Perfect Waterfowl Boat?
Buying Your Perfect Waterfowl Hunting Boat
The season may soon be arriving, so in just a few short weeks, early Teal Season is here. Whether running flooded timber, sneaking into the middle of a marsh or bayou, or getting to the perfect blind, purchasing a boat is not a one-size-fits-all decision. In fact, there may be so many sizes and brands, the choice seems a little overwhelming. We want to offer some practical advice on buying your next duck boat. Hopefully you can get what you want and save some time and money.
Many people recognize MUDDY BAY® as a leading duck boat dealer in the waterfowl boat market. If our Outfitters are not hunting or thinking about hunting, they are fishing or thinking about fishing. We say that not to brag, but to let you know that by selling a number of different brands, from a practical standpoint, we have extensive first-hand experience with what works and what doesn't. We really mean it when we say “Let’s Take It Outside®”.
Whether hunting flooded timber, swamp, bayou, marsh, or big water, understanding where your waterfowl hang out gives you a good starting point for the specific boat you’ll need to get the job done. If you are like most waterfowlers, you will be carrying guns, gear, decoys, dogs, and other hunters. Figuring out the right size boat and the features you need are vital. Storage and built-in features are critical decisions to consider before buying.
We sat down with several of our MUDDY BAY® Outfitters to talk waterfowl boats and asked them for a few pointers on what to consider when selecting the ideal duck boat.
BUY THE BOAT THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
Duh! That seems too easy, right? The number one piece of advice our Outfitters always give is to buy a duck boat that is right for you. It is easy to set your sights on a top-of-the-line, fully rigged and decked out boat with every option known to man: Duck blind, wind screens, light bars, blue-tooth sound bars, sub-woofers, LED interior lights, gun boxes, jack-plates, hunt decks, brush rails, T-rail accessories, Sea-Dek, electronics, latest camo craze, built-in everything with enough open deck space to throw a party, and enough horsepower to run the derby. But if you’re only looking to spread decoys or run hunters out to your blind, you may not need such an elaborate or expensive rig. Rugged, hard-core waterfowl boats don’t have to be fancy - unless you just want them to be.
Kyle Deese, Master Outfitter, says “hunters need a boat that is rugged, dependable, and heavy duty. If they are running backwater, they probably also want lightweight with a shallow water draft that will get the job done.”
If it is just you and a buddy hunting your local backwater, a rugged all-welded duck boat with a 25hp or smaller is probably all you need. If you are on big lakes, rivers, or bays, where winds and waves can add a chop, a V-hull with at least a 40hp or 50hp or bigger, plus a few extra bells and whistles is probably the better choice. Bigger water needs bigger boats and bigger boats need more horsepower.
The other thing to always consider is how much space you think you will need – then add a little more to that. The boat that looks big on the showroom floor, seems to shrink quite a bit when you add all your decoys, gear, guns, dogs, and equipment. Also, think about whether you plan to ever fish from the boat, install a blind, or if you will be hunting more than a couple of guys with all their gear. These are critical questions to decide before you decide on your ideal boat.
BUY DEPENDABLE AND RUGGED- NOT FASHIONABLE
This is important. The temptation to buy the newest “fashionable” boat design because you saw it on social media, read comments about how it is the best thing since sliced bread, or maybe heard about it from a friend who just bought one is tempting, but not necessarily the best option. All those You-Tube® and Tik-Tok® videos may make it look cool, but true duck boats are designed to get you places you would not go with a typical boat – usually in pitch-black darkness before daylight, and often in very cold and icy conditions.
You need rugged, not fashionable.
Whether running over logs, stumps, timber, or mud, having a tough, thicker hull does makes a difference. Look for a boat with an all-welded hull at least .100 or .125 gauge thickness and 5086 grade alloy over 5052 grade alloy. 5086 grade is harder and having the extra-thick, all-welded hull means you can usually put the boat in more demanding terrain where other boats will not hold up.
Here's where it gets tricky. The newest “fashion” trend for some boat builders is lightweight .080 gauge hull designs (some even with .060 gauge hulls) with promises of faster speeds and getting there first. While they are faster, it is only because they reduce weight by using thinner materials. That is not necessarily a good thing for duck hunters, though. Every duck hunter has seen pictures and heard horror stories of broken welds, hooked bottoms, torn transoms, and leaky seams on these new, thin-hulled boat designs. Then are generally fast - but usually at the expense of reliability. And experience tells us to not even think about trying to run over submerged logs or stumps while running your outboard or mud motor on these fashionably thin hulls. Heavy-duty duck boats with thicker hulls might be a little slower, but they get you in - and out - of some pretty tough places, with much less tear and damage to your waterfowl boat.
MAYBE YOU NEED A COMBINATION BOAT
Most hunters are not just hunters, they are outdoorsmen. As such, you may want to consider a combination hunting and fishing boat. These V-hulls make great fishing boats in the summer months with an easy transition into hunting boats once the ducks start migrating.
Most hunters agree that the worst part of duck hunting is hauling and setting decoys. Depending on where you hunt, you may sometimes need anywhere from 50 to 300 decoys, especially when hunting large bodies of water.
Hauling all those decoys takes up a lot of space, which is why you may need more open floor space than you originally thought. If you only use your boat to get from the landing to the blind, built-in storage boxes and hatches might be the better choice. Conveniences and comforts like gun boxes, padded seats, 12V outlets, blue tooth, electronics, and dry hatches are features some hunters are not willing to give up. That matters, and, ultimately, size matters.
For hunters who hunt and fish bigger water or need a bigger, deeper boat, this is where V- hull design stands out. Most come equipped from the factory with built-in rod and gun boxes, live wells, aerators, trolling motors, GPS fish finders, seats, camo, spray-in liner, large fuel tanks, and enough rod and gear storage to fish professional tournaments. Side and center console models make them ideal for hunting deep-water divers, as well as the perfect setup for fishing larger lakes, rivers, and bays with your family.
The bottom line is that getting yourself into the right duck boat doesn’t need to cost a fortune. If you take the time to consider a few key questions, and think about how you want to use the boat, you are sure to end up with a waterfowl rig that satisfies all your needs.
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Kyle Deese
Master Outfitter
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