Best Boat for Sea Duck Hunting? TDB? Bankes? DW?

C

Christopher C

New member
I live on the Chesapeake and have been using a Grady White 232 Gulfstream for sea duck hunting the south river. I've been scanning the market for years with the mindset that TDB was the best manufacturer out there. Upon learning about Bankes and Duck Wrangler, I'm beginning to wonder what truly is the ultimate sea duck hunting boat. Or am I wasting my time, because It's apparent that most days scoter and old squaw could care less if I'm in a big white fiber glass boat.

Thanks for the insight guys.
 
Chris,
I have a 17' Duck wrangler and really enjoy hunting out of it with friends and family. I had a TDB 14' but was to small for my needs. So when the time came to move up in size I found both a TDB and DWrangler . I went with the DW. Don't get me wrong TDB's are nice boats but I feel the Wrangler improved on the basic design. I've hunted out of 17' TDB sea class but felt it was a still a step behind the wrangler design. But the wranglers are no longer made to my knowledge . So these opinions are for used TDB's and DW's boats.

The Duck Water boat are very nice. I've gunned out of one of them on the Bay. They are pretty much bullet proof or should I say Duck hunter proof being made of heavy gauge alum. Bankes Boats are another fine boat. I have not hunted out there big boats only there lay out boats. I've only looked there big boats at waterfowl shows. Their craftsmanship in fiberglass and design with hull and interior is first class. I believe they make the best design on glass boats over 17'. 17 Tdb type and under they all do the job. All being a safe functional duck hunting boats that you can take to where the birds are and conceal you. I think it becomes just a personal preference and what's on the market.


There are other companies also making new design duck boats and the owners post here regularly. Tom Ayers (SP?) has a few designs that He makes under the name Duck boss, I Believe. The pictures that have been posted here look nice and seem like a very nice design. I have only heard great things about his craftsmanship and quality. Tony H. here on DBHP has the TDB molds and has brought the brand back from the ashes. He also knows what he's doing and is making some improvements to the original design of the TDB is my understanding. Steve at Duck Water boats will and can make any personal touch in alum on his boats. I've seen nice custom features on his boats for customers that were one off designs to match customers needs.


As for your question of need since the scoters decoy to your big white boat. Well, you can go to grocery store and by duck, but it's not nearly as fun. I prefer to hunt out of a duck boat and shoot ducks myself. Since you already have a boat that works you can wait for a deal on a boat to come along and scoop it up. These are some of my experiences and a brief overview of the boats you mentioned. I'm sure others here can give ya more advise and personal experience. Maybe Tom and Tony will join your post and give ya some detailed info on their new boats.
Gene R.
 
I have a14 ft tdb really like the design and the blind set up is nice keeps u out of the wind and dry.I live in Wye mills and generally launch at Kent narrows and run out to the Chester or eastern bay.fairly big water boats a lil small for rougher days.Also use it in the marshes and rivers.Thinking about a larger tdb or bankes to ad to my duck boat collection.
 
Those DuckWaters look awesome! I've been circling one ever since I developed the sea duck sickness. I spoke to the gentleman who builds them when I first contracted the illness. He would be really easy to work with to get exactly what you want.

I find that rugged all welded aluminum concept very appealing. I cringe whenever a long line clip or an anchor accidentally bangs into the side of my whaler! The boat would be more for me than the ducks though...
 
I have a 14 sea class. I live in the finger lakes region of new York. I hunt small and large lakes, on the larger lakes when there's weather I have to be careful as it can be to small. When theres light to moderate weather it's great. With gear and two people makes for little room at times for divers. I have also hunted out of a 20' wrangler this year and found that to be a great boat also especially in rougher weather. A bit tougher to hide as it's bigger. In the past guys have gotten together for picnics, etc... And brought their boats. If you can find or either put something together where guys can meet for a day to socialize. If they brought their boats then you could see them in person and even take a ride to get a feel. I think you'll find that boats are like cars, guns,etc.... It's just which brand you like personally. They all do the same Thing.
 
I live on the Chesapeake and have been using a Grady White 232 Gulfstream for sea duck hunting the south river. I've been scanning the market for years with the mindset that TDB was the best manufacturer out there. Upon learning about Bankes and Duck Wrangler, I'm beginning to wonder what truly is the ultimate sea duck hunting boat. Or am I wasting my time, because It's apparent that most days scoter and old squaw could care less if I'm in a big white fiber glass boat.

