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?
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?
