Boat blind project

[hntrspud]

First of all I think that I am going to name this boat "Tater Tot". What do you think? Cuz Im spud yunno. Anyway, here it is in all its glory. I am building a pvc frame for it with doors, using green garden fencing from HD, and raffia grass and moss. What do you think? Any suggestions are appreciated.

[seth30]

That cigar and flannel shirt will really fool those ducks

[kglacken]

looks good  but I see one problem with it.... it looks too comfortable  I would end up sleeping through the morning 

[D-Rock425]

Looks good

[hntrspud]

looks good  but I see one problem with it.... it looks too comfortable  I would end up sleeping through the morning 

  I wanted to fall asleep when he was taking the pictures. It is comfy! If I fall asleep maybe more ducks will come in. 

[h2ofowlr]

It looks good.  You may want to close down the top some as it is fairly wide open by your head.  Place another tee in the top section in the middle of the straight run.  Run another straight up toward the end of the boat where your head is in then run it into another tee that would be attached to your anchor points of your other tees.  This would allow you to better conceal the upper portion of your body and face along with making it stronger.  It would only add a slight amount of weight.  You may find that once you place it in the water that the bow will sit up to high, so you will be laying downhill which will take some great abdominal muscles or you won't get the shot off very good.  You may find that you have to 180 the blind.  With the pontoons sticking out past your head, it will center your mass better in the boat.  It's way easier to shoot if your body as a whole is slightly elevated.

Sorry for my rough quick drawing.  Just an idea.

[Skillet]

Cool!!  I love stuff like this.

My suggestions would be to build up the transom a bit (that water is COLD when it goes down your neck!), and put a peak in the bow cover so you have a little room to move and keep your feet straight.  Like this (red squiggles means remove material):

[LndShrk]

Great Idea.

Some lessons I have learned from very similar build.

PVC is flexible and when brushed up will be tougher to open quickly with the flex. I recommend some cross sections to stiffen.

PVC will crack and break in cold weather. (usually only a problem if exposed to frozen temps for more than 2 consecutive days)

[elk247]

Great suggestions guys. Spud you are hardcore man. 

[Skillet]

I'm going to second h20fowlr's suggestion of turning it around.  When you anchor up, you'll want to have the wind at your back, meaning you'll be anchoring by the stern in your current config.  The stern isn't meant to deal with oncoming water nearly as well as the bow is.  Much safer (and drier) anchoring by the bow eye...

[SquirrelHunter]

I have a similar boat but I kept the seats in it and did a scissor style blind with a top that flips open, I used all electrical conduit for the frame followed by a layer of cheap camo tarp and then my blind material, stays dry and warm when we put a heater in it

[hntrspud]

Ok, so based on all of your suggestions, you may be right. I will turn it around. I will take H2O suggestion and build it up a bit around my head. Skillet, I LOVE that idea, helps me out in more than one area. LndShrk, all over the braces, great idea! PVC does crack, but have used it before on the larger duck boat my family has and we havent had to many issues.

I have a similar boat but I kept the seats in it and did a scissor style blind with a top that flips open, I used all electrical conduit for the frame followed by a layer of cheap camo tarp and then my blind material, stays dry and warm when we put a heater in it

I thought about that, but I dont want a trailer, want it low profile, and most people I hunt with have a boat also.

I will post pics as I go here. Headed over east for the weekend so the blind will have to wait for monday. Thanks you guys!!!!!

[Brad Harshman]

Youve gotten some great advice already. But Don't underestimate the weight when its grassed up and WET.  Build the frame to handle more weight than you think.  Id avoid PVC. Im pretty happy with with my blind made from 3/4" dia. EMT.  Invest in zip ties from amazon.  You'll need them when it comes time to grass up.  Check this stuff out as a backer material.  I love it.