Marsh Rat Boat/Blind

[SurfingScooter]

I was wondering if anyone has a Marsh Rat single man.  Me and my buddies are looking at either buying a three man jet boat, or getting single man setups.  I noticed the Marshrat online and it looked like a pretty good little boat, it looked as though you could use it as a field blind as well.  The places we hunt have some pretty shallow spots and sometimes its been difficult to push through the underwater brush in the leaky three man aluminum, so I was hoping the Marshrat had some pretty good clearance.  Also considering going out in the salt water, but not sure if the Marsh Rat would be to safe for that?   Just looking for some advice thanks guys.

Scooter

[h2ofowlr]

I have a Marsh Rat and an Aqua Pod.  They are both good for keeping low profile out in the water.  I transport them around in my larger sled.

[AWS]

My partner has had one for a few years and it's a nice rig.  I built a transom and oarlocks for it and he ran it out to the tidal flats at the mouth of a few rivers on the coast.  I don't think I'd use it out in big water unless I had a tender close by, but around the edges it would be fine.

I just swapped him for it, he's gotten into upland pretty heavy and doesn't get out  duck hunting as much.  That's one thing about swapping with a buddy, if you need it you can always borrow it back.

AWS

[Special T]

Got a buddy with an aqua pod... pretty good rig... if all 3 are hunting together then mabe not but if 2 at a time...yep they are awesome... if you bring 0-1 dogs us aquapods if your bingin 3 guys and more dogs use a boat for the circus.

[terrellwa]

Here is my layout boat it will hide easily and will be comfortable when laying out waiting for the ducks and geese.

[washingtonmuley]

I love my marsh rat. The customer service from mallard marine is awesome as well.

[adam.WI]

I love my marsh rat. The customer service from mallard marine is awesome as well.

agreed, I would recommend them to anyone.

[follow maggie]

I've been thinking about one, as well.  How well do they work with a dog?

[adam.WI]

I've been thinking about one, as well.  How well do they work with a dog?

The rats are pretty small for a dog to actually shoot out of safely, I would look at other brands if I was to bring the dog in the boat. I wouldn't want to shoot over the pup's head and blow her ear drums out.

[follow maggie]

That's a good point, Adam.  I'll look at getting one to get places and stand in the shallow water to shoot.

[nwlynx22]

As with h20 I use mine in conjuction with a larger sled. On good calm days they are pretty deadly.

[SurfingScooter]

Yeah I had never heard of the Aquapod until this thread.  The aquapod and Marsh Rat look almost the same.  Which Aquapod do most have?  They have a 8ft or 10ft in a explorer, 10ft seeker, or 10ft sport version.  I want to make sure when I get one that I get the right size for shallow water without a dog. 

[h2ofowlr]

Yeah I had never heard of the Aquapod until this thread.  The aquapod and Marsh Rat look almost the same.  Which Aquapod do most have?  They have a 8ft or 10ft in a explorer, 10ft seeker, or 10ft sport version.  I want to make sure when I get one that I get the right size for shallow water without a dog. 

I have an old 8' one and a newer 10' aqua pod.  They are made in Ridgefield, Washington.  A lot of guys end up going with the Marsh Rat as they are a lot less money.  If money isn't an issue the aqua pod is a better set up.

[adam.WI]

Yeah I had never heard of the Aquapod until this thread.  The aquapod and Marsh Rat look almost the same.  Which Aquapod do most have?  They have a 8ft or 10ft in a explorer, 10ft seeker, or 10ft sport version.  I want to make sure when I get one that I get the right size for shallow water without a dog. 

I have an old 8' one and a newer 10' aqua pod.  They are made in Ridgefield, Washington.  A lot of guys end up going with the Marsh Rat as they are a lot less money.  If money isn't an issue the aqua pod is a better set up.

Agreed, but not $500 better. My buddy has a pod and I have a rat. I keep up with him just fine on a 1 1/2 mile paddle and I usually have more decoys, I may use a little more energy getting there though. I dealt with Mallard Marine and they are great people. I strongly recommend the rat. You wont be disappointed.

[h2ofowlr]

Something to keep in mind between the two boats as I have both the Marsh Rats and aqua pods.  The Marsh Rat new generation boats of plastic resin get soft in the direct sun light.  Where the aqua pods are fiberglass.  I had my Marsh Rat sitting in my sled upside down on one of the warm days and the cockpit rolled in.  It took some work to get it back to normal.  You have to have a shady spot, shop or garage to store the Marsh Rats.  The new marsh rats are light, but not like the old fiberglass Marsh Rats.
If you do have some of the older ones, they didn't have floatation.  They do provide that now and will send floatation to those that don't for free as the old owner of Mallard Marine died from hypothermia due to his Marsh Rat capsizing down in Tillamook Bay if I recall correctly.