10' max oal sneakboat design suggestions

C

Chris Hanson

New member
I'm a commercial fisherman in Sitka AK, and am looking at replacing my old RIB with a duckboat. I do a lot of boat-based deer, moose, and some bird hunting in the fall and winter, and like to let my crew take the skiff out for adventures occasionally in-season for a shore break. My RIB is getting unreliable in the air-holding department, and frankly I never liked it. It has an F15 Yamaha tiller on it I'd like to use on the new boat, however.

Since I launch and retrieve with my winch and boom, and too-often find myself dragging it back down the beach on low tides, I'd like to keep the wet weight as low a possible. My current setup is 360# full of fuel. Also, the stowage space on top of my rear aluminum deck house is limited to about 12' total length with the motor tilted up. Any longer and I risk snagging the bow or lower unit on pilings when tying up.

These boats have a hard life, it's a very rocky coast here.

I'm familiar with Devin's Broadbill, and would consider building it with uhmw bottom and keel guards, and asking Sam if I could lop a foot off the bow with minimal negative effects... but would rather just buy a manufactured boat that fits the bill.

Any suggestions?
 
Unlike Anthony, I can't think of too many options. I own a Broadbill and can't imagine losing a foot. County Line may have something that works but they have a long waiting list. You'd be lucky to have it by next season.

1038 – County Line Boats

countylineboats.com countylineboats.com
 
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Chris

Thank you.

How important is it you have an outboard on the boat? Would armstrong work? If so a hellbender makes a really nice boat that works with your weight and length requirements.

hellbenderboats.com

Hellbender Boats

The finest handmade fiberglass layout boats created for Duck hunting, by Duck hunters. Made in the USA. Fiberglass Duck boats shipped to your door.
hellbenderboats.com hellbenderboats.com

I got curious and went looking online for something that would meet your needs. This one seems to hit the mark. Rocks are no problem and it can handle that 15hp you mentioned.

www.silverstreakboats.com

New - 10' Silver Streak Duck Boat - Silver Streak Boats

10′ Duck Boats available! Range of colour choices, email for catalogue. $4,100CAD/each, delivery not included.10′-0 Duck Boat with standard features The all welded Duck boat is the perfect, compact fishing boat for shallow water. Weighing in at about 100 lbs, the duck boat can be easily carried...
www.silverstreakboats.com www.silverstreakboats.com

Here's another. Not sure it meets all your requirements but I'll throw it out there anyway.

 
I'm a big guy at 6' 2"/270 with size 16 feet that don't fit well in small boats. Take this with that context and all the grains of salt appropriate, but 10' is awfully small. I know space and weight are priorities, but if you can get to 12', I think you'll have a more comfortable and sea-worthy boat. Given that it will be banged around on rocks and maybe when loading/unloading, I'd be thinking aluminum.
 
If you are going with 10' the Mini Mee and the Silver Streak look interesting. Note the weight capacity for the Mini Mee 10--318 pounds. It's a one man boat, and a big guy better not have much gear or shoot anything bigger than a couple of geese. I didn't see a weight capacity for the 12, but would expect a decent increase.
 
I'm 6'2" and 225. Fully understand what you're saying, but refer to my note about total length limit. I can't put a bigger boat up on top of my afterdeck shed.
Boat will be primarily used as a beach taxi from my big boat, even for most of my duck hunting. I'll just use it to drop dekes and pickup birds; that's what I do with my RIB.

I know you all don't know me from Adam, but understand I spend over 220 days a year on the water each year, and am certain about what I want and need in the boat. I haven't yet decided for certain I'll go with a duckboat, but so far the suggestions that fit my criteria are much appreciated.

For reference, here is my boat. Looking a little rough after a long summer. Note the ever-deflated RIB on the bait shed...
 

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That’s quite a tender you have there, how many dozen decoys can she carry??
:)
Would love to see some hunting and fishing photos!
 
I picked this up yesterday for a song for a shuttle boat. 12' Grumman Fisherman. I'm not a waterman by trade but been on the water for 60+ years. I've had a 10' and that 2' makes a difference for me. I understand you desire to maintain the 10' oal. Would building a rack above your handrail be out of the question? I ask because 12' boats are much easier to find. At least in my area.
 

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I too find 10'+ boats very common up here and in the puget sound area. Unfortunately, I must stay inside the rails on my shed. I tie up to pilings that would snag the boat if overhung, and sometimes to tenders that would frown on me if I scratched up their pretty paint with my tilted-up lower unit.

I considered building a cradle higher to negate the need for tilting the motor, nixed due to increased windage and just how ugly that would be. Will avoid it if at all possible.

"That’s quite a tender you have there, how many dozen decoys can she carry??"

Haha, I'm not sure about that, but "enough" is probably the right answer. I'm actually considering setting it up as a layout boat base in a few years. We have a pretty liberal bag limit up here on divers and sea ducks.
 
Carl said:
That’s quite a tender you have there, how many dozen decoys can she carry??
:)
Would love to see some hunting and fishing photos!
Click to expand...
A couple from the water
 

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John Ki said:
Would it be possible to store the boat on a 45 degree angle on the afterdeck and possibly fit the 12' boat up there?
Click to expand...
LOL, it's gotta be a 12' overall length with the motor tilted up. Actually it's 11'9" inside the rails 3' from the aft edge. It's becoming obvious this crowd is really wanting me to get a bigger boat, haha. No to angling it, I use the remaining space on the lid for storing bouy line shots when we're black codding.

Looking for suggestions of designs that get me a max 12' OAL with the motor tilted up.

It's entirely possible that a duckboat isn't in the cards for me, and I just have to pop for another RIB. Hoping that's not the case, but if it is, it is.
 
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Carl said:
Cool!
What’s the cod looking fish?
Click to expand...
That's a lingcod. Not actually a cod at all, it's a sculpin. But very tasty, and fun to catch. Very aggressive biters at times. When sport fishing them it's not uncommon to have them latch onto a rockfish or even another lingcod and hang on all the way to the surface.
 
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