Brett Martina running the beach in his Marathon

Flats Nation Takes a Closer Look at the Hell’s Bay Marathon

October 3, 2026October 3, 2026

The Hell’s Bay Marathon recently received an in-depth look from Flats Nation, with a new feature examining where the skiff fits into the technical shallow-water market and what separates it from other models in the Hell’s Bay lineup.

Titled “Hell’s Bay Marathon: The Technical Skiff Built to Run,” the article approaches the Marathon from the perspective of anglers whose fishing days often involve more than simply poling a protected flat.

HB Marathon Skiff Racing Across Open Water

The feature explores the Marathon’s ability to cover open water, deal with changing conditions and longer runs, then transition back into the shallow-water environment expected of a technical poling skiff.

That combination has always been central to the Marathon’s mission.

At 17 feet 8 inches with a relatively narrow 73-inch beam, the Marathon packages a sharper forward entry, integrated spray rails and open-water capability into a platform still intended for sight-fishing and technical shallow-water use. Current construction incorporates Carbon Innegra, vacuum-infused Core Cell, carbon-fiber stringers and vinyl ester resin

Looking Back at the Marathon’s Roots:

One of the more interesting parts of the Flats Nation feature is its look at the Marathon’s design heritage.

Rather than treating the Marathon simply as another variation of a traditional technical poling skiff, the article examines its connection to the Hell’s Bay Biscayne and the rough-water characteristics that influenced the Marathon’s development.

That history helps explain why the Marathon occupies such a distinctive place in the lineup: a technical skiff designed for anglers who may need to cover considerable distance or cross exposed water before reaching the areas they intend to fish.

A Skiff Built Around the Entire Fishing Day:

The article also takes a closer look at the Marathon’s fishing layout, construction, available rigging choices, 28-gallon fuel capacity and its roots in high-speed tarpon and tournament fishing.

Rather than concentrating solely on specifications, Flats Nation looks at how those elements come together in practical use — from running across open bays to shutting down, grabbing the push pole and beginning the hunt.

As the article puts it:

“Sometimes reaching skinny water requires crossing some decidedly un-skinny water first.”

That may be one of the simpler ways to describe the Marathon’s purpose.

Insight From Captain Brett Martina:

The feature also includes photography and background from Captain Brett Martina of Apalach Inshore, one of the captains involved in the Marathon’s original design and development.

His involvement provides additional historical context to a skiff he has spent years fishing in the conditions it was intended to handle.

Combined with extensive Marathon photography, the result is one of the more complete independent looks at the model and the thinking behind it.

Read the Full Flats Nation Feature:

For anglers considering the Marathon — or simply interested in the design philosophy behind a technical skiff built for both the run and the fishing once you arrive — the complete article is available at Flats Nation.

Read: Hell’s Bay Marathon: The Technical Skiff Built to Run

For current specifications, standard equipment and additional information on the Marathon, visit the Hell’s Bay Marathon model page or contact the Hell’s Bay sales team.