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Duck Boats

975 views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  loondog 
#1 ·
Saving up for a duck boat but want to start getting educated. What do you current or previous boat owners consider essential? What are noce to have's in a boat? If I'm looking at a long shaft what are watch outs? Ideal horse power etc?
 
#2 ·
Determine the size u want in a boat and motor. How many people u plan on hunting out of it? I have a 14 ft flat bottom. It's wider of what I see in 14 foot boats. I have a 16 HP long shaft mud motor. Two people, 100 decoys and full gear I can scoot around in anything. Three people it slows down but still moves pretty good. 4 people is no go. The guys I've talked to that have a surface drive wish they could go back to a long shaft.
 
#3 ·
I would definitely go with an all welded boat if you can. I've had both riveted and welded and I've had far fewer problems with the all welded. My boat is 15 feet in length and perfect for 2-3 guys, dog and gear and hides up well. I've been in much bigger boats that had lots of extra room, but they were tough to hide well in some of the smaller areas I like to hunt. Utah is long shaft country and I owned a long shaft, then a surface drive and went back to a long shaft. I got so stuck one day out at the bear river with my hyper drive and swore I'd never hunt with it again. That was the last hunt with it before i went back to a long tail.
 
#4 ·
Thanks guys. I have gone out a few times with a guy who has a really "nice" boat. Wide, with a lot of room and surface drive. But it is heavy and we get stuck often. Not really inpressed. I think a narrower lighter long tail would do better. What would be the minimum width you would go on a boat?
 
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