Josh Hatley
New member
Hi, I am looking to get my own boat to seaduck hunt with. Cheap but functional and SAFE as possible. What do you hunt out of? Pic?
SeaDuck Boat pics
- Thread starter Josh Hatley
- Start date
Capt Rich Geminski
Well-known member
I used a 13' boston whaler and did well. Others used 16-19' aluminum skiffs. Remember to pick your weather and try to get another group interested, another boat is safer and the laughter is worth it.
Scott Farris
Well-known member
For a first post this had to be pretty disappointing, not one picture from your request. I was hoping you’d get some new pictures posted but no luck. Capt Rich gave you some good if wicked generic input. So welcome to what is probably the oldest continuous operating (well we did spend a little time in a box but that’s an old member memory. Many of us have been around for over 20 years, so getting us kick started may take some effort, but at least follow the first post – number one rule – Names – read it. Yes, I had a friend with Farmer as a sir name but coupled with “me vet” makes it sound like a descriptive title. While it’s great to know you’re a vet (assuming you are actually) the handle doesn’t come across all that friendly like a real name does.
Next your audience is nation wide with a few from even more exotic locations to the north. Anyway, for best responses give a bit of yourself and your need. Sea Duck hunting is a broad topic extending down both coasts Alaska to CA and New Brunswick to the Chesapeake with the Great Lakes thrown in. Unless your up in the NW in Harlie country there are three basic sea ducks; Eider, Scoter & Long Tails. Depending on where you’re hunting, they may be found in the same areas (a wonderful benefit of gunning ME). Down here in CT LTs are found more to the western end of Long Island Sound in generally sheltered water with high tides and low currents, while eiders are found on the east end around the entrance to Fisher’s Island Sound and the RI Shore. Scoter are found working the mussel beds miles off shore. The old timers tell of scoter working inshore but pressure seems to have driven them well offshore in any numbers.
So first off figure out what your type of hunting / boat YOU NEED to be successful and SAFE.
My experience / photos:
Long Tails – I don’t think I’ve ever shot one while not sculling – 16 ft Merrymeeting Bay Float:
Scoter hunting in LI Sound – 18 & 20 ft Lunds & 20 ft Prince Craft aluminum V-hulls:
Eider guided hunts in ME – 20-ft Lund Alaskan, 17 ft duck boat (original Maine) & 23 DuckWater with the site’s own Troy Fields - check his web site for his pic.s: Traditions Guide Service:
The 17-ft was owned by an site member (Alvin) not a guide and the boat was a lot wetter than a V-hull.
Hope this helped – you want more – commit more.
Scott
Next your audience is nation wide with a few from even more exotic locations to the north. Anyway, for best responses give a bit of yourself and your need. Sea Duck hunting is a broad topic extending down both coasts Alaska to CA and New Brunswick to the Chesapeake with the Great Lakes thrown in. Unless your up in the NW in Harlie country there are three basic sea ducks; Eider, Scoter & Long Tails. Depending on where you’re hunting, they may be found in the same areas (a wonderful benefit of gunning ME). Down here in CT LTs are found more to the western end of Long Island Sound in generally sheltered water with high tides and low currents, while eiders are found on the east end around the entrance to Fisher’s Island Sound and the RI Shore. Scoter are found working the mussel beds miles off shore. The old timers tell of scoter working inshore but pressure seems to have driven them well offshore in any numbers.
So first off figure out what your type of hunting / boat YOU NEED to be successful and SAFE.
My experience / photos:
Long Tails – I don’t think I’ve ever shot one while not sculling – 16 ft Merrymeeting Bay Float:
Scoter hunting in LI Sound – 18 & 20 ft Lunds & 20 ft Prince Craft aluminum V-hulls:
Eider guided hunts in ME – 20-ft Lund Alaskan, 17 ft duck boat (original Maine) & 23 DuckWater with the site’s own Troy Fields - check his web site for his pic.s: Traditions Guide Service:
The 17-ft was owned by an site member (Alvin) not a guide and the boat was a lot wetter than a V-hull.
Hope this helped – you want more – commit more.
Scott
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Troy Fields
Well-known member
I have seen all kinds of rigs on the water. It really depends on the area you'll be hunting and the conditions you'll see there and also how many people do you think will be with, including dogs. Gear takes up a ton of space, both safety and hunting gear. I've hunted inside harbors from a 16' aluminum boat with a 15hp evinrude. When I started guiding, I used a 20 Lund Alaskan with a 75 honda. Nice boats, but the short, cut out, transom is not ideal for the sea ducking world, in my opinion. It doesn't take much to back that into an oncoming sea. Next I guided with a 18' Bailey Bridge Boat, thing was a tank, but 3 gunners (really two) was my limit. I use a 23' Duckwater now. Yes expensive, but very seaworthy.
Again, ask yourself what kind of water, how many people, and how much money can you spend. Stripped down hulls are somewhat common here on FB market place, but a good reliable motor will be as much or more than the cost of your boat. Be careful with adding a blind to any boat as it could make it top heavy.
With all this said, I have seen people shoot sea ducks from canoes, all the way up to standing off the back of a 32' lobster boat.
this is my current DuckWater.
here are a couple of my Bailey Boat
And my 20' Lund as well as my 16' Devlin Scaup. That Scaup was as seaworthy a boat as 16' could be. I miss that thing, great two person boat.
