Has anyone used a kayak as a layout boat before?

C

Chip Hull

New member
I'm looking for a very lightweight layout boat to put in my river boat and a kayak appears to me great fit. I plan to use it as a mummy boat on the sandbars and layout in some shallow pools that don't afford much cover. At 45 lbs, they appear to be ideal to me....has anyone used them as a mummy boat or as a layout blind in shallow water?
 
what sort of kayak? open cockpit, sit on top, closed cockpit? I've used them to sneak through creeks and move fast and quiet. The sit on top types might work pretty good as a layout, and it would depend on how much room there was in the others in the cockpit.
 
Exactly Mike, thanks for the pics. Do you feel comfortable shooting out of it? I have a 14' open tandem and am contemplating throwing it in my 20' river boat primarily to pull up on sandbars like a mummy boat and shallow water for puddlers. I've never tried diver hunting as we don't get a big variety here....but the layout hunting for divers shure looks fun and was considering it on slow puddler days.
 
I feel steady enough to stand and pole in that kayak Chip. It is a 14 ft'er and I carry it in my 14 ft aluminum boat to places for exactly the reasons you wrote. Light, tough, rot proof. What more could a guy want? I'm going to take out the molded seat next year and install a slat floor and a movable back rest so the shooter can truely lay right down. This one is an Old Town Predator. Cabela's has an 11 ft version for cheap too. I bet the one you have is very similar to mine.

I also use a stubby little 8' Pelican from Canadain Tire. It was $300 and my wife made a cammo cover for it. It tucks right in just about anywhere and is easy to chuck in the motor boat.

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Man I can't wait for next season!

Mike
 
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I've posted many times before about useing my kayak in just the same way. If I had to buy one today It would be the predator 14, I wouldnt waste time with the 11, 3 more feet shouldn't matter and the 14 opens up a lot more options. I currently use a mainstream 14 footer and it holds the pup and a lot more gear. I cram a seriouse amount of gear in it. the pics will show you. just make sure its beamy enough to shoot out of. you said 45 lbs. that weight makes me think it may be too narrow= unstable and less gearPA150679_2_1_1_1_1.JPG
 
I've got a old town loon 14 (same mold as the predator) and I use it for early season hunting. It works well, and is very stable.

Be prepared for your morning workout though, it isn't exactly like firing up the outboard and putting off to the spot. I get a good workout when I row mine.

do have to thing a lot more about what I bring when I hunt out of it. I tend to think like a boyscout and be prepared - which of course meand gear for every contingency. When I'm in a big boat, this is fine. In the kayak, less is better. I tend to bring a small drybag and my gun with me now and that makes a huge difference. The more stuff the worse mine tracks (keep in mind I am 225 lbs dry, so that doesn't help).

If I had it to do over I'd do it again, maybe even splurging for the predator (same hull but camoed not green and more extras come on it). At the time we bought, my wife and I were thinking more about summer recreation (and me about dual purpose use).

In the summertime I play around with mine tipping it over, righting it, trying to stand in it, etc. It is a pretty sturdy boat for such a small craft. I like to learn the limits in warm water before having to test them in cold water.

Mine isn't 45 lbs, if it is it is an akward 45 lbs. I can load it myself on a car or in the truck, but I wouldn't want to carry it a mile like that. If you need to transport a ways, make or buy one of those wheeled rigs.

By the way, try a bunch. My wife's kayak is nowhere near as stable. I got the loon 14 after RIJim's recommendation (he hunts the ocean with his).

Charlie
 
I agree with these guys, see if you can borrow and try a bunch of different hulls. Will they let you in the local swimming pool with a kayak? They do here and it is a great way to get comfortable with your boat.

My wife has a kayak like this one but in camo green and while it isn't as stable as the Predator, it is really nice for going any distance. The rudder lets you steer with your feet while you line up a shot as well. This thing is deadly on mallards in the flooded grass.


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images.jpeg Sorry about the size of this little picture, but I wanted to see how wide old style hunting kayaks were.


MIke
 
Last season I took the seat out of my 14' Old Town Predator and put in a back board to lay on. I covered the boat with grass mats and layed a mat over me. Used it on an area full of vegetation in 10-12 feet of water. Stable enough to shoot out of, never felt tippy. The hardest part was paddling without the backrest and staying out more than a few hours with a bad back. It worked great, killed ducks and geese. Could have reached over the side and grabbed the coots.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll give my 14ft loon tandem a try although it pushes 80lbs and a little bigger than I wanted for a layout. If it works for me I'll add a smaller one.
 
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