Duck Boat Reviews

[donbitz]

I hunted Florida ducks for the first time this year since came south 5 years ago (I'm from Syracuse, NY which, of course, is a 'waterfowlers paradise'). Not really knowing my way around and in posession of a 10 ft / 60 pound jonboat I decided to have at it. I listened to others re: the poling thing and tried it - and struggled getting it around thru that thick hydrilla. WHEW! There had to be a better way .....

So, leafing thru a Cabela's catalog one day, I found what appeared to be the ideal hunting 'yak, the Otter Stealth 2000, 2 swivel seats, pop-up blind, very stable - you can stand on the edge and just step right in! Goes about like a canoe thru the hydrilla, sure beats a jonboat. Only problem is that it does not weigh the advertised 100 pounds, empty with no accessories it tips my scale at 143. Fortunately, Cabela's agreed to take it back, it's just too much boat considering the levees down here.

After weighing my options, I decided to buy a 'fishing' kayak, after all, it would also give me something to do while waiting for next season too. I demo'd a few and ended up with a Perception Bimini 15'. What a difference! Hydrilla barely slows it down, faster than the canoes I've paddled ... but you do need to have some balance to use it. 2 people are out of the question. For hunting solo, however, it's just the ticket.

Now, I see a lot of various boats in the marshes ... If any of you have input regarding your ride, especially the pirogues, I for one would like to hear it .... there are so many different models out there it can be very confusing choosing one and we cannot demo them all. Pros and cons from personal experience would be great!

[Super Dave]

We got the Carten's "Mallard" this year for hunting in the STA's and we love it. It's very light and stable and has two through the hull openings to place stakes through the the boat and into the bottom for additional stability once you are in your hunting spot. We got it with the extra seat so we canhave two hunters and it has a lot of space for gear. It also has oar locks built in. Here's the link (http://www.carstensindustries.com/boats/boat_mallard.html) if you want to take a look. It was about $1300 delivered to my house.

[D Duck]

Weight is always the problem with small boats while still retaining decent stability. Check out the MoMarsh and Aqua-Pod boats. They both make lightweight versions of marsh boats that would be more stable than the kayak you're using. :icon_salu

[guanavalleyguy]

Good info donbitz! I have been a saltwater kayak fisherman for a few years now, and as I was thinking about getting into duck hunting this year the thought had crossed my mind about using my yak to get out into the marsh. I wish I had gotten my head straight on this issue before the season ended. Next year I won't hesitate!

I have a 12' Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120, in a dark khaki color, which they call "sand". And yes you can really get through the thick stuff in a yak. I have paddled mine through water so thin and muddy I thought it was quicksand. I would like to talk to you some more about your experiences duck hunting from the yak. Anytime you're in the N.Fla area shoot me an e-mail and we'll meet up for some kayak fishing.

Here are some great web sites dedicated to the sport:

www.jaxkayakfishing.com
www.captdick.net
www.paddlezone.com

[blueyed-goof]

I made a pirogue...tho you can easily buy one...for a few hundred dollars<marine grade plywood, glass, etc>. It weighs about 50 lbs empty. When I made it, the sides were measured to be 11" and with one person, decoys, ammo gun and maybe a bit more weight in the front after the dekes are put out, the boat only sticks out of the water in the center about 6-8 inches depending on the weight of the person. of course the bow and stern stick out more, but even then it's not a high profile. I added a keel to the boat so that it would track better and like to use kayak paddles with it. It is quiet, moves well through shallow water and hydrilla and is light.

However, for people who aren't extremely comfortable with a kayak-like stability <not one of those wide kayaks either> a pirogue may be a challenge. The boat tends to be tippy. This summer I think that I will take it to the St. Mary's River and actually play around with it and see just how tippy it is and see what it will take to actually tip it over. I've never come close to tipping it, though it rocks side to side quite a bit. It is also narrow <there is potential for greater range of movement in the pirogue than out of a kayak> and I did not install a seat or seat back into it so paddling for long distances can become uncomfortable. Pirogues seem to be one man, maybe two man, boats. I saw one that was a two man, but it was quite a bit longer and seemed quite a bit heavier.

I really like the pirogue, but I also use an aluminum canoe which is quite a bit more sturdy and holds more weight...people, dogs, dekes etc etc. For a small person like me, with little amount of gear, going solo in my canoe can become a hassel....a higher profile, if it's windy it acts just like a sail and catches air and shoots you all over the marsh.

some day I will get a jon boat but right now, I am going to be content with what I have, build me another pirogue probablyjust my .02 hope that it helps you out

[Max 4-D]

In anticipation of hunting the STA's this year (no motors or trailers allowed) I bought a Lousiana pirogue from Ron Chappman Shipwright this season and love it! Aside from the fact it only cost me $375 plus shipping! Its lighter than what you all have been using. He makes a few different models as well. All hand made. Not from a mold. Check out his website. I asked him way he sells them so cheap and he replied that he's just a dumb cajun. It has also has allowed me to hunt Broodmoor at T.M. Goodwin this season for the first time.

