I have been on the hunt for an used duck boat and i found a fiberglass skuller and it was a good deal- i have the oar- but no idea how too run it!!! i just go in circles- or backwards!!!!!!! anyone know how to skull or know some one who does? I live in southern maine- ps- i did get 2 geese while sitting in it!!!! Thanks---
I went out with a friend years ago. He used a motor to get us out into position, wind/tide, etc. Then he would use the paddle and make a figure 8 pattern with it to "skull" us along towards the birds. I've have also seen guys use a trolling motor.
i saw the youtube video- and i think it will help- but he is looking over the back of the boat? i thought about a trolling motor- but is that legal? its alot harder than it loo :help:
ks-haaaa
Having the motor is not illegal to get from point A to pint B
However-
From the 2013-2014 Federal Regulations:
Restrictions: No person shall take migratory game birds:
•By means or aid of any motor driven land, water, or air conveyance, or any sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of any migratory bird.
As to the electric motor...you can NOt use it to have any forward motion on the baot at the time you fire, unless chasing a cripple. T sneak on ducks under any power by motor is illegal...but by HAND you can scull or paddle as close as you can get. And yes, with the elctric motor, you must register the boat.
Pretty sure you can't shoot at cripples under power either, unless you're on the ocean or tide water, downstream from the first upstream bridge from the ocean.
I'm a sculler. I have a couple sculling floats (the generally accepted term for your boat).
In the above posted video, the best view of the oar blade movement is at about 4:30. But, of course, that guy is facing the wrong direction, and he's not on his back. A better look at a somebody sculling on waterfowl can be found here:
It's difficult to explain how to do it, but I will give it a go. Start with the blade of the oar horizontal and directly behind the float. If you've ridden a motorcycle, I like to say twist the oar like a throttle as you push across your chest. At the end of the stroke, let the blade flatten out again to cut through the water with no resistance as you begin to pull back across your chest. Then twist the oar in the opposite direction on the pull for your power. Let the blade flatten again as you star your push. Repeat many thousands of times.
The only variable is whether your oar is made to be flat-side up or flat-side down. On a flat-side down oar, the resistance and power comes with downward pressure as you are pushing and pulling. On a flat-side up, it's upward pressure. The hunter in the video I linked to looks like he has a flat-side up, judging by the figure 8 motion of his hand. With FSD, the figure 8 goes one way, and goes the other way with FSU.
Keep all movement below the gunnels. Keep your blade under the surface of the water. The hardest part when beginning is avoiding any rocking motion of the boat. Ripples give you away for sure. Good luck and practice, practice, practice.
One of the best skullers in maine -Buster Prout in Bowdoinham -in his 80's or Don, down near wells 2nd best-has the camp at ratchel Carlson he's on here some where -pm me later i'll find him for you ..where did you buy it ??
My neighbor has one for sale-glass over wood--excellent shape -a 1947 Froggy Wilson. always been inside w. small 2.2-3 hp Merc, w trailer. so clean close to new--retired lobsterman -his working boat you could eat off the floor--older guys keep their equipment in perfect shape -pm me for Phone contact-price not sure ??--
Practice. It's like a 8. The slice down with the oar is sideways then the up is like a scoop, w the oar flat. A flex able oar I think is more helpful and a decent keel
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