Thanks for the insight guys.
Click to expand...
Christopher, First I envy you for living in a location where Sea Ducks are plentiful. Your quest can take you as far as you want to allow it to and cost you as much money as your willing to spend on a new duck boat. As others have stated there are a few great choices out there now days. Bankes Boats, Duck Water, Duck Boss and TDB are the 4 main competitors in the boat blind business.

The ultimate decission will come down to what you want in a boat and what you want to spend. Size will also determine who can be considered into the factoring as well. I know TDB's Largest model is a 21ft which wont make production until late this year if not 2015. Duck Boss I believe stops at 17ft however Bankes and Duck Water can get you much larger atleast to 25ft.

If I were you and your current boats working for your needs I would look for a cover boat more so for marsh hunting and or the salt marshes etc as you already know any boat will work for sea ducks basically. Most of the big boats being used are guides who are running sea duck hunts on a daily basis to make their money.
For the average hunter a 17 or 21ft blind boat will get the job done. possibly even a 14ft model.

We welcome you to follow us as we revive the TDB the boat that started it all. And if we can answer any questions feel free to contact us via pm or even phone. 937-418-7207.

Good Luck out there and in your search for a boat as there are several great choices out there. The bottom line is this.

How much money you want to spend

How large a boat you need

Answer those 2 questions and then you can get more detailed information from those who meet your needs and requirements.
 
Tony, I appreciate the insight. After taking into consideration what I've learned over the past week or so, I've come to the conclusion a Bankes 19 would be the ideal size for my needs. If sea duck hunting was all I did on the South River, then yes, the Grady would suffice, and therefore I should focus my attention on a smaller marsh boat. However, every year I manage to reserve a blindsite less then a mile away where I am trying to pursue diver and puddler hunting. I am currently using a 30 year old 16 foot aluminum grumman with a half functional 10 year old Avery quickset blind. With that being said, you can imagine how difficult it is to conceal the boat, hold three hunters and dekes, and let alone shoot in it without falling overboard. Just two days ago, we tried to go sea duck hunting but were stopped by two inches of ice covering my creek. The grady isn't designed for breaking ice, granted with patience I could've worked my way out but at the cost of destroying the fiberglass hull. Whereas, from what I've heard, Bankes and TDB break ice pretty well. I can't help but think we'd be shooting more sea ducks in a duck boat, considering the Grady provides little cover. In summary, I want a boat that can serve all my duck hunting needs, the 2-3 ft seas you get with sea ducks, divers and puddlers at my blindsit, hell maybe even hunting the potomac, patuxent rivers. So I'll try to keep an eye out for some used models during the offseason, keeping my fingers crossed that a 19 will go up for sale or a killer deal on a TDB 17. Again, thanks for the info.
 
I read your summary needs statement. Two points on a Bankes Freedom: Yes, they are VERY Good duckboats ( I own a Hercules layout), but they are very wide boats to hide in a marsh setting. They require very thorough grassing and conealment to work well routinely on dabblers, unless you can stuff them against a bank,preferrably with overhanging trees, because of the other limitation. The second qualifier is their blind set-up for puddle ducks. If you are six foot plus, sit in one with the roof up for an hour. I want to be able to sit in a position where my feet are under me when I stand to shoot, not where I have to get to my feet and then readjust my shooting stance to be stable on the swing and follow through. I don't want my head hard against a blind roof for hours and I don't need a roof that obscures 75% of my vision unless it is pouring rain. Nearly all roofed blind boats, including the Bankes, don't enable me to do that well. Yes,I am tall but not exceptionally tall. With the blind roof down, the blind opening is a bit too wide.

As open water boats for sea ducks, they excel above all others. For a guide who needs a boat he can run at near WOT on full plane in a nasty chop to get clients to and from a gunning site, they are fast and stable boats under power. I don't guide...after spending a decade on the Great Lakes on a near daily basis, working well into November/December and immediately after ice-out, I pick the days it will be safe and productive to move and hunt open waters. Whether you are hunting shallow marshes on the Great Lakes where wind speed, fetch and seiche impacts can combine to produce some very nasty and highly unstable wave forms and sea conditions, to the Salt where tidal influences can manufacter the same wave conditions, the question you should be asking yourself is: Will my hull's ride and stability characteristics move me to hunt in unsafe conditions too routinely? I suspect you have had the same internal conversation regarding fishing conditions since you fish out of a Grady White. A good boat might get you home when the sea conditions get ugly, but that is not a garantee. When you are not out in "it" routinely, while earning a living, the realibilty of your "weather eye" suffers.



Just some additional "stuff" to kick around.
 
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