Looking Duck Boat Suggestions

GregL

Active member
Hi All,

I'm hoping to get some guidance on my next duck boat. I've always received great input from this site so I figured it doesn't hurt to ask.


I am in the market for another duck boat. Here's my situation and types of areas I tend to hunt hunting.

1) Last 3 years I have hunted by myself with just my Lab except for 1 or 2 weekends, so no need for a 2 man boat other than to provide me with a little more leg room.

2) I hunt a lot of bulrush marshes and large lakes that can get rough. I typically am hunting puddle duck areas, but do have to cross open water that can kick up from time time.

I am really leaning towards a High Roy Boat or Estuary type boat. Both of these are very rare in my area, have never see either on the water EVER!

I have seen an Estuary in person, but I'm not sure I could put an 80lb lab behind me under the dodger and still have him mark birds.

Really torn on what to do, most guys in my area are in a normal tinny or jon boat. I could go this route as well but I actually feel like a smaller 12 or 14' jon would be more dangerous (tippy)

What do you think?
 
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Greg,


You might consider a TDB14 Classic. It will take bigger water, and you can hunt it with the blind up and gun out the back over the motor area. You sit on a chair with your back to the bow. It's a warm, dry, stable platform that can be hunted with 2 people and a dog when needed.

RVZ
 
Thanks Rod, I was actually thinking of one those as well, it should be able to get into anywhere my 18' Alaskan did.
 
Greg,

I bought a DB 13 last year and absolutely loved it. Similar in hunting style as the Roy high boat but will be much easier to come by. Easy to hunt by yourself or with your lab or with another person. Highly recommend the flapper board option over the soft blind. PM me if you have further questions or would like some insight or pictures on my set up
 
Will M said:
Greg,

I bought a DB 13 last year and absolutely loved it. Similar in hunting style as the Roy high boat but will be much easier to come by. Easy to hunt by yourself or with your lab or with another person. Highly recommend the flapper board option over the soft blind. PM me if you have further questions or would like some insight or pictures on my set up

^^^ This, not sure where you're from but even in NJ finding a high box is becoming almost impossible. And they are going for 2x what they went for new due to demand. DB13 would fit the need nicely and easier to find.
 
If you are on larger lakes you may need a displacement hull rather than a shallow bottom hull. I shoot a Southbay boat and very happy with it, also have a Estuary hull from dave that I'm trying to finish and put to use...
You have to figure out your main use of the boat. Most boats will not fit everyone and you have to move things for your liking. Would have loved to had a lab in the Southbay, but hunted with 2/3 boats together...
 
Hey Greg,

Highly recommend the 14' TDB Classic. There's a few around right now for sale in the 5-7k range I know of on Long Island, NY

I hunt often with my black lab and it provides me plenty of room, good stability in rough seas and hides good in the tidal marshes I normally hunt in.

You could also consider a lower profile boat we hunt with here called the "Southbay" 14' as well also another good stable gunning platform for 1-man / dog comfortably.

Here's my 14' TDB Setup & Former 14' Southbay Setups...

-Anthony
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Thank you guys for the great input and pics!

I'm located near Toronto, Ontario. So I'm hunting fresh water lakes small and large. The areas I hunt you don't need a mud motor to get into and they can be waded once I get to the spot. Here's a few pics to illustrate.

I really like the idea of either a Estuary or a TBD that was mentioned above. A concern I have with the Estuary in a bulrush marsh is I'll be so low I won't see the birds coming, because they tend to come from every direction LOL!

Taking these pics into account which boat do you think is most suitable?


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Hi Greg. I am based in Toronto too. I have a TDB 14 Classic and it works well for me. Jus grass it up well, otherwise the decks get shiny with the morning dew.
 
Not to impose, but any chance of a southern Ontario meet up? I'd love to see the boat as well. Seems like all I see around here is mod v jon boats. I'm very envious of all the cool marsh boats seen on this website.

I'm in Niagara but more than willing to drive.
 
Greg, The new EstuaryII comes in a low boat with a dodger and or a high boat with flapper boards.They are rated for 20hp and are planing hulls. There will be one of each at the Tuckerton show this year along with the all glass Garvey15.
Phil
 
The TDB-14' has a positive fore-aft rocker configuration on the keel line, consequently you can rock and slide these buggers off of a mud flat when a seiche empties the marsh...it's some hard work, but far better than sitting in the mud and hoping. We used to jump shoot bulrush marshes out of mine as well: one guy over the side in the water at the stern slowly pushing the boat along and the shooter standing in the front scanning the marsh, with dog inside. Much quieter than you would think sliding these things along slowly in a marsh. IF you keep most of your weight on the aft section over the transom as you walk, you will not fall. From the pushers perspective you can see the marsh well and work the dog to a fall or cripple, once it is in the water.

Best part is that once you are dead tired, all you need to do is climb back in the boat and motor home rather that walking back to where you stashed your boat. Week days and late in the season this is quite effective in the marshes of the Great Lakes.
 
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