Boats loaded to the gills....

[John Bourbon]

I don't want to hijack the thread about the decoy racks any more than what it was.....but I was thinking, we ought to show off the pics we have of our boats loaded to the gills with stuff. I nominate Dave's BBSB as the trend setter of the thread.

Once upon a time when he and I mostly hunted out of Poke Boats, we used to load them up pretty good. As I recall, when we used to walk to our hunting spots, pulling the poke boats behind us, I used to get 50 or 60 decoys, stuff and a gun in mine. Dave, do you still have any pics of those days?

John Bourbon

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

John, I'll have to see what pictures I can find... I wish I had a picture of that big garvey I had... the one we called the landing craft. I remember 4 of us, Onyx, and at least 6 dozen decoys in small craft warnings trying to get back to the Winooski in that, never worried about the boat, but the damn wave troughs did not leave enough water for the OB to get much bite! We were bouncing the skeg off the bottom. That was with the guys I coached from the soccer team, remember?

 

[John Bourbon]

Yes, I remember.....distinctly. That was the biggest 16 foot boat I've ever been in. I can't belive the amount of crap we fit in there.

John

 

[Jon Yenulonis]

Brings back memories...

Speaking of boats loaded to the gills,

Last Early Teal Season in September, due to circumstances beyond our control, two of us ended up hunting out of my son's little boat. He's 6'-0", 185#, I am 6'-1", 205#. Add in a 75# Lab, 50 thrust electric motor, battery, guns, couple dozen Teal decoys, and all related gear. Somehow we all fit and traveled about 1/2 mile each way to our spot and back.

This boat is only 8' long x 44" wide and has a fifteen inch transom. Believe it or not, it actually felt quite stable.

Jon

 

[CraigS]

Plus 2 guys @ 270# each and 1 chesapeake @ 100# does not leave a lot of room for the ride back!

 

[Tom Modin]

Craig is that a monster stand of smartweed?

 

[Bob M]

Holy ****...I think you need a bigger boat LOL

 

[Robert Becherer]

Jon
I understand those little hybrid boat are very stable indeed.Saw a picture of one a guy made and to test it's ability to hold weight both the builder and his brother were sitting in the boat together.They were NOT little people either.Boat seemed to float just fine.The were floating in a swimming pool though but it proved the point

 

[CraigS]

Craig is that a monster stand of smartweed?

Yep, most of the lake is covered in it on a good year. Thats lake Red Rock about 4 hours straight North of you!

 

[Chris S.]

Jon
I understand those little hybrid boat are very stable indeed.Saw a picture of one a guy made and to test it's ability to hold weight both the builder and his brother were sitting in the boat together.They were NOT little people either.Boat seemed to float just fine.The were floating in a swimming pool though but it proved the point

Is this the pic you were talking about I think this counts as loaded to the gills. LOL

View attachment 006.jpg

 

[Al Hansen]

What a great looking spot for mallards. It's been a long time since I have seen that much smart weed.
Al

 

[Robert Becherer]

Chris
Yes that is the picture.That is quite a load and the boat is holding up pretty good considering

 

[Jim Boyer]

My Carsten Bluebill often left duck camp with "no more room at the inn". By moving up to a 16'X48" Phowler mud rig from the 12' Casten, I no longer needed a "shoe horn". Ha!

"early goose/teal on the Mississippi River"

"late season diver hunt"

 

[Dick Sargeant]

Jim it looks like it is between you and Craig for top honors !

You are lucky to have a duck camp to go to ..............that's very hard to do in my neck of the woods and I'll bet it's great to get away for an over night for ducks !

sarge