Choosing the right sneak boat

C

clinton andrus

Active member
Good morning all. I have been looking at my options of what boat I would need to best fit my needs. How I hunt. I have a boat already for bigger waters and hunting more guys then just myself. I'm wanting a one man boat for hunting skinny water, boat must carry a large load I'm 6 foot 350 pounds plus my gear and motor. Not only does it need to get into some skinny water it needs to be able to handle a max of 2 foot seas. I don't have a dog so not worried bout fitting that in the boat. I have looked at some devein models as well as some of the gatorboats. The boat must handle at the least a 25 horse motor. It will be trailered, I have tons of boat ramps where I hunt. It also needs to be possible to use a copperhead surface drive motor on it as well. That's all I can think of at this time, looking forward to y'all's words of wisdom and advice.
 
one of the 14' devlins...

a 12' bluebill would be better, even if overpowered slightly with a 25hp on it...
 
Ok first reply says declines boats 14 to 12 foot long. But how would I build it with a planning hull and not the displacement hull. A planing hull would do better in shallow water then a displacment hull if I'm thinking correct.
 
I would look at something like a Phowler aluminum sneak boat if I was hanging a mud motor on it. I use a mud motor in spots due to shallow water, deep mud, logs and stumps in the water. Not anything I want a wood or fiberglass hull in.
 
That's a tough set of conditions, open water plus mud motor country. I think I would go with a deep sided mod-v aluminum hull.
 
Thanks for the info guys. As for as using the mud motor I do hunt some skinny water but no mud flats just shallow water filled with weeds and grasses. I thought about the semi v aluminum boats but fear they would not be low profile enough for the places I want to hunt this boat. And I love the prowler boats but way out my price range with our fine governments economy right now. That and I really like building things and love a challenge of trying to build it out of wood.
 
Thanks for the info guys. As for as using the mud motor I do hunt some skinny water but no mud flats just shallow water filled with weeds and grasses. I thought about the semi v aluminum boats but fear they would not be low profile enough for the places I want to hunt this boat. And I love the prowler boats but way out my price range with our fine governments economy right now. That and I really like building things and love a challenge of trying to build it out of wood.
Click to expand...

I'd go with a devlin 12'. Mine goes through skinny Nasty water easily.


It's a choice you have to make, more seaworthy, less effective shallow, less seaworthy better at floating in 2" water. There isn't a boat that will do both perfectly that is a nice small one man rig, iMo. My Bluebill has been through vegetation choked Devils armpits, no issues at all.

I only if you like cheap find a used carstens rig or just buy a 12' alum v hull and add a glassed wood cockpit on top with some coming and grass straps.

Cheap, easy, effective, tough. Will work with mud motor. Seaworthy enough for 2' seas with the cover and a spray shield, though I wouldn't want to be in a big chop with a mm.
 
Older arthur armstrong Blackjack duck boats were rated for 25 hp. Will go in some skinny water and handle a 2' sea with ease. Very stable gunnin platform and can be set up as layout or high side blind. In a pinch 2 men and a dog can gun from them but i generally use mine for solo hunts as i,ve got much bigger hulls for multiple hunters. Tony homer is still building these boats new but now only rated for 15 hp, probably because of added weight of 4 stroke motors. Thats all i use on mine now , a 2 stroke merc 15 but originally i had a 2 stroke 25 merc on it and it would fly. Do a little shopping and this hull used can be picked up generally in the $1200 to $1500 price range.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Gives me some more ides on the right boat. Think I'm going to start with a duck hunter and croc from gator boats. Build and use them for a few seasons and then work up my own design or build from plans something more suited to my needs. I know this though other then my surface drive copperhead that I own I will not own a 4 stroke outboard again to heavy and no power. Again fellas thanks for all the info.
 
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