Duck boats

[Commando]

I have been looking at war eagle and excel boats and drooling over them all morning. But with all the different designs with steering I got to thinking. What's the benefit of having a steering wheel for steering vs using the throttle directly to the motor? I really like the steering wheel vs the other one but have noticed the throttle on the motor is more popular. Why is this or is it pretty much personal preference? If you guys where going to get one which way would you go?

[h2ofowlr]

Depends where your running the boat.  I like to be standing by the tiller handle guiding the boat around items in the river.  It also opens the boat up a lot more.  More room inside for gear and people.
Other side like a steering wheel to hold onto incase they hit something, may not kick them out of the boat.  Smaller boats, a steering wheel consumes all your space.  Doing long runs in open water a seat and steering while are probably preferred.

Both boats you mentioned are good boats.  Very similar other than options package.  For what I do, a decent sized open boat is the ticket.  You can place a blind on it.  Throw many bags of decoys if choose or throw in marsh rats, aqua pods, etc.  But I only use my 1860 model for duck hunting anymore.  Some think about multi use applications.

[fowl smacker]

Tiller handle.  Way more room for fishing and hunting.

[Commando]

I'd be using it on the snake. I want to learn the potholes to so I would eventually use it there as well. Ibwas originally thinking of running it to shore and set up a blind somewhere near by but now that I think of it I would put a blind on it and hunt out of it. So console with the wheel would be a no go. I want to use the boat for crabbing as well but II guess how yiubsteer it for crab doesn't matter...

[BigGoonTuna]

I have a front side console boat, doesn't take up much room and you can see whats in front of you.  My controls are about 5 feet from the bow.I don't know why anyone would want one of those rear console boats you see at cabelas, what a waste of space and lousy for weight distribution.

[Pnwrider]

I think a lot of it is personal preference. I prefer remote controls rather than a tiller. I ran a tiller on a 16' jon boat last year. Upgraded to an 18' lund this year and decided to go with a side console at the front of the boat. Still has tons of room and I enjoy driving it much more. 3 years ago I had a 16' center console which was the worse layout for hunting out of. If going with a remote control setup, keeping water out of the cables is necessary when the temps drop. Had to tow someone in with a snapped steering cable. I've also had throttle cables freeze on me.

[Tealer]

I'll never own a steering wheel. Tillers are the only way to go.


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[Commando]

What size outboard would y'all recommend?

[EWUeagles]

What size outboard would y'all recommend?

What is the max HP rated for the boat your going to get? Get that or one bigger haha. You will never hear a guy who owns a boat say man this boat just has way too much HP.

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

My buddies and I hunt almost exclusively using our boats on the Columbia and the Potholes.  I think size of boat/motor more important that steering config. 
We hunt from:
14' tiller steer 25hp Avery Quick set blind
18' rear console 50hp  Custom made pop up blind
21' front console 90hp  Custom made permanent blind
all 4 stroke Mercs

Each has adv/disadvantages.  As you might imagine the 18' gets the most use, but there are times when smaller boat is really nice, and of course the big boat with the permanent blind is nice when you have to make long runs or have a bunch of buddies.

If I was to buy a new duck boat, it'd be a Phowler in a second.   
http://www.phowlerboatcompany.com/

[Netminder01]

Depends where your running the boat.  I like to be standing by the tiller handle guiding the boat around items in the river.  It also opens the boat up a lot more.  More room inside for gear and people.
Other side like a steering wheel to hold onto incase they hit something, may not kick them out of the boat.  Smaller boats, a steering wheel consumes all your space.  Doing long runs in open water a seat and steering while are probably preferred.

Both boats you mentioned are good boats.  Very similar other than options package.  For what I do, a decent sized open boat is the ticket.  You can place a blind on it.  Throw many bags of decoys if choose or throw in marsh rats, aqua pods, etc.  But I only use my 1860 model for duck hunting anymore.  Some think about multi use applications.

Good info.

If you can, drive other boats and go hunt in them before you purchase. Given the price to buy, dollars and hours customizing, it's worth setting up a few hunts with a few different guys with different setups. I sold my 18' Roughneck last year and had it decked out for hunting but also used it for fresh and saltwater fishing. The outboard jet I had was great for fishing but overly heavy for Skagit slews.

- Primary use
- Secondary use
- ideal # of people hunting (+ dogs)

Once you have these things thought through and experiences with different boats (console, jet vs mud motor, MoMarsh, etc) you can figure out what fits the criteria specific to your hunting needs. I can tell you first hand, the pro's to having a semi-V heavier boat was realized in the crappy days I went out. There were not too many windy conditions preventing me from launching either fishing or hunting with my boat but plenty of hunting days I wish I had a Mud Motor.

[Commando]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

[saltwaterhillbilly]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

I run one on my 1448 mv alumacraft and love it I finally broke down put a beavertail flip over boat blind on it, it does great skinny water or out In the sound and rivers only regret is I need a more power but who doesn't


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[Tealer]

I think I'm my whole duck hunting career I have killed like 20? Birds out of a motor boat. I use them to get them to where I want to hunt, not hunt out of them.


