Let's Talk Duck Boats!

[gallion_t]

First off mods if this should be in the power sports forum please feel free to move it.

I've been casually browsing duck boats. Either something thats ready to hunt, or something I can get cheaper and camp up and put a blind and lights on. That being said I have never duck hunted from a boat before so im having a hard time nailing down what I should really be looking for. I'm hoping all of you guys who have done it before and maybe been through a couple boats figuring out what works best can give me some insights.

Flat bottom vs V-hull?
Im thinking 14-16ft for stability and concealment, but still bring able to store it in my garage.
Stern drive or console?
Anything else I should look for when shopping?

Im trying to keep this on the cheaper side with a budget of roughly $3k.

I'll mostly be hunting the Columbia around the tri cities. Maybe the pot holes occasionally as well.

This will be a dedicated duck boat. I already have a summer fun boat and my parents do the snowbird thing so I get their fishing boat during the fall for the salmon run.

Thanks everyone!

[Stein]

I went through a similar thought process and my thoughts were:

Flat if you need to run it shallow, V otherwise.
Tiller steer prop for sure.

In that price range, you're looking at a smaller boat, so weight capacity is a huge deal when you are loading a couple guys, dogs, guns, tons of junk.  Freeboard is also a consideration on bigger water.

[gallion_t]

Thats what im not really sure of. Where i hunt now is really shallow, but thats because it needs to be. I dont have a boat or a dog so retrieving birds is on me. I almost always hunt solo. Maybe once or twice a year I have someone with me.

Most ofbtye console boats ive looked at have been more open at flat in the middle compared to the bench seat across which I like. Plus they've generally had a little bigger motor.

[KP-Skagit]

I have a 16 foot G3 with a 25 horse tiller steer on it. It hunts 2+dog very comfortably so if you are planning to solo hunt you could probably go smaller. It has bench seats with removable boat seats mounted on top.

One consideration is seating. The benches are kind of cumbersome and the removable seats are set in good locations for running, not shooting. I usually sit on a bucket between the benches for better mobility and I can center my weight in the boat easier that way as well. I would vastly prefer a totally open boat with some more robust movable chairs. With that, I think I could also easily hunt 3+dog.

Hunting out of a boat is a different animal. I love it but I hate it. Everything is moving all the time, putting out and picking up decoys while being blow around is a chore, especially when solo. I am fortunate I have a dog because I cannot imagine having to motor out through the decoys after every bird. Not to dissuade you, just some of the realities. Using the boat to get yourself somewhere to hunt is some times a better option.

I will keep my mouth shut on v hull versus flat bottom since I don't know that water. I hunt tidal areas so a flat bottom boat is nice, just in case things dry out while you are anchored.  That said, mine has a prop so I still have limitations when running and find myself poling through stuff all the time.

For blinds on a budget I built a frame from PVC pipe and then zip tied a bunch of tiki bar material (woven bamboo mesh) I got off amazon. All cost me about 200 bucks. I set it up so you could lower it down when you are running.

[Special T]

If you run a prop hunting buy one of these. I have them on every boat i own.  They are about 1.5x the price of a new prop depending, and worth every penny!

http://propsavers.com/river-runner/

[medic6]

I did this four years ago.  Bought a 15.5 smoker craft with 15hp new motor.  Put plywood  on the deck to make it flat for walking. I built a blind for it, added  some led flood light and bang hunting ducks. That being said I now prefer to use the boat to gain get access and build a blind and stash the boat. If u had more money and a 17-18 foot boat then maybe, but as stated earlier I (my group) like blind building vs shooting from a small boat.  Just having the boat is a win.   

[gallion_t]

Thats something I'm kinda thinking about too
 Using the boat to gain access to places and hide it in the reeds or brush. That said id still like to be able to hunt out if it if the situation calls for it.

[HooknoseHunter]

At the time I didn’t have the funds for a “real” duck boat so I bought a 1977 16ft Hewescraft River Runner and trailer from Pend Oreille county for $800. I spent the next winter making it into something usable. It was just a bare boat without a floor or seats. I haven’t painted it camo yet but I plan on ripping out the blue carpet I installed and putting down either bedliner or black carpet. It came custom order from Hewescraft as a tiller model but you can find something remote steer and make it into a tiller. It has a very wide beam and only has a slight V. Probably closer to a flat bottom as opposed to a mod-v. It still cuts through waves just fine and is very stable. Good luck in your search. If you are willing to put in some work you can make something nice.

[gallion_t]

Looks great so far! Thats kind of what I want to do. One of my buddies did something similar to a older smokercraft. I wouldn't mind doing something similar.

[gaddy]

Tri-Cities or Pot holes Id run a wider shallow draft v-hull with a console and high sides. Power trim would be nice but I have different size dowels cut for trim going into shallow water. Depth finder is a must. I have a 14' sea nymph with a 25 on it and can get anywhere I need and still be able to handle the water when the weather comes up,
 ( mostly, have had to wait out the weather a time or three or more ) Total camo paint inside and out, my pattern is as I see the brush along the river, not the typical camo stuff. I usually stash the boat but have run it into the brush or under a tree and threw brush or reeds over it, used the steering wheel as a back rest and done well that way when I have to set deep or where the birds want to be with no blind location.

[ASHQUACK]

I've had a bunch,  the absolute most versatile was a semi-v john with a jet. Worked well for both sides of the state. Started with a 10' livingston,, then a 16 jon, then an 18 jon, then a 18 dedicated sled (supervee) and lastly a 20 supervee. The best of the bunch for ducks was the jon boats. Just sold the 20 v because it sat for 10 months last year. I will most likely buy another jon but likely not until I retire.

[metlhead]

Stay with the semi-V hull. Flat bottoms will beat you up i heavy water. If you have time and can be creative, find a 16' glass hull laying in a yard. Most will be given to you. Put the money in the trailer and engine. My next project boat is an 18' Sunseeker pontoon boat. Gonna make a killer platform for 5 guys.

[Special T]

I think part of it depends on the kind of hunting you plan on. I have hunted the Columbia where we packed 6 guys in a huge 24 ft boat to the hunting area and hunted from shore as the water went down. used an aqua pod to mess with decoys make hard retrieves dog couldn't, and get back to the big boat anchored in deeper water.  Ive also hunted from 16-18ft semivee john boats 2 guys and a dog in smaller water, potholes and calm Columbia and that stuff was epic. not to mention the carp shooting platform that that semi vee was!

[KB88]

I would look for a valco or the newer west coaster. They are super wide, tall, stable and came in a variety of lengths and styles. They can be both cheap and expensive. I have owned 5 of them. All my hunting partners run them and we all have different styles. 14ft v hull is amazing. However if your solo the 10-12’ can be an absolute blast.

I once ran a 15hp Merc on an 8ft Jon boat and it was absolutely nuts… only needed to do that once.

[gallion_t]

I wish I knew what kind of hunting I would be doing. Im mostly self learning with a little help from friends and some great pointers here. Just really don't know what to expect come duck season in a boat.