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Floating Duck Blind #6404422 08/12/16 02:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13
V
VegasMallard Offline OP
Light Foot
OP Offline
Light Foot
V
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13
Looking to buy or build a floating duck blind. I've seen different options online
http://www.xfowler.com
http://www.pondking.com/product/pk-duck-buster/
http://www.gatortraxboats.com/boat-models/gators-nest/gators-nest-standard-model.html

Anyone have any experience with these? Or a homemade pontoon or floating dock duck blind conversion?

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6404531 08/12/16 03:36 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 18
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dockhigh Offline
Light Foot
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 18
I've had all of them. The pond king is very unstable and very clumsy. I used it twice and got rid of it. It about flips over when you get up to shoot. Xfolwer is big and stable. Hardly moves with 3 big guys in it. Great product but it's really realy heavy. Its dificult to deal with on dry land.The rubber coating on bottom makes it impossible to slide on a trailer.I had to line it with the super slick bunks for a boat trailer. It is way heavier than they claim.It is a very good blind.

Gator nest is execlnt and easy to move like a John boat. The legs stabilize it and it is much lower profile than the x fowler. The pro of x fowler is you can stand up and shoot. Gator nest is a sitting shot. Both are great. The pond king is not even in the same ball park. Avoid it. The other 2 are a toss up. If you could get a 4 man gator nest it would be the best thing going. If really interested in moving around a lot get the gator nest. If just moving around a pond for the wind the Xfolwer is great.

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6404581 08/12/16 04:49 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13
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VegasMallard Offline OP
Light Foot
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Light Foot
V
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13
Thanks for the feedback. We called gator nest and asked if they could build a 4 man, but they said they aren't focusing on the gator nest anymore and won't do custom orders. We need a minimum of 4 people, so it's looking like we'll have to build our own.

Anyone have plans or experience with a pontoon duck blind mod?

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6404637 08/12/16 11:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
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wal1809 Offline
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 11,788
I post good fixer upper pontoon boats on here from time to time as I find them. I found this craigslist steal for $1300. ITs a 20 foot with a poly floor and a great trailer. The trailer alone is worth that much. I robbed parts from this one to complete my other pontoon boat. He is the picture story. I sold the scrap aluminum for $75 so we can drop the buying price to $1225.









Old garage door braces boleted to the floor


This was done with very little purchased steel. Most came from the dump at my duck lease



Corner pipes going up




Custom fitting the mutt hut


The tin going on





Launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8KwigYcAos&index=2&list=PL77DxL0E42DibLTHJo6FNV1Hxb8ANvLIA

No beers were harmed in the making of this film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spdZEllQs_s&index=1&list=PL77DxL0E42DibLTHJo6FNV1Hxb8ANvLIA

Clipping along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDGXZ_oNJ1s&index=4&list=PL77DxL0E42DibLTHJo6FNV1Hxb8ANvLIA










Last edited by wal1809; 08/12/16 11:17 AM.
Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6404642 08/12/16 11:18 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
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wal1809 Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6404689 08/12/16 12:27 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,788
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wal1809 Offline
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$1500 is a good starter price. You could use camo netting hanging from the roof and you're way farther ahead of the game than with what I started.

http://houston.craigslist.org/hvo/5721510349.html

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6406820 08/13/16 09:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
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texas wetlands Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
Sent you a PM

Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: texas wetlands] #6407075 08/14/16 01:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,385
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john paul Offline
Pro Tracker
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,385
I built a couple last year that worked out pretty well.





Total cost for the more involved one with flaps (which suck), bench, shelf, etc., including the price of getting hot dip galvanized was right around $1000. Galvanizing was close to $300 alone though.


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: VegasMallard] #6407195 08/14/16 03:04 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 78
Patrick M Offline
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 78
Built mine from 3/4" EMT. Total cost was under $400


Re: Floating Duck Blind [Re: Patrick M] #6408007 08/14/16 10:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,381
Guy Offline
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I would go find the biggest used cheap pontoon you can find, and have Ramball put you a blind on there. up

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