Canyon Bay Boatworks and the Case for One Boat That Does Both

A question that became a company

Canyon Bay's website frames the whole company around one question, namely why a single boat should not be able to work the shallow flats in the morning and head offshore in the afternoon. Most builders treat those as two separate purchases. Canyon Bay set out to merge them in what it calls a hybrid bay boat, which keeps the wide casting platforms and skinny-water draft of a bay boat but adds the higher sides, deeper cockpit and sharper entry of a small center console.

The idea is not new for this builder. Canyon Bay hulls have been on the water since at least the 2010 model year, and by 2019 the website offered a spread of hybrids, bay boats and a flats skiff: the 24H, 24B, 28H, 22B and 18F.

Composites, custom builds and an open shop

The builder's other selling point is material. Canyon Bay says current boats are laid up by hand in Kevlar below the waterline and carbon fiber above the sheer, and that no wood is used anywhere in the hull, transom, stringers or deck.

Hulls are built individually at Perry Composite Manufacturing in Perry, Florida, and owners are welcome to stop by and watch their boat take shape. Before a build slot is confirmed, buyers work through an online configurator to choose power, electronics, tower, seating and rigging. The result is a small fleet in which nearly every boat is a little different.

The range, past and present

The 24H was the boat that proved the hybrid concept to a wider audience, winning a Florida Sportsman Best Boat award in 2017. It has since been retired, and we cover it in a dedicated model review with full specifications and buying advice.

Today the catalog is led by the 28H hybrid flagship and includes the 24B bay boat, the 18F flats skiff and a new 35N. The 24B is the closest current relative of the 24H, sharing most of its key dimensions.

Scarce boats and builder support

Low output means Canyon Bays rarely appear on brokerage sites, so every used boat has to be valued on its own merits. Engine age and horsepower, tower setup and electronics count for far more than the hull's model year.

Some older boats have been repowered beyond their original rating, so compare the capacity plate with the installed engine and ask your insurer before committing. Canyon Bay has no large dealer network, which makes the builder the best place to find original build records and parts.

• Installed horsepower against the capacity plate.
• The jack plate hydraulics and the bolts through the transom.
• The Kevlar bottom for grounding or impact repairs.
• Tower welding, its mounting points and the upper helm.