Im giving in....it's time for a sneakbox

B

Blake Heller

Member
After contemplating how I can turn my high profile boat into a low profile sneakbox for months, im realizing I just need to buy one lol.

I often hunt the Long Island salt marshes with my dads buddy, who runs a south bay boat. Its a beautiful boat but hes explained some of the issues he runs into with the motor brushing against the motor well and having to constantly patch up the fiberglass. Although these boats seem like theyd be perfect for the two man and a dog application that im looking for, I am not sure that I want to deal with the upkeep. If I could find one for a decent price I could be persuaded, but ive also had trouble finding one with a hardshell cover and the flapper boards (a must for me as id leave the boat on a dock all season)

Does anyone have some other suggestions for a sneakbox thats still in production that fits my needs? What should I expect to spend for a boat, motor, and trailer? Would also be fine with buying used, but i find it hard to trust a lot of these "homemade" sneakboxes I see for sale.
 
I know the Southbay is the holy grail around here, but I had one, and There were enough design issues that I was glad when I sold it.
But, 2 men and a dog is a tough requirement for a "sneak" type box. The Southbay could work, but it's going to be tight, the guys I know who regularly gun 2 guys out of theirs cut them in half and widened them.
Otherwise I think a 15-16' boat might be in order, but then you'll have issues with a bigger heavier boat, don't think you'll be dragging that very far when the tide goes out.
Traditionally, everyone had their own 12 footer and just gunned them side by side. so....nothing is perfect, YMMV
 
I agree entirely. And most of the time it will just be me and the dog but i guess i just wanted the option to bring another person. Theres a lot of used sneak boxes for sale online but how can you tell what theyre worth if they dont have a reputable builders name on it?

I would hate to buy one of these on Craigslist just to have issues in the near future. Maybe I need to hire someone from the forum to look at these boats with me lol.

What do you think is a reasonable price for a 12ft sneak box boat motor and trailer combination thats in good condition?

Could you also elaborate on some of the things you didnt like about your south bay? And what boat are you gunning out of now?
 
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Ok, lets see,...as for price of a decent rig, I can't help, too many variables, age of motor, condition of trailer, is the boats transom coming out, lol, etc. But If you plan to go any distance, you'll need a planing hull, traditional Barnegat sneak boxes are displacement hulls, designed for sail, row or poling, pretty things but not designed to hang an outboard on and go fast. Guys try to work around the limitations but trust me, you don't want to.
The Southbay.... I knew the guys that originally designed it, and I'm surprised the mistakes they made. First was the rear deck cutout, great idea but not wide enough for the prop when the motor was tilted, that never was corrected as far as I know. the bottom was dead straight, no lift in the bow, so at low speeds in a sea the boat didn't lift to the sea but punched through it, green water over the bow is not my idea of a good time. The boat was heavy, once it touched bottom you weren't dragging it. The cockpit depth was weird, too high to see over when laying down, you sort of had to sit part way up at an uncomfortable angle.
Now these are MY observations from owning and running one, everything can be worked around, but it was just annoying to me, other folks may be perfectly happy.

The absolute best rig I had, and I had a few, was a cut down, decked over 12' aluminum skiff, light, fast with a 9.9, seaworthy as a 12' boat could be, hid well, had plenty of room for decoys, and was cheap to build, lol. I rigged it as a one man boat. I got the idea from Zack Taylors "zackbox" in "Succesful Waterfowing" book.

I'm out of duckboats right now, arthritis has me pretty hobbled up, and gunning on my own isn't comfortable or attractive anymore.
If I decide to go again, I'll probably run to the beach with the work skiff and gun out of a box..

As always YMMV
 
Seems like theyd be good little marsh boats with the addition of flapper boards.

On the expensive side for me after finding a trailer and motor though...
 
That boat is interesting, more of a fishing/hunting/whatever boat, then a true duck boat.

