Serving the Emerald Coast since 1980, The Ships Chandler is your premier destination for high-performance fishing and recreational boats, now with locations in both Destin and Freeport. Whether you are looking for a factory-fresh model or a fully customized rig tailored to your exact specifications, we specialize in outfitting anglers and families for the water. Explore our elite lineup of new center consoles and flats skiffs from the industry’s most respected brands: Cobia, Pathfinder, Maverick, Frontier, Hewes, Avid, Pair Customs, and Chittum Skiffs.
Pick a Cobia and Go. We’ve Handled the Rest.
At Cobia Boats, our single-minded obsession is crafting vessels that are exceptionally safe, relentlessly durable, and engineered to maximize every precious second you spend away from the dock. When you look closely at a Cobia, the difference is undeniable. It shines through in our remarkably smart, user-friendly layouts, our master-level craftsmanship, and our uncompromising dedication to using only the highest-quality materials available.
We sweat the smallest details on the factory floor because we know it translates directly to better, more effortless days on the water for you and your family. Our meticulous engineering gives you the ultimate luxury: pure peace of mind. So step aboard, cast off the lines, and go make those unforgettable memories. Experience the freedom of the open water, live your dreams, and discover what lies on the other side of the horizon.
Angler Driven. Pathfinder. #1 For A Reason.
When it comes to building serious fishing boats, one thing is certain…the further a company gets away from understanding what dedicated anglers want in their boats, the more underwhelming their products will be.
The boats created by Pathfinder, on the other hand, are the direct result of concepts and input from an angler-driven design team, pro guide staff, and a loyal core of customers. Each and every model and feature start with the idea of improvement and problem-solving. Pathfinders have been conceived from the ground up. They are not modified designs of existing hulls tricked out with cosmetics and features that don’t work. Pathfinders are focused products born to do one thing…to put dedicated anglers on fish and to do it with comfort and safety with sensible, proven technology and craftsmanship.
Today’s Pathfinder is comprised of five brand new models, each carefully designed for specific inshore and nearshore fishing applications. Whether fishing for tarpon along the coast, redfish in the marsh or trophy freshwater fish like muskies and stripers in big water, Pathfinders meet the challenge with better construction, better components and more features that outperform and outlast in the toughest conditions. That’s why we are still #1 For a Reason.
Pathfinder. Angler Driven.
The Legend. The Genuine Article. Maverick Boats.
When it comes to shallow water skiffs, Maverick didn’t just read the book—they wrote it. For over three decades, the Maverick name has been the undisputed gold standard in flats fishing, synonymous with relentless innovation, uncompromised quality, and bulletproof performance. In an industry crowded with imitators and elevated expectations, Maverick stands alone as the genuine article.
Out on the water, conditions can shift from picture-perfect to punishing in a matter of minutes. Maverick builds boats for fishing in the real world. Engineered with the industry’s most advanced materials, lamination schedules, and cutting-edge construction techniques, these skiffs are designed to power through unpredictable environments. While other boats might eventually get you there, only a Maverick guarantees you will reach those untouched, hard-to-access fishing destinations safely, comfortably, and with total confidence.
The legendary HPX lineup—featuring the hyper-focused 17 HPX-V, the ultra-shallow 17 HPX-S, and the commanding 18 HPX—represents the absolute pinnacle of shallow water versatility. Each model expands upon the original HPX concept to deliver a precision tool tailored for specific angling applications.
Designed by serious anglers for serious anglers, Maverick delivers the ultimate competitive edge. No compromises. No shortcuts. Just the perfect boat for the avid angler.
Fish the legend.
Born from the legendary boat-building pedigree of the Kenner family, Frontier Boats deliver the ultimate blend of aggressive performance, refined comfort, and undeniable value. As the accessible sister to the premium BlackJack line, every Frontier carries the exact same rugged, fish-stalking DNA—but with a versatility that effortlessly transitions from a family cruise to a serious tournament day.
Whether you are sight-casting in the shallow, crystalline flats of the Emerald Coast, cutting across heavy bay chop, or pushing nearshore into the Gulf, a Frontier gives you the confidence of an incredibly smooth, dry ride. Boasting sweeping casting decks, an ultra-shallow draft, and an exclusive “dry deck” drainage system, models like the nimble Frontier 180 and the commanding 2104 prove you don’t have to compromise to own top-tier craftsmanship.
It is more than just a bay boat—it is your all-access pass to your best days on the water.
Hewes: 60 Years of Unrivaled Innovation and Flats Fishing Perfection.
It takes more than just a good hull to stay at the top of your class for almost six decades—it takes relentless evolution. Today’s Hewes Redfishers perfectly fuse 60 years of legendary boat-building heritage with the absolute latest in space-age materials and advanced construction technologies. The result is a revolutionary ride: a hull design that is undeniably lighter, stronger, shallower, faster, and exceptionally more efficient than anything else on the water.
