Ocean Master 186 Review

Looking for a skinny-water fishing machine that’s built like a bluewater battlewagon? You’ve probably heard of Ocean Master’s build-it-like-a-tank offshore line of boats, but now it also makes a flats boat: the Ocean Master 186.

Where most flats boats have two or three full-length stringers, the Ocean Master 186 has five. The hull-to-deck joint is fully fiberglassed, and voids are filled with foam. On the water, this heavy-duty, 18'4"-long, 8'6"-wide, 1,000-pound fiberglass and foam rig translates into a flex-free, solid-feeling ride.

"a flex-free, solid-feeling ride."

Fishing features are abundant as well; our test boat had not one but three livewells, locking stowage for eight rigs, and a poling platform. Plan on running to the best fishing, no matter how far it may be? No problem - the 186's standard fuel tank holds 50 gallons.

A nifty feature you won’t see on other flats boats is the bow-deck toerail. When a wake approaches, just tuck in your toes and keep on casting.

Performance? With the 150-hp Mercury on the transom, we traveled the mangroves at belt-way speeds. Weaving between the bars and roots wasn’t a problem, either - with the molded transom pocket, the Ocean Master can make it through water as shallow as 10 inches.

Fit and finish is above par, rod lockers and stowage compartments are fully finished, and all hinges are top-notch stainless-steel. There’s just one thing I’d like to see added: a windshield. Our test boat didn’t have one, and after hitting the 61-mph top end, I was picking bugs out of my teeth.

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