Backwards sneakboat

[joe citrano]

I'm sure I'll get massive ridicule for this but does anyone else hate shooting over the motor?it drives me nuts! I push my boat in transom first n shoot over the bow.i have been doin it for years

 

[Craig F]

I used to gun that way, best for when you are gunning with a friend or a good dog as it can make it harder to go chase down a cripple.

The original highlands sneakboxes developed on the northern coast of NJ were made to shoot over the bow, with fold down decoy racks on the bow.

 

[Will M]

I would imagine for diver ducks it could be beneficial to not have that obstruction. If I had a sneak box though I'd want my motor in the deeper water for more expedient retrieves

 

[Steve Sanford]

Good morning, Joe~

I gunned my first two Sneakboxes over the bow. I ultimately switched to shooting over the stern because:

1) Compared with bow first, it was usually much more difficult to push the transom and motor up into a good hide. And, I usually needed to have the motor tilted all the way up. Both prevent me from getting the boat as far into the hide as I would like. Worst of all - more than once - the tiller extension would fetch up in the bog (without me noticing until too late) when I was dragging the boat out. It wore so much and got so loose that I had to replace the entire mounting assembly on my outboard.

2) When "shooting over the stern", the motor is rarely a in the way. I generally rig the boat sideways to the marsh and am shooting to my left. However, even if shooting directly over the stern - as when I am hiding the boat in a ditch or cut - the motor rarely obscures any shots for more than a moment.
.
3) Having the motor in deeper water certainly making getting under way easier - as when picking up downed birds. And, it allows me to put the motor down more often when gunning.

4) Although I shoot with my spray dodger down, I do use it to help hide my head and shoulders.


Here it is nosed into a little cut, rigged with the stern pointing right at the decoys.

BTW: With my first boat, I tried removing the outboard and hiding it on the marsh whilst gunning. One big tide cured me of that idea......


All the best,

SJS

 

[gcs]

I've done it both ways, stern in, the motor isn't in your way and hides easier, but you can't hide under the spray shield. Stern out, motor sometimes in the way, and sticks out more, you can back under the spray shield a bit. 6 of 1 half doz. of the other, I prefer shooting over the bow on nicer days, stern on crappy days,

 

[R. Greco]

I have a Fricke built sneakbox...always shot over the stern...Just seemed the right way to do it...

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

I agree with steve and the others about shooting over the stern. Tried both was with the jersey boat, just was easier for me to shoot over the stern.
I shoot a lot of marshes with mosquito drains, bow in is easier as there is deeper water on the outside. Also spray shields are a good hide.

 

[Matt Decker]

I'm with you, usually kneel and shot over bow