Duck Water boats?

chris Lillehoff

chris Lillehoff

Active member
Does anyone have any info on DWB's? I'm searching for the perfect vessel and i'm not familiar with this company or any first hand experience....

Any thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated!

Thanks, chris
 
I know that a a few guys on the site have them so I'm sure that you will get some good info. I saw one at the Tuckerton, NJ show in Sept. and it is a tank. They actually have a portable set of steps next to the boat to allow people to see inside. It would never work for me personally, it is just tooooooo big and heavy. But in the right place, like the ocean, it is a very impresive vessel. They are very expensive as well, but if your finances allow and you have the room for it then great. I have a friend with a Bankes 17'. That boat is awesome.
 
I don't own one, but I have heard that you really need a large motor to push these boats. I have heard of guys that have their 17' model and have to put 115 on them to get them on plane. Like I said this is what I have heard.
 
What are the differences between the bankes and DWB? Length of the vessels equal, what are the main differences? They seem to appear very much similar but yet one has a huge following and the other you hardly hear a squeak about.

The price is not really important on them in my eyes. If you find a good one you will have it forever.
 
but have been in, and hunted out of, both......for what its worth based on that my opinion is that the Bankes boats are the "ne plus ultra" of Duck Boats....the "cream of the crop" and the "top of the pile"....the finish is impeccable and they were designed, laid out and built by a duck hunter who duck hunts.....add to that I've never heard of a warranty issue with their boats either.....or from anyone that had one that didn't like it.....

Again for what its worth if I ever trade in my sled for another boat it will be the GOLIATH and I'll make that change without a second glance at any of the options "currently" available from other builders.....

The DWB may well be a fine boat I simply didn't like the way they looked, (in fact I think they are butt ugly with that big shear side), rode or hunted.......

I think one of the reasons that the DWB isn't better "known", and "received" is that its basically an aluminum knockoff of the original TDB, and not the "original" that the Bankes is.....

I'm sure the Bankes boats are more expensive and while there are times tht I beleive that price isn't always an indicator of quality its my opinion from my experience with the Bankes product that in this case it is.....

My .02 on the question....

Steve
 
Chris where would you be using a boat that big out there? Devils lake? Always wanted to hunt that lake for divers.

I have seen DW boats but never hunted out of one. I have hunted a number of times out of the my friends 17' Bankes freedom, excellent boat. Speaking on similar styles, IMHO the style has its limitations, especially if you want to layout hunt. Its possible just not as easy as open floor tender boat. As for hunting out of it, its pretty sweet, we decoy ducks to it, but obivously nowhere as good as a layouts. On clear sunny days we seem to have more fly the edge of the spread than rougher cloudy days.

As its been said here a number of times, there is no one perfect boat. So if I was going to hunt devils lake with a few guys it would be out of tender and layouts. If it was myself or one other then I would look at a BBIII style boat and pick my calmer days or you could always fashion a removable blind on an open floor tender and hunt out of it. Another thing to consider is cost, you could pick up and alum tender boat, a couple 1 man layouts or a 2 man, and make a removable blind, for way less than you would have invested in a DW or bankes style boat.

good searching

bill
 
Chris where would you be using a boat that big out there? Devils lake? Always wanted to hunt that lake for divers.

I have seen DW boats but never hunted out of one. I have hunted a number of times out of the my friends 17' Bankes freedom, excellent boat. Speaking on similar styles, IMHO the style has its limitations, especially if you want to layout hunt. Its possible just not as easy as open floor tender boat. As for hunting out of it, its pretty sweet, we decoy ducks to it, but obivously nowhere as good as a layouts. On clear sunny days we seem to have more fly the edge of the spread than rougher cloudy days.

As its been said here a number of times, there is no one perfect boat. So if I was going to hunt devils lake with a few guys it would be out of tender and layouts. If it was myself or one other then I would look at a BBIII style boat and pick my calmer days or you could always fashion a removable blind on an open floor tender and hunt out of it. Another thing to consider is cost, you could pick up and alum tender boat, a couple 1 man layouts or a 2 man, and make a removable blind, for way less than you would have invested in a DW or bankes style boat.

good searching

bill
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help.
 
Chris-

I have a Bankes Goliath that I absolutely LOVE. I've beat the snot out of it and hunted it in <1' of water and taken it in the ocean and caught sharks from it.

I spend as much time fishing out of it as I do hunting and it's well suited for both tasks.

The Chesapeake can get nasty and the Goliath can handle it with the right guy at the helm.

I've hunted out of the 19' crusader and it's much the same as it's big brother.

For my hunting there is no question that glass is better than aluminum. My boat is warm, solid, stable, efficient, well built.

I have 2 bankes layouts too and they're just as nice.

My two man revolution took a load of 12 ga. 3" #2 point blank in the "gun slot". Not only was the hunter not hurt, the boat only needs a small bit of work.

Ron, Mike, and the Bankes crew make a damn fine craft and stand behind them.

-D
 
Man those DWB's are expensive but sure do look solid (like a Sherman tank). Ron Bankes boats are surely more of a traditional boat.

I cannot recommend either as I don't know how and where you will be using your boat. What I will recommend is that you take your time and enjoy picking out the right boat. That may entail hunting from a Jon boat for a few years, but there are worse things (like not hunting at all).

You will wind up with what is perfect for you and your style eventually.

