Boat Ideas

B

Bret Ackerman

New member
Guess I should have been more clear. Sorry. I put up a post yesterday regarding boat plans for the Barnegat bay sneak.

I've bought plans for a few boats with the intention of me building one eventually. However when I get the plans and look at them closer they don't seem to be quite what i'm looking for.

I guess i'm asking everyones opinions for a boat that will hold 1-2 people (mostly just myself), my dog, decoys and gear. Mostly hunting swamps but would like it to be able to handle the coast for divers as well when its not too rough.

ANY ideas, pics, plans, or directions would be great. Thanks for the time.

Bret
 
Have you looked at a Melonseed skiff?? I bought plans to Devlin's Zypher, and have started cutting yesterday...Its a stitch n glue version of a Chapelle Melonseed...I will have some pix posted in a week or so (once I have the hull stitched together)....The Melonseed is a sister of the sneakbox, both are from the Jersey shore...Where the sneakbox was used with in the "safe" (yea right) confines of Barnegat Bay, the Melonseed was meant to go a little further, safely..Google Crawford Melonseed and play on their site, its very interesting....

Good Luck with your Search

Jim DiSomma
"No, I'm not a good shot, but I shoot often."
Teddy Roosevelt
 
Jim,
Thanks for the boat idea. Ill look into it. Ive got the plans to the Brant by Devlin, but it wasnt quite what I was looking for. I have not heard of the Melonseed. Ill check it out.
 
Brett,

This question comes up all the time and there is really a simple answer that once you accept it, makes your decision very clear. That is "There isn't one boat that can do everything you want". I'm not being critical, we have all come to that conclusion eventually. I started with the same idea you have and now have 5 boats - and I'm STILL not done building. Though I love my last boat - the Poleboat - I'm thinking I can tweek the design a bit for my personal style and then of course is the BIG boat that has been rattling around in my head for a couple of years. Once you start building boats you realize how easy it is to have something better/different/custom, etc.

Good Luck,
 
Pete,
Thanks for the reply. I know that the more boats for the situation the better, however me being in school and fresh out of the military, im broke and was just looking for an all around boat. One of these days ill be able to have plenty im sure. But until then ill make due with whats sent my way.

When im done with school i have the intentions of following the migration south hunting along the way. Just need a boat I can drag behind me and throw in the water every now and then when I need one.

Thanks so much for the input guys.

Bret
 
If one of Devlins Brant boats is not what you are looking for then what are you looking for?

The Black Brant III (and II) fits your requirements unless your swamp is mud motor only like mine has turned into. However, as long as you have 10 inches of water in your swamp you can use one of the lighter longtail mud motors to push a BBIII and take advantage of its low profile.

The Melon Seeds are a class of sail boat that are based on the BBSB and other shallow draft sailing work boats of NJ. Displacement hulls with upswept sterns, and round chines. In use they are mostly a one person craft.

So what do you really want in a boat?

Your stated criteria covers dozens of custom and off the shelf boats from 12 to 25 feet, decked, open, low sided, V-hull, flat hull, displacment hull, hunt decked, etc, etc,

Is it the building process that does not work for you (plywood) or is it the asthetics of a hard chined boat that does not appeal to you?

For a plywood boat that is not like a Devlin check out the Duck Hunter by going through the Toller Boat Works site and reviewing all of his builds for that style of boat.
 
Ray,
I know exactly what I want in a boat. Exactly what I stated. I just wanted your input on the boats out there that I may be unaware of, before I decide to start building one. Thats why I asked. Thats for your suggestions though, I will look into them for sure.

Bret
 
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