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[Commando]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

I run one on my 1448 mv alumacraft and love it I finally broke down put a beavertail flip over boat blind on it, it does great skinny water or out In the sound and rivers only regret is I need a more power but who doesn't


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[/quote

That's something that's innthe back of my mind every time I look at those motors, wanting more power  lol

[334OKH]

I have had several boats and I'm confident in operating all types. But one thing I can't do for long periods of time is to run a tiller. I have had many neck surgeries and it's painful after a while. Thought I'd throw that in. It'd be terrible to run a tiller for a 15 minute test run, buy the yacht and then find out later that it's uncomfortable. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Commando]

Any one ever seen or have any experience with sea ark boats?

[h2ofowlr]

Any one ever seen or have any experience with sea ark boats?

Yes, I own one.  1860 Sea Ark.  I have a 40hp on it.  It's been a good boat.

[lokidog]

I have been looking at war eagle and excel boats and drooling over them all morning. But with all the different designs with steering I got to thinking. What's the benefit of having a steering wheel for steering vs using the throttle directly to the motor? I really like the steering wheel vs the other one but have noticed the throttle on the motor is more popular. Why is this or is it pretty much personal preference? If you guys where going to get one which way would you go?

Tiller models are substantially cheaper than remote models, less things to go wrong and the boat is usually cheaper as well.  Weight distribution can be sucky sitting in the back, but a boat load of decoys will even out the weight.  14' or smaller, I would probably go with the tiller model, larger a side steering wheel.  A center console would not even be on my consideration list unless I was moving to FL. I'm not sure I would want to have a 40 hp motor in my hand, but then I haven't tried them.   

[Badhabit]

This is a true "flat bottom" boat with a 35hp Mud Buddy. It'll get you into some areas at the Potholes that only the airboat can go. It is not a rough water boat, it can handle 2'ers but anyone in the front with loose their fillings.

[Commando]

h20 I saw you posted about the 1860 earlier, for some reason I thought it was a war eagle. I just came across sea ark, never heard of them they are nice boats from what I saw on the web page. I think I am pretty much sold on the tiller after thinking it over it makes the most sense. size of the motor is still out there maybe a 50 I don't know.

[metlhead]

One will find that a tillered motor is much more responsive in tight spots. Remote steering is more comfortable for long runs.

[The Weazle]

What size outboard would y'all recommend?

What is the max HP rated for the boat your going to get? Get that or one bigger haha. You will never hear a guy who owns a boat say man this boat just has way too much HP.

I have owned several boats and I can't agree more with this statement!  I will never, EVER, buy another boat with a motor with less HP than the max recommended by the CG. 

Also, an open boat with a tiller handle is hard to beat.  Unlimited seating configurations, space for crab pots, stand up for shooting without tripping, etc...

[addicted2hunting]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

I run one on my 1448 mv alumacraft and love it I finally broke down put a beavertail flip over boat blind on it, it does great skinny water or out In the sound and rivers only regret is I need a more power but who doesn't


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how quick does it get up on step? I am very interested in the surface drives and am looking at as much info as I can about them.

[saltwaterhillbilly]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

I run one on my 1448 mv alumacraft and love it I finally broke down put a beavertail flip over boat blind on it, it does great skinny water or out In the sound and rivers only regret is I need a more power but who doesn't


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how quick does it get up on step? I am very interested in the surface drives and am looking at as much info as I can about them.

Depends on how big your boat/ motor is and load displacement In the boat but it doesn't take too long with myself and 6 dozen decoys


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[addicted2hunting]

those mud motors are pretty cool. does any one here use them?

I run one on my 1448 mv alumacraft and love it I finally broke down put a beavertail flip over boat blind on it, it does great skinny water or out In the sound and rivers only regret is I need a more power but who doesn't


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how quick does it get up on step? I am very interested in the surface drives and am looking at as much info as I can about them.

Depends on how big your boat/ motor is and load displacement In the boat but it doesn't take too long with myself and 6 dozen decoys


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wow ok... I am eyeballing the gatortail 17 with the 37 hp...

[saltwaterhillbilly]

Buy that sob


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[constructeur]

Buy that sob


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Yeah, what he said 

[Commando]

would a willie sled be to much for the pothole or would it work to get around in there?

[JJD]

Demo'd a Beavertail motor once, all we did was chew up the SS prop.  Most of the water I hunt is rocky rather than mud and weeds.  I went with a regular outboard and a bow mt trolling motor.  Travel near to where I want on outboard motor, then pull into the weeds with the elect.  The Elect chews through the weeds a lot better than I expected, you are not going to plow through long distances of soup with it, but just to pull into shore where you can get covered up, it works fine.
Thought about a jet pump too, they have their place for sure, but are the least fuel efficient propulsion system on the water and they don't like heavy weed cover.
 

[h2ofowlr]

I would have considered a surface drive motor, but where I hunt it is to much sand and it eats up the props or just doesn't cut through it like one would think.  The jet had worked, but the eel grass just clogged it terribly.  I just want with a prop.  This is what they do down in southern Texas, Corpus Christy because of all the sandy bottoms.  Jack plates, shallow water intakes and props.  It probably would work great in the bays up our way.  Next set up will have the jack plate and shallow water intake set up on it.

[Badhabit]

Commando, really most boats will get you into areas in the Potholes that you can hunt, prop, jet, inboards outboards you name it. Just follow the boats the leave a 4 AM they usually know where the birds will be or close to it.