Broadwater Boatworks: A Catamaran Built for the Backcountry

Catamarans have changed offshore fishing. But the same twin-hull technology that makes a large offshore platform more stable in the Gulf Stream also makes a shallow-water fishing boat more capable in the backcountry - and that is exactly what Broadwater Boatworks set out to build. Their catamaran hull is purpose-built for the flats, the bay, and the skinny water fisheries that define some of the best angling in the Florida Keys. It also handles open water in a way that surprises people who have never been on one. BTH Marine is proud to carry Broadwater in Key Largo.

Who Is Broadwater Boatworks

Broadwater Boatworks is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, founded by Frankie. They build one boat. Not a lineup of twelve models designed to appeal to every buyer at every price point - one catamaran hull, custom built to order, executed to a standard that most production boat builders simply do not reach. Every Broadwater that leaves the facility is built for the person who ordered it. The fit, the finish, the rigging, the details - all of it reflects a builder who takes pride in the work and does not cut corners to move volume.

This is not a boat for everyone. It is a boat for the angler who cares about quality, demands execution, and wants something built right the first time.

What Makes the Broadwater Hull Different

Shallow Draft

A catamaran hull sits on two narrow hulls rather than a single wide one. The result is a dramatically shallower draft than a comparable monohull. In backcountry fishing, where the difference between fishing a flat and running aground can be measured in inches, draft is everything. Broadwater's catamaran design gets you into water that most boats cannot reach.

Stability That Has to Be Experienced

Put two people on the same side of a Broadwater and the boat does not lean hard into the water. It barely moves. The twin-hull design provides a level of stability at rest that monohull boats cannot replicate - not with better construction, not with ballast, not with any amount of engineering. It is a function of the hull geometry, and it changes how you fish. Less movement means less noise, less disturbance to the water, more accurate presentations, and a platform that your entire crew can move around on freely without affecting the boat's attitude in the water.

Open Water Capability

This surprises people. A boat designed for the flats and backcountry that also handles open water well is not something most anglers expect. Broadwater's catamaran hull runs open water with a confidence and composure that catches first-time passengers off guard. The stability that works in skinny water works just as well in a chop. You are not giving up open water capability to get shallow draft - you are getting both.

Quiet Operation

The twin-hull design reduces hull slap and water noise compared to a monohull at low speeds and at rest. In technical skinny water fishing where fish spook at the slightest disturbance, that reduction in noise is meaningful. Broadwater hulls are built to be as unobtrusive on the water as possible - which is exactly what backcountry fishing demands.

Fuel Efficiency

The reduced drag of a catamaran hull translates into better fuel efficiency at cruise. For anglers who cover a lot of water in a day - running from flat to flat, exploring new backcountry areas, or making long runs across Florida Bay - that efficiency compounds over time into real savings and extended range.

The Finish

Walk up to a Broadwater and before you ever get on it, something stands out. The finish is clean in a way that separates it from most boats in this market. The gelcoat work, the hardware installation, the rigging execution - everything is done with an attention to detail that reflects a builder who is not rushing boats out the door to meet a production schedule. Broadwater builds each boat to order. That process takes longer, and it shows in the result.

For buyers who have owned production boats and know what the compromises look like up close - the uneven lines, the shortcuts in the finish work, the hardware that was installed fast rather than installed right - a Broadwater is a different experience. It is what a well-built boat looks and feels like.

Built for You

Broadwater does not build boats for inventory. They build boats for people. When you order a Broadwater, the boat that comes out of that facility was built to your spec, finished to their standard, and delivered as a complete expression of what a purpose-built catamaran can be.

That custom build process is not a marketing angle. It is how Broadwater operates. It means lead time, and it means the boat is worth waiting for.

Who Broadwater Is Built For

Broadwater is built for a specific type of angler and a specific type of buyer. If you fish the Florida Keys backcountry - tarpon on the flats, permit, bonefish, snook in the mangroves, redfish in the back lakes - the Broadwater hull does things in shallow water that monohull flats boats simply cannot replicate. The stability, the draft, the quiet operation, and the open water capability make it the most complete shallow water fishing platform available.

It is also built for the buyer who is done settling for production quality. If you want a boat that was built for you, finished properly, and designed to last - Broadwater is the answer.

If your primary fishing is offshore - Gulf Stream, deep dropping, kite fishing - Broadwater is not the right tool. That is what the Front Runner lineup is built for. The two brands complement each other, and BTH Marine carries both for exactly that reason.

Why BTH Marine Carries Broadwater

BTH Marine was built around the idea that serious anglers deserve a dealer who understands the water they fish. The Keys backcountry is one of the most technically demanding fishing environments in the world, and the boats that work here need to be chosen carefully.

Broadwater earned its place in the BTH Marine lineup because the hull performs and the build quality reflects a standard we stand behind. When Tommy Hofstetter and the BTH Marine team evaluated what to carry for backcountry anglers, Broadwater was the answer.

Order Your Broadwater Through BTH Marine

Broadwater builds to order. If you are ready to talk through what a custom Broadwater looks like for your fishing and your spec, BTH Marine is the place to start that conversation.

Stop by the marina at 97951 Overseas Hwy in Key Largo, call (786) 882-7969, or browse the Broadwater page online. The team will walk you through the process from spec to delivery.