What kind of boat do you guys use for duck hunting?

[lewiss009]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a boat for duck hunting. My criterion are as follow: It was to be manageable for one person, must be able to camouflage it, preferably low cost to use it. Stupid easy to operate, and very stable. I was looking at the aqua pod boats, www.aquapodboats.com , but i find they are too expensive. A canoe crossed my mind but I'm not a very stable person, and if i were to take that more on open water, I'm be worried of tipping it over. I'd like to hear your suggestions and what you think would work best.

Thanks

Lewis

 

[looch]

What would work best versus what is available in the retail wasteland that is Canadian sporting goods are 2 completely different things. If you can stand to wait the 5-10 years, what is available now in the US could potentially be available then. Otherwise, get in your car and drive to one of the manufacturers in the US. That's right - even if the boat you want is listed at ####'s or Gander Mountain, you will notice that upon reading the fine print that a) they don't stock these, b) they are shipped directly from the manufacturer), and c) they won't ship to store for local pick up.

The next thing would be to build your own. Again, though, what our southern friends can accomplish via a leisurely stroll through the local Home Depot turns out to be a test of your shopping resourcefulness.

I bought a jon boat off of craigslist. And even then, I had to buy it in the states because of the delusional pricing from which both our new and used markets suffer. It's a 10' Smokercraft with Minn Kota 35 and battery - cost me $200. I'll probably need to spend twice that in fuel and energy sourcing an appropriate aluminum primer.

 

[Thinking]

For solo hunts I use an Old Town Predator 14 kayak. Light, stable and room for me, my dog, a dozen decoys and my gear. When I get to my spot I shove the bow end into the reeds, my dog sits on the stern deck, and I typically hunt from the water in my waders.

 

[IH8ATTN]

In the process of converting my jon boat into a duck boat aswell. Going to have removable poles so I can hang camo material over and conceal the whole boat....still looking for how I am going to do it but have some good ideas.

 

[sherlockbonez]

I use a 14 aluminum with a 15hp 4 stroke.

 

[lewiss009]

Hey "thinking", have you ever tried hunting from the kayak itself? I want to hunt on lakes also and the depth won't permit me to get out of the boat. Have you ever tried hunting from the kayak and if so, is it stable enough?

 

[medvedqc]

For solo hunts I use an Old Town Predator 14 kayak. Light, stable and room for me, my dog, a dozen decoys and my gear. When I get to my spot I shove the bow end into the reeds, my dog sits on the stern deck, and I typically hunt from the water in my waders.

really nice and lovely dog.

 

[david doyle]

If you like the aquapod check out 'hybrid duck boats' a 10 ' DE double ender might be perfect for you. Flat bottom and almost 4 feet wide so stabiity would be high. Ignore the epoxy and fibreglass constuction and build it with wood chines and 14 buck a sheet 1/4 ply. Should cost under 100 bucks to get a hull in the water. If you decide you like the design you can build a second one with all the toxic expensive adhesives and coating. Really no need to though just out a slight bend in the bottom and it will firm us as much as the fibreglass coated ones everyone heralds. Longevity of theboat might be shortened but it also might not (debate for anouther forum)

In my own boat shop I have recently gone to Skin on Frame construction for duck boats. Cheapest, lightest boats you can build/get. Got a 14 foot scull and 10 foot layout boat started. I'll be able to carry one on each shoulder.

Another option I read alot about guys doing on the internet is converting little fibreglass sail boats like the sunfish/lazer etc to duck boats. Low profile, unsinkable......

You did not mention what kind of water you want to hunt?

 

[Thinking]

really nice and lovely dog.

Thank you

 

[meatsticks]

14 aluminum with 15hp. Best combo of size, speed and safety. I am partial to modified v hulls as a do all workhorse.

 

[david doyle]

Meat stick is right on the mark for 14 foot aluminum being a nice bench mark for saftey. We hunt alot out of a 16 foot dory that is comparable with the exception that it offers a bit better shallow water performance. With a pole I can move 2 people and gear in a mud water slurry with an inch or two of water above it.

It really depends on what water you are hunting. IMHO getting the boat in and out of the water is the first consideration to the duck hunting mariner, how to move the boat to where the ducks are is second, how to hide the boat 3rd and a compromised 4th is comfort. Really no one boat is 'perfect' I got a yard FULL of boats and I still need more and I am constantly altering existing boats to conditions. Just the other night I was painting white primer on a hull at 2 am to make a little kayak the 'perfect' ice hunting boat. Got 3 hours of shooting out of it and come next sept I'll be painting again.

 

[lewiss009]

Hey david doyle, I want to hunt on lakes and small marshes, where the depth can range from 10' or 5'. I want to be able to go anywhere. Those hybrid duck boats seem awesome. Thanks for the tip.

