DuckSouth.com

I am now in the market for a duck boat, seeing as all of my previous hunting land has been leased up, and I don't think my red and white Manta Ray i/o ski boat will hold an Avery pop-up just right.

I have no idea what to look for besides as wide and big as I can afford. I am looking for something around 17 to 20 feet, and as wide as I can get. Preferably console steering.

can some of you boat people tell me what I am getting into?
Roughly how much is a good boat? used/new?
what size motor should I look for?
and does anyone have one they are ready to get rid of?

What tips can you offer someone looking for his first duck boat.

Thanks,
SBE

Oh hell. Your going to start a fight on this subject!! ha ha. Don't you know how personal us duck hunting freaks love our boats and think "our" boat is the best?? You are going to hear War Eagle, Gator Trax, Rough Neck, etc., ect. I think most of the boats these days are made basically the same. It is all going to depend on the area that you will be hunting I guess. Horsepower on the back is the same. If you don't need a big motor and don't have to spend 9,000.00 on boat, motor, and trailer....don't. Use what you think is best for your area of hunting. Wide boats are the best I think. Nothing less than 48 in width.

Have a good starter boat for sale. Good for most of the local lakes/brakes but not big water. See the classifieds. 12 footer may not be what your looking for. $900

Mine is set up where I can comfortably hunt 3 people with one dog. It's a 16 foot x 48 inch wide, Jon boat. I have an electric start Mercury 15 hp. I put 1/2 inch plywood in the bottom with carpet on it. You should be able to find a used boat in the $800. range. If you can, try to buy a new motor or a good used one.You will be glad to have electric start on those cold morning when you are wearing ton of clothes. I would not do much running on Ms. River with it, but small lakes, etc. would be fine.

I got a great deal on my duck boat. I called around to all the marine places asking if they had brand new, older model motors there. I bought a 25 hp Yama 4 stroke, brand new, for 1300 dollars. And got my G3 15' boat and trailer for 3000 cash, just because they had broken up duck boat packages and only had one or the other left and needed to get rid of them. But I will say this, whatever the place that you're buying from is selling it to you for, DON'T give them that much.

'SBE' ......gimme a few clues so I don't go-off in the wrong direction, here. What type(s) of terrain will you most likely be hunting? If river ....how big? If open water......how bad is the chop? How many hunters? Are there stumps where you hunt? Etc.....

I totally agree with 'Esteslanehunting' (just this once) .....48" minimum!

Hawkeye, you got a GREAT deal on the best boat/motor combo out there in my opinion. I would recommend that Estates look at a 17-18' G3 with 60-90 hp Yamaha and Mossy Oak Shadow Grass camo. Boat and motor are top quality. G3 has a website and is owned by Yamaha so you can check out the combos. Good Luck! INJ

Thanks so far, fellas.

Anat - I can't quite narrow it down to what I will mostly be hunting. I live just minutes from Arkabutla and the Coldwater River, but I had the oppurtunity to hunt the 'Cutoff last year with a friend and I would like to be able to do that, also. There are also a bunch of sloughs that I would like to motor into. I would also like to be able to fish Sardis from the boat. And yes there will probably be stumps where ever I go. If there is one within 100 yds I will be able to find it.

Huntalot - I don't think a 12 footer is what I need, Thnx


SBE

well buddy, on tunica most of the hunters in the last few years are running 17 footers with 40+ers.....I've hunted tunica all my life and last year I went to a 16 footer with a 35... simply cause I'm getting old and comfort is now important..I hunt a 14' with a 25 alot also depends on the water I love the timber when the water is at 13'.
I only hunt with one other in the boat so I dont need the bigger boats. The runout is a long run with a 25 but sure is easier to pull a 14 thru the shallow water anyway PM Me and we can talk about some spots you may like...

SBE--I hunt Tunica, Arkabutla, Sardis and Lakeview. I am running a 16 foot G3 with 52" bottom and a forty horse Yamaha. Two people decoys and dog fit great. Console steering. Fishes super also. Check Chuck's Marine in Horn Lake. I had the floor and decks sprayed at Camper City in Horn Lake. This really quieted down the boat plus gives great protection for the decks.

And the correct answer is....EXPRESS!!!

Take a look at the boats listed at http://www.duckboats.net. The fellas on that forum and pretty knowledgeable about commercial and homebuilt boats.

As far as any boat goes, wider is better. I've got a 58" beam on mine.