Quick version on my alu rig, it was a 12' used skiff, I cut down about 6" to lower the hull profile and bolted new coamings to the sides, I then lightly framed out and crowned cross members to make a sneak box style deck with rear and front and side decks, with 1/4" plywood, main cockpit was for the gunner and a smaller hatched cockpit in the bow for decoys. the rear deck was shorter so as to easily reach the outboard tiller, and drain plug. Basically a sneakbox top on an aluminum hull, complete with oar locks, decoy rack, simple spray shield and grass (flapper) boards.

Used it for years until the aluminum around the rivets started to corrode due to electrolysis, (it was an old boat) gave it to my brother finally to fish the ponds.
 
With the 2 people option you,ve expressed you probably need something more like a 14' TDB, especially if there's a dog included. Planing hull so your not creeping along , of course heavier than a 12 ' BBSB style hull but that just requires planning your hunts w correct tide.
 
Thanks for the detail gcs. Sounds like it was an awesome rig. Ok so lets say its just me and the dog (ill make the other guy buy a sneakbox lol) theres some decent looking BBSB style boats around but youre saying those boats have a displacement style hull which wouldnt be good for getting into really skinny water?

Getting into skinny water with my lab and I and being able to get out of the marsh (dragging or push poling) are my main priorities.
 
They make them both ways, if the bottom in the stern is tucked up nice and pretty , it's a displacement, planing hulls are generally flat bottomed.

For low tides and shallow waters you need something light, but for crossing bays and such, not so much, remember, nothing is perfect, everything becomes a compromise.
 
Good morning, Blake~


I'll let the Jersey Boys share their much more extensive knowledge of these vessels. I always look first at the hull shapes - below the waterline - as discussed earlier in this thread. I would look for a hull that was relatively flat athwartships (left-to-right). The boat on the right seems to be rather deep-hulled with a fair amount of deadrise (V-shape). This makes for a more comfortable and safer ride in heavy seas but draws more water up in the shoals where the ducks are (from my Long Island perspective). Most (but not all) true Sneakboxes have hull sections that are an arc of a circle. The smaller the circle, the deeper the hull - and vice versa.



The other important hull shape is the "run" - the underwater profile from about the middle of the boat to the transom. If this is tucked up almost to the waterline, it is a traditional displacement hull - so, very seaworthy and great for rowing and sailing but slow under power. If the run is generally flat to the transom it will be faster and use horsepower more efficiently - but will not row or pole as nicely.



BTW: My Sneakbox RED-LEG (builder unknown) is a nice compromise - a semi-displacement hull. She's 13'5" LOA with a 5-foot beam and has hull sections that are a very flat arc. She draws between 3 and 4 inches fully laden - and is a very comfortable and seaworthy boat. Top speed is probably around 15 knots - so I would usually gun within a mile or two of my launch site. (Note that these dimensions are very similar to a South Bay Duckboat.)


Finally, any of these gunning boats are more comfortable and safer with a good spray dodger - at least while under way.


Hope this helps,


SJS

 
Thank you for that description Steve. With that being said I am starting to sway back towards a south bay. Such a Long Island classic how could I not??




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Growing up I can't tell you how many duck boats I had. But the one that's my favorite is a Ronnie Bauer boat. It's a displaced hull, and like they say not fast, but safe. I had a 9.9 hp and now a 6 hp on it, and I can go anywhere,with a push pole (shoving stick). Draws about 3-4 inches of water. I can hunt 2 people and a dog out of it. Of course the dog needs to be well a mannered and your hunting partner. ( SIDE NOTE, who normally like to shoot my decoys for some reason.) I've hunted this boat from the Southshore of LI, the south shores of NJ, to Lake Okeechobee Fl., the east coast of Ga., and now the sloughs of ND. When travelling far distance we would slide it in the back of the pickup, needed my wheaties for that venture. The way we sit in it is almost side by side, one against the corner rail, feet to the left, the other in a low recliner seat made from plywood,near the knees of the other hunter. With his feet under the deck. This way you can swing at the same time. Steve Sanford maybe you have some pics or describe it better. Anyway I love the boat. Here's some pics.View attachment duck boat building 018.jpgView attachment 20171012_120404.jpg

View attachment 20171012_120404.jpg
 
That looks like an awesome rig! Kind of looks like a South bay from the top. It cool to see all of the different approaches to a similar design.
 
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