These vessels are precision instruments, designed for demanding, real-world conditions by professional anglers and seasoned guides, and meticulously hand-built by master boat technicians. You can feel that uncompromising expertise in every tight turn, shallow stalk, and open-water run.
Beyond blistering performance and ultimate versatility, every new Redfisher proudly wears the badge of ABYC certification—the absolute highest safety standard in the marine industry. Remarkably easy to maintain and historically renowned for commanding top-tier resale value, Hewes proves time and time again why it doesn’t just compete in the world of flats boats—it sets the standard.
Avid Boats: The Absolute Pinnacle of Aluminum Performance.Headquartered in Amory, Mississippi, Avid Boats is fiercely redefining the industry standard by engineering the world’s finest aluminum fishing boats. Forget everything you know about the clunky, antiquated aluminum designs of the past. Built by passionate fishermen for uncompromising fishermen, every Avid is meticulously crafted with your ultimate angling experience in mind.
Innovation is poured into every weld and contour. Featuring their sleek, proprietary TruTaper™ gunnels and the aggressive, high-performance ProMaster™ pad hull design, these vessels deliver a ride that is incredibly smooth, remarkably fast, and undeniably tough. Striking the perfect balance between show-stopping aesthetics and hardcore, tournament-ready durability, an Avid boat isn’t just built to withstand the elements—it is engineered to thrill even the most discerning angler. Step aboard and experience the future of aluminum fishing.
Pair Customs: Uncompromising Quality, Built Exactly for You.
At Pair Customs, the mission is simple: deliver a truly superior, custom-built vessel without the untouchable price tag. Renowned for their bulletproof construction, limitless customizability, and jaw-dropping performance, these boats are engineered from the ground up for the serious saltwater angler.
Instead of settling for a cookie-cutter production model, Pair Customs empowers you to tailor every inch of your vessel to your exact fishing style. From aggressive deep-vee hulls designed to slice through punishing offshore seas with supreme confidence, to intelligently optimized deck layouts featuring cavernous storage for your trophy catch and heavy tackle—every detail is a reflection of how you fish.
Whether you are battling heavy chop or running deep into blue water, Pair Customs delivers a rugged, tournament-ready ride built precisely the way you demand it. Experience the rare combination of master-level craftsmanship, personalized design, and unbeatable value.
Chittum Skiffs: The Absolute Pinnacle of Flats Fishing.
When stealth is your greatest weapon and inches of water dictate your success, compromise simply isn’t an option. Chittum represents the absolute apex of top-of-the-line flats skiffs, meticulously engineered for the serious angler who demands nothing less than perfection. Unmatched in its ultra-shallow draft, blistering speed, and whisper-quiet poling, a Chittum allows you to access the most elusive, hyper-shallow waters with total stealth and supreme confidence.
Every inch of a Chittum is purposefully designed to prioritize exceptional maneuverability and rock-solid stability, all while delivering a remarkably dry and incredibly smooth ride. Whether you are silently stalking spooky fish in ankle-deep flats or making an aggressive, high-speed run across a choppy bay, you don’t just do it—you do it better in a Chittum. If your goal is to fish the absolute best, step aboard the ultimate flats machine and leave the competition in your wake.
We are renowned for our out-of-the-box thinking and custom rigging, designing every vessel with your family’s specific needs in mind. We actively choose to partner with brands that allow us to push boundaries and go the extra mile, bypassing factory limitations to deliver a boat that perfectly matches your on-the-water lifestyle.
Your boat belongs on the water, not sitting in a repair yard for weeks. Our dedicated service department operates efficiently by appointment, but we always maintain the flexibility to jump into action when an unexpected emergency arises. We do whatever it takes to ensure your weekend plans are never sidelined.
Time is your most valuable asset. If your schedule is too packed to bring your boat to us for maintenance or upgrades, our mobile team will come directly to you. For a reasonable fee, you can enjoy the ultimate convenience of premium service without ever leaving your home or dock.
As a premier Yamaha package boat dealer, we also proudly sell and service Mercury, Tohatsu, and Suzuki engines. Our parts department is so extensively stocked that other local dealers regularly rely on us to source their own inventory! On the rare occasion we don’t have exactly what you need on the shelf, it is typically ready for pickup the very next day.
As the oldest Yamaha Repower Center in the region, our high-volume expertise speaks for itself. We consistently maintain a flawless 98%–100% Yamaha CSI rating—not by coaching surveys, but through genuine thoughtfulness and elite technical skill. We stock engines from 2.5HP all the way up to 300HP, and proudly serve as a premier Yamaha Outboard Warranty Center.
Did you buy your boat somewhere else and feel left in the dark about how your equipment actually works? We are famous for stepping in where other dealers fall short. We are always happy to walk you and your family through your engine and boat features with zero hesitation—treating you exactly as if you bought the vessel directly from us.