[Pirate91]

He hand lays them in a mold and he sells 'em that cheap because they don't cost that much to make, relatively speaking. I'll be building a mold over the summer to try my hand at hand laid fiberglass. I've built them out of wood and fiberglass before.

[matthersjr]

I use an Ocean Kayak for paddle in/wade hunt and for flats fishing.
http://www.oceankayak.com/scramblerxt.html
Great yak and is very easy to use as it can carry the gear.

There are also times where I'll use my jon and bring my surf kayak to cross over rim canals to wade into shallow impoundments. I use this method as the yak is very lite and easily fits into the boat.

Next year, I might consider an aqua pod or a bobcat for laying out in the hydrilla.

[duckmanJR]

Both the "cat" and "pod" are good... When I can no longer repair my glass over wood layouts...or I get too weak to manhandle it..I'll buy one of those.

[matthersjr]

My uncle picked up the following canoe:

http://www.otccanoe.com/canoes_pack.php

At 33lbs it is pretty sweet.

[whistlingwings]

In anticipation of hunting the STA's this year (no motors or trailers allowed) I bought a Lousiana pirogue from Ron Chappman Shipwright this season and love it! Aside from the fact it only cost me $375 plus shipping! Its lighter than what you all have been using. He makes a few different models as well. All hand made. Not from a mold. Check out his website. I asked him way he sells them so cheap and he replied that he's just a dumb cajun. It has also has allowed me to hunt Broodmoor at T.M. Goodwin this season for the first time.


Whats the url to his website??

Could not find anything on him.

[Max 4-D]

Ron Chapman Shipwright, Inc.
www.piroque.com
504-277-6527

[whistlingwings]

Thanks,

I'm seriously thinking of getting the "Mudbug"

[donbitz]

Great info. If you are looking for info and user reviews on kayaks and canoes, I suggest the following:

www.paddling.net (http://www.paddling.net)

With kayak fishing taking off as it is, I'm really suprized that kayak hunting isn't more popular! Basically, there are 2 types - sit-on-top and sit-in. The sit on tops are easier to get into and out of but are a wetter ride. It was a revelation when I discovered just how flexible they can be, rig them in just about every possible configuration.

Here's some links for the sporting versions I researched before buying mine:

Old Town Predator (http://oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks_sporting.php)
Perception (http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/boatindex.asp?type=sit-on-top)
Wilderness Systems (http://wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/sporting.php)
Ocean Kayak (http://www.oceankayak.com/angler2.html)
Malibu Kayaks (http://www.malibukayaks.com/kayaks.asp)

[donbitz]

Ron Chapman Shipwright, Inc.
www.piroque.com
504-277-6527

www.pirogue.com (http://www.pirogue.com)

[matthersjr]

here's another good resource:

http://www.paddle-fishing.com/index.html

[Duckaholic Doug]

Did anyone try a paw paw pirogue? pawpawspirogue.com compared to Ron Chapman's?

[SSPhone]

Did anyone try a paw paw pirogue? pawpawspirogue.com compared to Ron Chapman's?

Doug
These post are almost 4 years old. Don't know if you will much response due to age of post and/or public side. Try a new post on the members side for more info.

[sherrell]

In anticipation of hunting the STA's this year (no motors or trailers allowed) I bought a Lousiana pirogue from Ron Chappman Shipwright this season and love it! Aside from the fact it only cost me $375 plus shipping! Its lighter than what you all have been using. He makes a few different models as well. All hand made. Not from a mold. Check out his website. I asked him way he sells them so cheap and he replied that he's just a dumb cajun. It has also has allowed me to hunt Broodmoor at T.M. Goodwin this season for the first time.

hey max,i talk to a guy steve this morning about ordering a mud bug.he said the company that made the sterns for him was wiped out from katrina and he hasn't been making the mud bug since katrina.
according to this guy steve they have no means of shipping boats out.ron has this guys phone number on his website.i guess this guy still works with ron.
according to him they are making only one model of pirouge at this time.

[Reddfin]

I have a few kayaks and have owned many more. They may work but you will probably be better off with a "marsh boat" These are all low profile almost impossible to tip marsh boats that can be used as layout boats. They are not for big bodies of water. Most are for one person and a dog or youngster but the bigger ones can take two men dog and gear. Also you can make a nice boat out of foam and glass for about $300. This should keep you busy if you would rather buy. They all have pros and cons. Happy reading.
Tony
www.fourriverslayoutboats.com
www.mallardmarine.net
www.momarsh.com
www.aquapodboats.com
www.carstensindustries.com