Boat blind height

[justin boucher]

Building a blind on my 16' flat bottom. Gonna have the sides drop down to shoot. Was just wondering how high i should make the riser off the gunnel. Seen they average between 24-36" but i really dont think its high enough

 

[RM Anderson]

Building a blind on my 16' flat bottom. Gonna have the sides drop down to shoot. Was just wondering how high i should make the riser off the gunnel. Seen they average between 24-36" but i really dont think its high enough

Justin,
Since you are building sides that drop down to shoot, I would say go with the lowest height that will support the grassing material you intend to use and that will still hide you and your companion. If your sides don't drop down, limit your height to a comfortable height depending on stability. My Poleboat for example is probably not stable enough for shooting while standing. Hope this helps, RM

 

[Carl]

My sides did not drop, seemed like just another thing to go wrong. Always stand to shoot, feel like it gives more freedom of movement.
My blind is just below eye level when sitting on a hunting chair.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Building a blind on my 16' flat bottom. Gonna have the sides drop down to shoot. Was just wondering how high i should make the riser off the gunnel. Seen they average between 24-36" but i really dont think its high enough

Justin~

I like the height of the "sill" - from the cockpit floor to the rigid walls of the blind to be 34 inches. The flap-boards or frames (my preference) can be 12 - 16 inches. I like them upper parts to fold down onto the sides without crushing the ends of the thatch.



Here is my Sneakbox RED-LEG - with the shooting flap up - ready to be dropped once the birds cannot possibly escape (!). My Dad is inside.



A different vessel - from 2022-23:



We sit on"spackle buckets". It is easy to shoot either sitting or standing. I like open frames - with bundles of thatch through which we can watch the birds As they approach - and thus keep our heads down where they belong - until the Moment of Truth. Note that the windward "wall" has opaque panels to keep out both wind and light.



Hope this helps!

SJS

 

[Clinton John]

Here's my take.

The height really isn't all that important. Adding brush/grass to match the spot your hunting and being on the X is most important.

Second most important thing, is getting rid of the BIG BLACK HOLE.

I have been very lucky, that I was involved with a lot of drone work shooting vid over some duck blinds. And that big black hole, sticks out like a soar thumb. And I'm convinced that is what flares more ducks off then anything.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Justin~

I agree with the importance of how open the blind appears from above. That is why I like the folding boards/frames to have LONG thatch - so the ends come almost together overhead when they are up. It is best if the ends of that nice long thatch do not get broken when the boards are down. Note how they do not rest on the deck when down.

They are not quite closed overhead when hiding - which I prefer to a roof - so I can surreptitiously keep my eye on birds going overhead or behind.



All the best,

SJS

 

[Douglas Petro]

As low as possible, you have to be able to water swat.

 

[justin boucher]

Going another 20" high at an inward angle on hinges. Its comming along. Then i gotta think of what to brush it with since ill be hunting in open water