Best,
Harry
 
I've lusted after a Bankes Freedom since standing on the gunnel with 3 others on the proto type in their boathouse.Michael gave me a hell of a deal on it but I couldn't swing it then..(note to self...kick yer ass again). We piled a bunch of guys in it and Ky Krause even danced on the back corner of it...the thing just wouldn't move. It is a dry ride in nasty seas too. The Goliath is more of the same.
 
The new Duck Water boats are sure ugly to my eyes. Being aluminum at least you know he just didn't splash a mold for the new ones.
 
"HEAVY METAL"

I came across this website a couple nights ago and stumbled onto this post. Being a new DW owner, I was so intrigued in what I was reading about the DW boats, that I immediately signed up, and now am able to post. I now wish to share with you what I know about DW boats, after owning one for the last 2 1/2 months.

Let me start off by saying I own a 2007 DW Stealth Apache (18'-6") powered by a 115 4-stroke Suzuki outboard mounted to a C&M hydraulic jack plate. I acquired this boat through a gentleman from California, who for financial reasons had to get rid of some toys. He listed the boat on Ebay and that is how I discovered it. He and a friend had ordered their 2 boats together from DW and and had taken delivery in May 2007. The hour meeter on the motor had only 15 hours on it. Up until seeing his listing on Ebay, I had never heard of Duck Water Boats.

I e-mailed the seller, and followed up with a long phone conversation about the boat. Living in Idaho and hunting the Snake River, I had my doubts that the boat would be to much boat for my kind of hunting. I had been hunting the last 20 + years from my 1648 Lowe jon boat, with a custom Pop Up Blind (Nebraska) that I put on in 2005. I had always wanted a little bigger boat, something I could hunt 3 guys with gear, decoys, dog, and be able to move around in the boat. The seller also hunted rivers, Sacramento and the San Joaquin in California, and assured me with the shallow draft, and the hydraulic jack plate, the boat would be perfect on the Snake River. So after many phone calls during the week with the seller, and a few to Steve at DW boats, I won the auction and bought the boat.

I went down to the Bay area on December 8th to pick up the boat. Let me just say, pictures on the internet do not do this boat justice. You have no idea of the size of this boat until you are standing along side of it, it looks even bigger sitting on the trailer, out of the water. I have owned numerous boats thru out my life (50 years old) and when I backed "Heavy Metal" into my garage at 11:00 P.M. on December the 9th, my wife's comment was "That is the ugliest boat you have ever owned". LOL!!!

I hunted out of the boat the rest of December and all of January (our season ends the 25th). It has taken some getting used to, but the boat is a real pleasure to hunt out of. I could easily hunt 4 guys, but it's very comfortable with 3. I finally have a boat big enough for all my decoys and gear and a couple of buddys, and not to mention that 5 mile run up river goes by a lot faster now with the 115 HP 4 Stroke (love that motor).

As far as the over all construction of the boat and compared to my Lund 1890 Pro V LE, it is very "Rough". It is built like a tank, but I feel it could be a lot cleaner. My boat had a lot of rough sharp edges that just needed some attention. I also have large spot welds hanging from the bottom of the boat that have gouged the running boards on the trailer and make it difficult to load. I am still playing with the trailer set up (never was right) to get the boat sitting on the trailer properly. The "Venture Trailer" would not be my trailer of choice for this boat. I am thinking of having a custom trailer made for "Heavy Metal" so I can drive the boat on, and not have to wrestle with it every time I load it. I also "DO NOT" have a Coast Guard Certification Plaque on the boat. And as far as Steve goes and his customer service, let's just say it leaves a lot to be desired. In my opinion he really needs to work on that, along with bringing the overall workmanship up on his product. And being a business man my self, I feel if he doesn't address these issues it will be the down fall of his company. Just my .02 worth

Hope this helps.

Mike
 
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Sounds like DW should buy a grinder. Somebody once told me, if aren't good with welder, you will get good with a grinder.
 
IKDAHOMIKE,

If I understand the rules, any boat under 19’ is REQUIRED to have a capacity tag placed on it by the manufacturer. This is the tag that I am talking about:

compliance6.gif
http://www.letter-rite.com/images/products/decals/compliance6.gif
 
I know what they look like. I even had one on my old 1648 Lowe jon boat. Like I said before my DW does not have one, at least not that I've seen anyway.
 
Mike,

I was just trying to be clear. Sorry if it came across wrong. If your boat does not have one, it should. DW is required to tag every boat under 20’. I don’t know who would be ticketed If you get checked by the USCG and the boat does not have one. You should call DW and request / demand one. FYI, here are the USCG rules when it comes to the tag being on the boat.

FEDERAL LAW
183.21 - Applicability
This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length, except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats.

FEDERAL LAW
183.23 - Capacity marking required
Each boat must be marked in the manner prescribed in Sec.s 183.25 and 183.27 with the maximum persons capacity in whole numbers of persons and in pounds, the maximum weight capacity in pounds, determined under Sec.s 183.33 through 183.43, and the maximum horsepower capacity determined under Sec. 183.53 or the statement “This Boat Not Rated for Propulsion by a Motor”.

FEDERAL LAW
183.25 - Display of markings
(a) Each marking required by Sec. 183.23 must be permanently displayed in a legible manner where it is clearly visible to the operator when getting the boat underway.
 
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