintain, more affordable
Stripped down or Loaded Out?
The Heron 16 can be ordered as anything from a bare hull to a fully loaded, fish-ready shallow water machine. You choose your configuration (center console, side console, or tiller), your colors, your power, your rigging, and your accessories. First, though, you need to choose between the simple, lightweight Lodge Edition and the more full-featured Tournament Edition.
vs.
Tournament Edition
Full molded liner plus deck
Molded toe rails on forward deck
Larger cockpit and shorter forward deck
Fiberglass forward deck hatch with dry storage
Two aft deck hatches, roughly 25 gals each, for your choice of dry storage, cold storage, or livewell
Bilge access hatch
Center console, side console, or tiller
More refined interior, more dry storage, livewell option
Heron 16 Gallery
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