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Questions about Duck boats
#5504710
12/28/14 10:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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Gonna buy/build a duck boat for the upcoming season. Wanted some advice from the guys who have boats built for duck hunting This is gonna be used mainly for duck hunting. May be used at some times for fishing but it's main purpose is a duck boat for hunting areas like the coast as well as bigger water such as amistad and some major rivers in Texas. I'm torn as to what type of boat will be best for my needs. Cost is a factor but not the end all be all. My questions are these: First off,should I buy new or used? I buy used trucks but don't want to inherit someone else's problem. I understand that buying used would normally yield a better deal Secondly, I'm stumped as to what kind of boat. I really want a center console vs a tiller steer but the CC's typically come only in bigger models. For hunting bigger water, I need a bigger boat but I still want to be able to take it in the rivers. What size would be appropriate ? 16"? 17"? Lastly, I've been looking at some different boat brands. Lowe makes a CC that looks ok called the roughneck that looks ok. Some more specialty boats like duck water http://www.duckwaterboats.com/Boats/Apache/apache.htmlIntrigue me and I wonder for coast hunting if this would be the best option but draft is a concern due to the shallowness of bays and rivers Need some help here guys. I appreciate any input
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504722
12/28/14 10:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,491
Jacob645
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Pro Tracker
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Take a look at Excel duck boats.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504731
12/28/14 10:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
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You are going all in and quick!
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504753
12/28/14 11:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504816
12/28/14 11:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: Fooshman]
#5504823
12/28/14 11:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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What thickness would you look for? Thicker is better than thinner when it comes to hulls I agree
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504825
12/28/14 11:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 856
940AC
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Tracker
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Buy used. Be patient and you can find a good deal.
No bad days hunting
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504829
12/28/14 11:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
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Most like .125 or thicker. Mine is .190.
Just depends on what you want to do with it.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: Fooshman]
#5504853
12/28/14 11:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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Most like .125 or thicker. Mine is .190.
Just depends on what you want to do with it. What kind of boat are you running?
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504868
12/29/14 12:04 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5504886
12/29/14 12:12 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
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Seasonal stuff is better bought used in the off season. Be patient and get exactly what you are looking for or better first buy. Don't cut corners looking to trade up later, if you're in this for the long haul. Bigger is better to me in boats, I like stability in choppy cold water.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: Fooshman]
#5504984
12/29/14 12:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5505012
12/29/14 01:04 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
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First question where will you be running it 99% of the time
If you're just going to hunt the coast you cant beat a majek RFL. Mud motor is a bad thought process with CCA getting all Seagrass protected passed.
If you slow down in a 21ft and let tunnel fill up, you can run in 2" for a very long ways
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#5505118
12/29/14 01:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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First question where will you be running it 99% of the time
If you're just going to hunt the coast you cant beat a majek RFL. Mud motor is a bad thought process with CCA getting all Seagrass protected passed.
If you slow down in a 21ft and let tunnel fill up, you can run in 2" for a very long ways It will depend on where the ducks are. One day I might be cruising across the bay the next going down a river. Then running on a lake the day after that. The bay and the river is where I expect to encounter the shallowest waters
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5505176
12/29/14 02:13 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659
Hopedale
THF Trophy Hunter
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Nice looking rig, but I don't think the perfect boat exists. Get one to big and you can't get into small places, get one to small and forget about open water, get one with a mud-motor, and you wish you had an air boat, get an air boat, and the places you want to go don't allow mud-motors or air boats. Or the body of water limits the engine size to nothing bigger than 25 Hp. I'd say go look at all you can and then decide which one fits you the best. Your best bet is to see if there is a boat show that has more fishing and hunting style boat. The boat show in New Orleans was great. Its a mix of all boats with the majority being geared for fishing and hunting, where as Austin is geared more for pleasure cruising. http://www.boatshowneworleans.com/Also, the outdoor show in Louisiana is another good place to check out the type of boats you're looking into. http://www.louisianasportsmanshow.com/
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506189
12/29/14 05:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721
Dave Speer
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
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A man can never own too many boats.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: Rodney2100]
#5506198
12/29/14 05:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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That is exactly the boat I was looking at Wanna sell me that one?
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506200
12/29/14 05:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506202
12/29/14 05:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: Navasot]
#5506273
12/29/14 05:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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Darn right. I had a client tell me "everything I own is for sale except my kids and my wife, and the wife is for rent"
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506369
12/29/14 06:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 408
Rodney2100
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 408 |
Not for sale at this time...with the lake levels so low I use this boat all of the time. I have only had the bass boat in the water 3 times in the past two years..
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506390
12/29/14 06:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,955
txtrophy85
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Did you order it from gator?
With the 70 hp what did it run $ wise?
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506413
12/29/14 07:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 408
Rodney2100
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 408 |
Correction from above...the boat is a 1854...I ordered direct from Gator trax...Kent Saxon helped me with the design. I went with the 70 Yamaha because it was lighter than the Merc. It has 3 batteries and a 2 bank charger. I also ordered with Hydraulic steering,hydraulic jack plate, 80lb trolling motor, hydro turf and a removable back deck...I think I paid 21-23k for it...They were great to work with...They also delivered to my driveway at Fork. If you are thinking about getting one let me know...I will tell you a few things I might have changed if I had to do it all over again. take Care, Rodney
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Re: Questions about Duck boats
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5506478
12/29/14 07:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804
mohunter
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Can't go wrong with a GatorTrax.
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