 

[horseshoe]

I had an old 13" Thornes fishing boat that had been sitting unused ever since the wife and I bought our new boat. A quick coat of paint and some electrical conduit bent into a frame, and voila! Duck boat.

I'm still working on some logistical issues, like where to keep my dog so she can see, etc., but it works. Had a 20hp on it, replaced it with a 6hp Johnson. It's not going to win any speed records with 2-3 grown men, dog, decoys, gear etc.

These type of boats can be found for cheap all the time.

 

[david doyle]

Lewiss009, if you are interested in them there is a link below for a thread on refuge forum that has been raging for 5 years about the hybrd line of boats. Now here is the rub though, the way they are being built with 2-3 gallons of epoxy is pure retardedness IMHO they end up weighing way too much and costing many, many hundreds of dollars. Instead of using stitch and glue a guy can use a wood chine (1 dollar versus 100 dollars) Simpler, cheaper and 2 hours work versus a weekends. Instead of stiffening the bottom with 4 layers of glass (LOL) put a couple bottom protecting skegs on the outside and couple transverse members on the floor spaced so that they hold a comfy close cell foam seat.

If you are keen on building small duck boats do your self a favor and research Skin on Frame construction. One of those hybrids could be made for under 50 bucks, weigh maybe 25 pounds and have a round bottom which would dramatically increase usefulness. (basically make a decked pram with low sides)

http://ww w.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=602498

 

[Cinch]

If an Aquapod is too expensive then your only alternative is going to be a second hand canoe. After picking up a Aquapod Sport (rotomolded) +5 years ago I haven't used my canoe since (for duck hunting). The Aquapods are excellent boats that are lightweight, stable and extremely rugged, built specifically for duck hunting. Take a look at the Aquapod Sport it is less then half the price of the fibreglass version.

 

[david doyle]

wow those plastic aquapods are a crap load of cash for not much. The firbreglass maybe if the web price was FOB your front door and sans tax and they threw in a paddle.


Lewis, a canoe is a good option, if your stability issues are such that practice wont over come them then you could think about outriggers. Basically a couple of small floats that stick out a bit and will 'catch you' if you heel over too far. Really though if you kneel in the near center of a canoe there is not much that can tip you over. When things get dicey in a canoe the seat is the worst place to be LOL.
One of my most useful boats is a 12 foot fibreglass canoe. Light and tough and while not ideal for anything it does everything.

 

[Cinch]

wow those plastic aquapods are a crap load of cash for not much. The firbreglass maybe if the web price was FOB your front door and sans tax and they threw in a paddle.

If I lived in ontario I'd probabley have bought a boat from these guys by now:

http:// bankesboats.com/longpoint.htm

You say plastic Aquapods are expensive and then recommend the glass version or worse yet a Bankes - both are nice boats but much more expensive??? What will the glass Pod do that the plastic Pod won't?

 

[Lead Loader]

i use a canoe, no problems at all

 

[david doyle]

both are nice boats but much more expensive??? What will the glass Pod do that the plastic Pod won't?

You can buy a plastic kayak at walmart for less then 250 bucks that is the near twin of that aquapod. If you have to ask what the glass will do that the plastic wont you have not carried many boats very far or tried to repair/paint plastic. Look at the specs sheet on the web site.

I have never been one to complain about paying top dollar for top quality gear but paying 400% more then the value of a plastic boat just cause it has the aquapod brand name is stupid.

 

[david doyle]

OP:

I was thinking on your boat need today while freezing in a deer stand and I might have missed the obvious. You want stability and economy. Take a look at the Puddle Duck Racers/PDRs. There is lots of info out there and many have been built. They are a far better choice then the Hybrid boats. If you research them you will see the ones with low sides perfect for a sneak boat. They are originally designed to be economy sail boats but they will row pretty good. If you built the basic hull with out the air boxes you'd have a very vesatile and rock solid stable base to shoot from, build a blind on etc.

-Far easier to build, they are designed for wood chines.
-Cheaper to build
-more stable
-Easier to row both because they are wider and because they have rocker/curve to the bottom.
-more stowage space

Below are some pics from the web that might give you some idea of the versatility. For a true duck boat keep in mind that at reasonable wieght she does not put much if any of her transom in the water, that means huge savings in sweat to the oar operator compared to the hybrid and it also means you can shorten the sides alot.

here is one with the sides lowered, imagine it with no sail and flat, ducks would land right in it!

basic hull with 16 inch sides and part deck

If you wanted it partly decked (can't see why but....)

Endless possibilities

Plans are free takes 2 sheets of 1/4 inch ply wood, a 1x10, some tightbond III glue, few nails and hand saw to build