Looking for a new boat

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
One of my duckboats is just getting too heavy for me. I have a fiberglass Hoefgen that weighs in around 65lbs. For me to load it in to the pick up bed, get it out, drag it to the water and repeat after the hunt is just too much. I love everything about it. 15' is a perfect length. I love the design as I can carry all my gear safely, and I can put on a small longtail motor if the distance to the hunt is too far to paddle.

I have been looking for the kevlar version of this boat for some time without much luck. Ron S sold one a few years back and I should have jumped on it.

Any suggestions on a similar boat that weighs closer to 40 lbs? I currently have a 22 lb Poke Boat for hunts in small places and a Lund Ducker with a 7hp longtail that gets me to far away places. Just need something in between.

Mark
 
Wish you were closer, as that Hoefgen at 65 pounds is about my speed these days, and a little more flexible for ducks than my fleet of canoes. Anything under ~60 pounds and bigger than the Poke Boat is going to be very fragile, very expensive, or both. Other than Wenonah mentioned above, the better light weight canoes I see these days are coming out of Canada, but that may just reflect that Old Town has pretty much gone full heavy plastic, and Mad River seems to be following them. Nova Craft makes some nice canoes that get down in the 40 lb range at 14-16'. Look at their Prospector line and also some of the Recreational Series. Paddling friends rave about the Bob Special, but I have no idea how it would work for hunting. When my Royalex canoes get too heavy for me, one of their Prospectors will replace them. https://www.novacraft.com/canoe/recreational/

For less money, Esquif has several ~15' Prospector type boats at around 60 lbs in T-Formex, which I think is just a new producer of what used to be Royalex. But I don't think you'll get under 60 pounds without going to fancy composites. The Royalex/T-Formex boats take a lot of abuse that composite canoes will not stand up to--and duck hunting is an abuse-rich environment . . . .
 
Allan Johnson said:
Wenonah makes some ultralight models. The backwater model has a square stern. They are nice but on the expensive side.
Click to expand...
Thanks. We rented a Wenoah for a Boundry Waters trip soe time back. Poked a hole in it. Duck tape to.the rescue. I will look at the square stern model
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Wish you were closer, as that Hoefgen at 65 pounds is about my speed these days, and a little more flexible for ducks than my fleet of canoes. Anything under ~60 pounds and bigger than the Poke Boat is going to be very fragile, very expensive, or both. Other than Wenonah mentioned above, the better light weight canoes I see these days are coming out of Canada, but that may just reflect that Old Town has pretty much gone full heavy plastic, and Mad River seems to be following them. Nova Craft makes some nice canoes that get down in the 40 lb range at 14-16'. Look at their Prospector line and also some of the Recreational Series. Paddling friends rave about the Bob Special, but I have no idea how it would work for hunting. When my Royalex canoes get too heavy for me, one of their Prospectors will replace them. https://www.novacraft.com/canoe/recreational/

For less money, Esquif has several ~15' Prospector type boats at around 60 lbs in T-Formex, which I think is just a new producer of what used to be Royalex. But I don't think you'll get under 60 pounds without going to fancy composites. The Royalex/T-Formex boats take a lot of abuse that composite canoes will not stand up to--and duck hunting is an abuse-rich environment . . . .
Click to expand...
Thanks - I looked at the Nova Craft and they do have canoes that are lightweight. I am looking for a square back as I do plan to hand my mini mud motor of the end to power it. I've seen some double enders with modified motor side mounts and while they work for electric motors and small outboards, they do not work well with a long tail. With the prop being so far back, the stability of the canoe is't great when turning.

I did see on squareback but in an aramid fiber, it still weighed 62lbs.

Thanks

Mark
 
Mark W said:
One of my duckboats is just getting too heavy for me. I have a fiberglass Hoefgen that weighs in around 65lbs. For me to load it in to the pick up bed, get it out, drag it to the water and repeat after the hunt is just too much. I love everything about it. 15' is a perfect length. I love the design as I can carry all my gear safely, and I can put on a small longtail motor if the distance to the hunt is too far to paddle.

I have been looking for the kevlar version of this boat for some time without much luck. Ron S sold one a few years back and I should have jumped on it.

Any suggestions on a similar boat that weighs closer to 40 lbs? I currently have a 22 lb Poke Boat for hunts in small places and a Lund Ducker with a 7hp longtail that gets me to far away places. Just need something in between.

Mark
Click to expand...
Here's something to look at on the light side If you're considering options. They have a 12ft that comes in at 17lbs. Says they have a location in Minneapolis.

www.hornbeckboats.com

new trick 12 | HornbeckBoats

Like a kayak without the cramped cockpit. Free those knees. Our bestselling pack boat. It is suitable for a wide range of people, is very speedy, carries lots of gear and transports easily on your shoulder, or with a yoke.
www.hornbeckboats.com www.hornbeckboats.com
 
Sportspal makes a 13'6" sq back that they claim is 51 pounds. I have never seen one in person. I know they are aluminum with some type of foam on the interior.
 
What is it about the boat that makes it too heavy, is it the loading and unloading aspect, or is it about the hump to the water from where you drop it off? You might be able to keep the boat if you could make a dolly of some sort that would allow you to get it around easier when it isn't in the water.

Seems a shame to lose the boat since you like it in all other regards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top