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Scott Farris
Well-known member
Hi Josh, Thanks for updating your name and location. Nice location by the way! I got to sail around there in the mid 70's, (pre GPS) fog was so much fun! And had a school buddy with connections to a camp on Isleboro for some scuba diving in the Fall. Add in a half dozen days sea ducking out of Owls Head and Rockport w/ Bill Wasson and the DHBP eider hunts back when he was still guiding. Good luck on locating a good boat and have a great time running your own show.
Scott
ps; the picture of the 17 ft duckboat busting through the waves was coming into Rockport.
Scott
ps; the picture of the 17 ft duckboat busting through the waves was coming into Rockport.
I'm not much of a sea-ducking fan. I don't care to eat them, and I don't shoot things I don't want to eat. (Except for woodchucks--I do like to eat what grows in my garden!) So take this with several grains of salt, as I only have a few sea ducking experiences. If you really want to hunt sea ducks in any weather anywhere on the coast of Maine, you want something like one of Troy's two boats. You could go a little smaller if you are not hunting a big party, but seaworthiness and safety are important on the Maine coast in December and January. I wouldn't suggest anything under 18', and you will be a lot more comfortable in something 20' or more. The problem is that an 18-20'+ boat is an awful lot to hide for most of the other waterfowling Maine has to offer. Now, maybe you already have a fleet of boats to chase puddle ducks and inland divers, and if so, ignore this. But where you live in Bradford is to the Penobscot watershed and its ducking opportunities a lot like where I live in Manchester is to the Kennebec. Something 14'-18' would be a lot more versatile, easier to hide, easier to launch at informal boat ramps, and would still get you to some sea-ducking spots if you picked your days and watched the weather. But it won't be safe and even pretty stable to shoot from like Troy's latest boat was for me and two friends on day with 30+ knots of wind and driving rain. But if you are willing to give up hunting unprotected open ocean on snotty days, something like one of Scott's boats will do you just fine--and be fantastic for all kind of other hunting, too.
I don't know that anyone considers it sea-ducking, but I think late season saltwater hunts for whistlers may be the finest hunt Maine offers--many of the same qualities that people enjoy hunting eiders and scoters and longtails, but they taste better (to me) and are a lot more often found in fairly protected waters you can hunt safely with a small boat.
I don't know that anyone considers it sea-ducking, but I think late season saltwater hunts for whistlers may be the finest hunt Maine offers--many of the same qualities that people enjoy hunting eiders and scoters and longtails, but they taste better (to me) and are a lot more often found in fairly protected waters you can hunt safely with a small boat.
Phil Nowack
Well-known member
Phil Nowack
Well-known member
I use an 2008 21 foot Duckwater... With a 2022 Yamaha 150. And a Layout Addictions layout...
Phil
You've been laying low lately. Good to see you onboard and helping out.
You've been laying low lately. Good to see you onboard and helping out.
Troy Fields
Well-known member
Here's the potential for a good beginning. FB market place
1974 18 foot aluminum boat
18 foot aluminum fishing boat no motor. Brand new tires.
www.facebook.com
Phil Nowack
Well-known member
Low as a layout boat will legally allow!!!
. Been wrapped up in getting use to the SBE3 28g... And loading up TG.. and developing loads...
Here is our Duckwater 28' Sea-Duck Rig Setup with a 2-Man Core Sound Layout! We love it. 
Josh Hatley
New member
This may be the one @Scott Farris
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Bob B
Well-known member
Scott,
that’s a great throwback pic off the breakwater. Is that Paul in the boat with you?
Phill,
Am I remembering correctly you built a large ply and epoxy boat for transport of your layouts? Is that ply hull still around and running?
good memories of the early days from this site and all the layout info that was passed on.
that’s a great throwback pic off the breakwater. Is that Paul in the boat with you?
Phill,
Am I remembering correctly you built a large ply and epoxy boat for transport of your layouts? Is that ply hull still around and running?
good memories of the early days from this site and all the layout info that was passed on.
Phil Nowack
Well-known member
I made a 19' 3" Devlin honker.. that was heavily modified.. I sold it to Paul Meisenheimer a couple years ago.
Scott Farris
Well-known member
Hi Bob, Yes that is Paul in the picture, we had some good scoter shoots off the coast. Dominating my life at the moment is a 10 wk old BLM pup. We lost Jetty very unexpectedly to stomach cancer in Feb. He was to be our last canine buddy after 42 years of dog ownership. After a lot of soul searching we decided it was too early to not have a hunting buddy. So welcome River's Edge Companion to the family and say good by to full nights of sleep for a bit. What is new is that being retired he is so much more of my responsibility and with me so much more then previous pups. Harder but I'm enjoying it.
Hope life is treating you guys well!
Scott
Hope life is treating you guys well!
Scott
T Entwistle
Member
Here are a few pics of my sea duck rig. It’s a Duckwater Ocean 23. Any sea worthy boat can get the job done. I chose this as it allows me to keep my decoys neat and tidy with a clear floor. I also fish off it all summer.
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Bob B
Well-known member
Phil,
i remember the build and your pics hunting the 19. Always was impressed by that project.
Bob B
Well-known member
Scot
did not know you lost Jetty. Never easy. So glad for you and the family that you found a pup to go forward with. They keep us on our toes and as you said require our attention. We are enjoying Scouts daughter Sixpenny (5yrs) and now caring for my mother’s dog. Very Glad to have the company in the house. Scout left a big hole when he passed. All the kids are grown up. We are looking forward to the Fall. I talked to Dave M about fishing a few weeks back and he is still using his Delvin chasing ducks and bass all over his home waters. Your wife’s muffins came up when we were talking about the decoy hunt at Dave’s.
Enjoy all the work of dog training and socialization. I am envious of your newest hunting partner.
Bob