Duck Invader 13 Owners - Pics

Jay K

Jay K

Active member
Ok guys. So the 12' Higbee is gone. Rich has me scheduled to take delivery of my brand new Duck Invader 13 sometime in late September. I know a couple people on here have them. I'd love to see pictures how everyone has theirs grassed, setup, etc. Mine will be a flapper boat.
 
Very similar boat. Curious to see if anyone would be willing to share pics of their DI13. Should be a good number on the water these days.
 
Just keeping this alive, guys. I am due to take delivery of my 13 next weekend. I will update with pictures and maybe do a little review.
 
It's a nice little boat. A TON of room and draws no water. Good Luck with yours.
 
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I have a 15hp 2 stroke. Spoke to Rich and he attested to it being able to haul 2 guys around no problem with a 15. 20-25 would be ideal but my 15 is a 2005 absolutely mint condition Johnson. I can't part with it.
 
you'll be fine only reason i have a 30hp is because they are hard to come by tiller an it was never used an the price was right im deep in the 35+mph range great little boats
 
Took deliver of the DI13 yesterday. First impression is this is quite the boat. In my personal opinion, this is a lot of new boat for the money. My view is relative but the width on the boat is substantial. I will be taking a host of pics for you guys with my impressions starting tonight. I have a lot of work to-do:

- Mount the motor
- Attach aviary netting
- Begin the process of grassing
 
Here is what my new DI13 looks like as of now. I used Spartina Alterniflora, which is the dominant type of Spartina where I do most of my hunting. I still probably have some more touching up to do. But this is basically where things stand with my boat.

The grass on the flappers, hull, and front rails are all zip tied. The grass in the rear rails is just stuffed into the rails. I will be very curious to see how things hold up. This was my first time really grassing in a boat, so any constructive criticism is certainly welcome.

Definitely a little more work than just attaching grass mats to a scissor blind on my old John Boat !


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Spartina is going to look good, as your pictures show, but it will break down relatively fast. I use it mixed in with salt hay and a raffia base and attach the spartina with bungees. Every few hunts I just cut more and replace where needed. Salt hay will hold up to more abuse and I'll use it on my flapper boards for that reason.
 
Christoph,

I agree with Craig. I took his lead and will be doing raffia mixed with salt hay on the deck, probable all salt hay on the flappers. Tie in bundles of spartina and phrags early season to green the boat up. However, like he said, they really break down. He's not kidding about salt hay holding up. I typically got 2 years on the hay on my boats. Spartina/phrags had to be replaced every year. Looks great otherwise though.
 
Craig and Jay,

Thanks for info. That's exactly what I needed to know and something I was worried about. I tried to search info on suitability of Saltmarsh cordgrass (spartina alerniflora) vs Salt Hay (spartina Patens) but couldn't find anything. In the end I just assumed they'd by similar since they're so closely related. I guess I know better now.

As long as it holds up for the first split, I should be able to retool before the second opens.

Thanks Again,

Christoph
 
Christoph,

Shoot me a text with any questions. The hay is a little shorter unless you find primo stuff. I've seen it as long as 2' in some spots. I have to cut some for my boat in a week. Still waiting on the rest of my supplies to attach the netting. They both look really good, the spartina just breaks down pretty quick.
 
It should hold up fine for the first split, of course the teal numbers will decide how well that grass gets beat up on your flappers [;)]
 
Craig F said:
It should hold up fine for the first split, of course the teal numbers will decide how well that grass gets beat up on your flappers [;)]
Click to expand...

I did the flapper drop test without grass and found it works a LOT better with grass on it haha.

Guys, I apologize for the delay. Between trying to rig this boat for grass, helping the wife around the house, and work...I've been remiss with pictures.

So far I've:

- Mounted my motor properly with through bolts with SS hardware.
- Installed a battery to run the lights and bilge pump with a pig tail for a maintainer/charger.
- Installed pad eyes with 3/16" 1/2 grab stainless steel blind rivets.
- Installed aviary netting (not pictured)

Here is a shot from the bow. You can see the pad eyes installed. The hinges are for the flapper board. Rich builds them now with higher flappers. They are installed with stainless steel hinge pins and clips. I will be painting the hinges. Rich offers the boat with a bow flapper, dual side flappers, and you can buy an extra rear flapper. I did not elect the rear flapper. Front nav light is LED. Rear anchor/running light is standard filament.

View attachment IMG_4788.jpg

Here is a shot of the rear cockpit. Nearest I can tell, I would drive the boat from the port rear corner. May or may not need a tiller extension. I will probably carry it onboard to help with setting decoys. Rich offers the boat with an electrical kit. It came pre-wired with battery box, lugs, and switch panel. The switch panel has a cockpit light, running light, bilge pump, and accessory switch. The boat also came standard with the hose/wire boot in the back which I have routed my fuel line through. The bilge pump exits into the splash well which has two drains.

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This is the view looking forward into the cockpit. The boat also was ordered with decoy curtains. They are removed in this picture as I was fitting the boat with the pad eyes. I will likely use them when trailering to keep the decoys in the bottom decoy racks. The bow storage area has a curtain as well and this is where my life vests and safety cushions will go.

View attachment IMG_4789.jpg


Not having run the boat yet, I am very happy with the layout of it. It also came with a locking cockpit cover which I am very excited to have as a feature. Should do well for long trailering trips where I may stop for food or to use the restroom.

Next I should have some grassed up pictures with flappers installed.
 
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