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Crawdad duck boat

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5.3K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  kbooger  
#1 ·
I have a 12 ft crawdad plastic johnboat just sitting around the house. I want to make it into a duck boat for me in like one or two others. Any ideas of what I should get for the boat?
 
#2 ·
Build some kind of low profile blind on it. My friend and I sit on the floor with a camo net and burlap cloth on a low profile bind like the quickset models. Get a real good trolling motor, or if you plan on some distance runs a good 4 to 6 hp outboard. Remember this ain't no bass boat. It will be a slow ride. I attach anchors; old window sash weights to hold position or if up against a brushy shoreline I use some big jumper cable style clips and camo cord to help hold me in place. Hook them up to some decent size limbs and you are good to go. Good luck. :welcome:
 
#6 ·
sell it and pick up a 14+ft jon boat off Craigslist. for some minimal $$ input after selling it you could get a nice 14-16ft jon boat for fairly cheap.

there are lots of flat bottom jons in my area, 14-16ft boats with a trailer and trolling motor for $400-1000

heck I even found one 14ft jon with a trailer, a 9.9HP outboard AND a 3.8HP motor for $650
 
#8 ·
Where your life vests and be willing to lose equipment. I saved two on the south San Francisco bay in perfectly calm water. You had better start praying if your going to use an outboard and three guys...I would use the cheapest throw away shotgun you can find. That set up with three guys is an absolute death trap. You might be able to use in super shallow water. Less than 5 feet. By an aluminum john boat. Sell and save your money. Good luck.
 
#9 ·
adustydawg2 said:
Build some kind of low profile blind on it. My friend and I sit on the floor with a camo net and burlap cloth on a low profile bind like the quickset models. Get a real good trolling motor, or if you plan on some distance runs a good 4 to 6 hp outboard. Remember this ain't no bass boat. It will be a slow ride. I attach anchors; old window sash weights to hold position or if up against a brushy shoreline I use some big jumper cable style clips and camo cord to help hold me in place. Hook them up to some decent size limbs and you are good to go. Good luck. :welcome:
Some good advice there. The only advice I'd take with a grain of salt is the part about running long distances with a 4-6hp outboard. This boat was not designed for big water. Put three people in it and I wouldn't put it on any body of water larger than about an acre.
If you can't wade back to the launch site, I wouldn't put three guys in it. That piece of equipment...I hesitate to call it a boat...would make a nice duckblind. It would not make a nice duckboat.
 
#10 ·
If your talking about one of these: Coleman Crawdad Boat Model: 5931 it has a 315lb max weight capacity, 2 people. In other words once you put the blind on it with a set of oars, yourself, a bag of decoys and a shotgun in a floating case its maxed out. Looks like a perfectly fine one man small water or small river boat. 4-6 cans of plastic bonding camo paint. Done.
 
#11 ·
First, I owed one years ago and hunted small ponds with it, dog, decoys and blind. So I am speaking from a point of experience .

If you want to use the boat for one person and gear in small none ruff water, go for it but it will tip over on you if you lean to far over or out , believe me.

Not being critical of your post, but think you should do some further research as well as educate yourself on boats, capacity , etc.
 
#12 ·
I've used a 10' lund jon boat a few times w/ a buddy. If you plan on taking only about 2 dozen duck decoys and not a ton of gear it is ok. If you plan on taking more than 2 guys or 2 guys and a dog and more decoys it is dangerous. Just be patient and wait for a better boat on craigslist, you might have to do some work to it (and don't be afraid to haggle).

You can find a crappy boat to fix up most times for $200. If you ever plan on taking 3 guys, get at least a 14' boat. A V bottom would be fine also you don't have to have a jon.