Fish and ski boats are open recreational powerboats, typically 5–8 metres, designed to switch between fishing use and watersports towing within the same hull and deck layout. The combination targets owners who want one versatile boat for multiple activities rather than a type-specific design optimised for only one purpose.
The deck configuration accommodates both uses: swivel fishing seats, rod holders, and under-deck tackle storage coexist with a towing pylon or arch and a cockpit layout that converts for passengers watching a water skier. Livewells are typically included. The compromise is that a fish and ski boat does neither task as well as a dedicated design: a purpose-built bass boat will have more fishing-optimised deck features, and a dedicated ski or wake boat will produce a better tow wake. For owners whose use is genuinely split between both activities and who use a single boat, the dual-purpose layout is practical; for those who primarily do one or the other, a type-specific design is likely more appropriate.
Hull construction is fibreglass or aluminium, with fibreglass more common in the US market and aluminium dominant in northern European and Scandinavian fishing-boat markets. Hull forms are moderate-V for a balance of rough-water ability and fuel economy. Propulsion is outboard — typically a single high-output four-stroke unit — or inboard with a direct-drive or V-drive shaft, the latter used on designs where a tow-sport wake is a priority and outboard prop exposure near swimmers is undesirable.
