A Different Kind of Sunfish Conversion

[Brett S]

What do y'all think about converting a Sunfish to a Rail Skiff? I live in Coastal Georgia and from what I can tell they are plentiful and seriously under targeted. Its relatively easy slow paced wing shooting, and I have a couple kids getting to the age where they can start. A Sunfish layout conversion has always been in the back of my mind and it seems they are best suited for rowing rather than an outboard without serious hull modification. The boat would be towed to the hunting grounds, then rowed to and from the tender and poled while hunting. Does anyone have experience poling one? I think it would need a keel or runners to track straight while rowing and poling, is there something I'm missing that would prevent it from being a suitable poling boat?

 

[tod osier]

I'm sure it would work, but I don't think it would be ideal. Most of the railboat designs are flat bottomed and narrow, whereas a sunfish has a v and is wide. There are areas where people use johnboats and I've used a canoe or pirogue. It depends on the marsh you are in and under what conditions you want to hunt. There are flood conditions that occur only infrequently that most any boat will work. When the tide is just barely there, you need the ideal design to make progress through the grass. What I've seen of the clapper areas along the southern coast, you may be able to get by with a sub-optimal design if you pick your days.

 

[greg setter]

I will temper my response by saying I'm not a boat builder. I think you will spend near as much time converting a sunfish for this use with a sub-optimal result than you would by building yourself a rail skiff. I have been rail hunting for between 25-30 years with a group of guides in S Jersey. They are using the same boats today. They are very simple, if you have carpentry skill and some plans or sketches of a real rail skiff you can probably build one. As Todd noted, and I can attest, the shape/design of the boat is specifically for rail hunting and addresses those conditions and is really not any good for anything else, and vice versa. But if you do proceed, good luck.

 

[roy brewington]

For something easily available in your area look at a used Ghenooe 13 or 15. They,ll pole easily and draft about 4" water. Don,t think a sunfish converted would be an easy thing to pole about.

 

[Brett S]

Thanks for your thoughts fellas, like a lot of these sunfish conversion ideas, the hull is free and I have enough fiberglass, epoxy resin and lumber laying around from previous projects but not enough to build a whole boat, so it really comes down to making something useful out of what I have. I've built a couple of Kara Hummers, which I foolishly sold so I'm sure I could manage a ply on frame or stitch and glue pirogue type craft, Uncle Johns bayou skiff comes to mind.

As far as the hunting conditions, this would probably be an extreme high/king tide pursuit. The few guys I talk to that chase them seem pretty set that its a lot of work for not much reward on a normal high tide. Our mid elevation marsh where the tide reaches daily provides a lot of cover for the birds, and I would imagine tough poling in whatever you are pushing. When the tide covers up the lower marsh and reaches the high marsh which is less densely vegetated the birds are consolidate in less cover and are more accessible. The seasons are typically structured around the highest tides as well. That and we are fortunate to have plenty of opportunity in this part of the world with Doves, Quail, Woodcock, Snipe and Ducks throughout the fall and winter so if the tide isn't right conditions are probably favorable for something else.

Lets just say that I am going to do it, what do you think the most important deficiencies to address are? I'm 5'10, 175# so another hunter and a dog (42# GSP) should be within the capacity of the hull, gear would be limited to guns shells and a small cooler. Ive heard of folks shooting from the bow while seated to compensate for lack of stability and or lack of skill. Foam would be added fore and aft in sealed compartments to prevent her from going all the way under if swamped. Some method of runners/keel to prevent it from spinning while pushing. What else do you think?

 

[greg setter]

Hi Brett

Here are a few things to consider about how you'll use it:
Make it so that you can stand elevated at the back to push. You want the height to be able to see a little better and be as close to the stern as you are comfortable with.
I wouldn't put too much on the bottom, you need the clearance. Not sure in the marsh grass you would have the problem of tracking that you would in open water with wind.
Think about something you could make to go on the bow that would help separate the marsh grass as you push through it, that's the reason for the pointy bow on rail skiffs. Maybe a v-shaped extension
You can't do anything about the beam, but you might be able to coat the bottom with a really slick surface that would cut down on the friction when in the thick stuff.
It will be more stable than a regular rail skiff, they are a lot skinnier and more tippy than a sunfish. I don't see capsizing as being an issue
Sit or stand in the front, you can do either. But I would make it to stand as far forward as possible with a piece of wood on the deck to stick your toes under to keep your balance and not add the weight of a seat. You want to keep it light.
Get as much of the front deck cut back as you can so your gunner can stand as far forward as possible.

You will only be out gunning in it for a couple of hours at a time, typically in warm weather, so you don't need lots of gear inside it, just a couple of bottles of water and two pfd's. I believe you said you would be towing it to where you are going, so crossing open water to any extent should not be an issue. Most of the time you will only be in a foot or so of water, so when you fall in it won't be a big deal. And you'll fall in less than you would if you had a rail skiff, but you will fall in, and that's part of the fun. Good luck and put up some pictures as you move along.