duck boat

[follow maggie]

I've started duck hunting this year and have learned you need a boat to be successful.  Is a flat bottom boat, like a 17' jon, safe on the potholes in bad weather?  I like the flat bottom for stability while shooting and getting the dog in and out, but don't want to swim back to the dock on a nasty winter day. Any tip would be appreciated.

[ghgetter]

Ha...welcome to the "holy crap I need a ton of stuff to do this sport" part of your life. A 17' flatbottom boat would be a great all around boat. If the wind starts blowing at Potholes a 27' boat can feel like a dingy so I wouldn't base my purchase soley on that. You really need to dial in on the major areas you will be hunting to figure out what size boat. If you hunt the salt water a bunch then a bigger set up is needed. If you like being mobile then something you can put in your truck might fit a little better. In all reality...you need a bigger (17') boat and a small little sneak boat for those hard to reach spaces. Tell your wife I am sorry. Just focuse on what/where you will be hunting the most and go from there. Good Luck!

[sisu]

   so true

[Wack-N-Stack]

I use a 17' older Alumaweld flatbottom sled w/a new 90hp Merc Jet. It is a perfect boat for me. Very stable to shoot from and handles angry water. In fact was out this year at Skagit and the coast on their biggest winds. Not to say you don't need a little wisdom along with your competence.  it's the best duck hunting purchase I've made. Fishes good too.

[shoot4Boone]

good advice here... go with what will fit the area you hunt most and adapt outside of your area.  I hunt inland waters and got a 14 foot Lowe modified V love it to death.  my mistake was buying an old motor cuz I couldn't afford a new one.  well... long story short it froze up in cold weather on the day I would have hit all green and banded - haha.  I know sacrifice tho start with what you can afford an build on it.  it's not worth going into debt for.

[FrankDown]

I think that it is duck hunters that overload their boats the most and die as a result.  You will have a lot of stuff with you.  Most of the bulk is often dekes.  Regardless of what boat you get use some common sense and dont overload your boat or take too many risks.   Ive done some stupid stuff I wont ever do again duck hunting.  I havent used a jon boat here but did in the south and the midwest with lots of success and fun.

Once I was coming across a large lake in a flatbottom boat bucking the wind hitting into the waves.  I got soaked before I could get to the ramp, and the water was freezing solid on my pants and had iced over my pants before I got to the boat ramp.  Luckily it was too cold to let it soak close to my skin through my inner layers so I didnt get that cold.  I had too much stuff in the front and didnt leave when I knew I should have.  I couldnt stop and move stuff further back so I had to keep going.  It could have been much worse if I had waited longer etc.

[TheHunt]

Here is what I have found that works the best for fishing and hunting.

18 foot fully welded boat.    Any larger would be too big to turn around in a busy river during fishing.  Fully welded is a must for safety as it would leak over long periods of banging on the water.   You can get one at Cabelas for 4,800 dollars. 

Side height is very important...   21 inches is about the lowest I would go.   The best would be 26 inches high.   

The min bottom thickness is .100...

As for buying a sled that is the best idea.  If you can afford it buy one.  Just remember as the others what best works for the rivers you will hunt.  And I will tell you once you start the hunting the fishing will be next...   

[follow maggie]

thanks for the tips, guys. Lucky for me, boat shopping is fun!

[TheHunt]

I have been looking as well.  It is fun and what a time to start looking.

[GEARHEAD]

i might be selling one. I'm at work, but can post picture later if interested. its a 17 ft Almar lite Sled. powered by a 2005 40hp prop, Merc 4stroke, that really hauls, and is super on gas. has vinyl shadow grass siding. has lots of extras of course both duck and fishing related. we got it for duck hunting but have only used it for salmon. we use it just 2 months outa the year. its in super condition, may want $7,000.

[kbyers]

My recomendation is about the same as TheHunt's.  18 foot welded.  The 2 biggest decisions that you will have to make are the engine and the bottom of the boat. 

Do you want need a jet or will a prop work.  Jets are great,  I love mine.  I mostly run up the Yakima and the Hanford Reach.  I can run in 6 inches of water.  But if you run lakes or rivers that don't get real shallow, then you really don't need a jet.  A few thing to remember with a jet.  You lose about 1/3 of the rated HP 90 becomes a 60, 150 becomes a 100.  Also fuel economy compared to a prop isn't even close.

The bottom of the boat is another important choice.  The flatter the bottom the shallower you can run, and the more stable it will be.  The negative is that it becomes a very rough ride.

Another important choice is center console vs. tiller vs. windshield.  It is harder to put a boat blind on one with a windshield, but that is not a problem if you don't plan on hunting out of the boat.  Also it is a lot warmer.  You know that it is cold when your waders freeze during a 10 minute ride between the blind and the launch.  I got a center console because that is what I found, but I have thought about converting it to a tiller steer and removing the console because the increase in room would be really nice.

Here are some pictures of my boat so that you can get some ideas.
1986 Alumaweld 18ft
150 hp merc jet
8 hp merc kicker
Picked it up last spring for 8,000

[TheHunt]

You are right...  That is the boat to own.  I agree the tiller steer is the best setup.  You got a good deal.

[AWS]

I run a highly modified 14' jon and use it everywhere Greys Harbour, Willapa, Skagit and the Potholes.  I carry  gear to spent the night if I have to.  I've been running this boat since 1976 and decked it over in 2004.





It's pretty hard to swamp this rig as it will only take water into the cockpit area and the aft part of the boat has extra floatation under the deck and with the front cargo area filled with decoyes it floats like a cork.

AWS

[NWTFhunter]

sweet build AWS ! thats what I want right there.

[TheHunt]

AWS,
What does it look like with the blind up?  Or I should ask how do you hunt out of it?  How many can hunt out of it?

[C-Money]

I wolud say a 14' boat with a deep V hull and a 9.9hp would be a safe place to start. Remember, once you start loading two hunters, a pile of decoys and a dog, you are getting heavy. Potholes can sure get VERY rough in a hurry. Have fun!

[AWS]

I ususally hunt alone and and have an angled backboard in the cockpit and sit down in it, the dog either sits between my legs or lays on the deck beside me.  I either pull it into a cut or alongside the bank as shown. Because it is so low it is virtually invisible to ducks.  In an area where there is some cover we just run it into the coverand sit on the deck.  At the Potholes we run it into the willows parallel to the water and use a bassfishing seat in the  front and I stand in the rear with the dog.

AWS

[C-Money]

Ask Spur_Ride about a full load of decoys, 3 hunters and a dog in a 12' aluminum. ........