Looking for a new boat

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
One of my duckboats is just getting too heavy for me. I have a fiberglass Hoefgen that weighs in around 65lbs. For me to load it in to the pick up bed, get it out, drag it to the water and repeat after the hunt is just too much. I love everything about it. 15' is a perfect length. I love the design as I can carry all my gear safely, and I can put on a small longtail motor if the distance to the hunt is too far to paddle.

I have been looking for the kevlar version of this boat for some time without much luck. Ron S sold one a few years back and I should have jumped on it.

Any suggestions on a similar boat that weighs closer to 40 lbs? I currently have a 22 lb Poke Boat for hunts in small places and a Lund Ducker with a 7hp longtail that gets me to far away places. Just need something in between.

Mark
 
Wish you were closer, as that Hoefgen at 65 pounds is about my speed these days, and a little more flexible for ducks than my fleet of canoes. Anything under ~60 pounds and bigger than the Poke Boat is going to be very fragile, very expensive, or both. Other than Wenonah mentioned above, the better light weight canoes I see these days are coming out of Canada, but that may just reflect that Old Town has pretty much gone full heavy plastic, and Mad River seems to be following them. Nova Craft makes some nice canoes that get down in the 40 lb range at 14-16'. Look at their Prospector line and also some of the Recreational Series. Paddling friends rave about the Bob Special, but I have no idea how it would work for hunting. When my Royalex canoes get too heavy for me, one of their Prospectors will replace them. https://www.novacraft.com/canoe/recreational/

For less money, Esquif has several ~15' Prospector type boats at around 60 lbs in T-Formex, which I think is just a new producer of what used to be Royalex. But I don't think you'll get under 60 pounds without going to fancy composites. The Royalex/T-Formex boats take a lot of abuse that composite canoes will not stand up to--and duck hunting is an abuse-rich environment . . . .
 
Allan Johnson said:
Wenonah makes some ultralight models. The backwater model has a square stern. They are nice but on the expensive side.
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Thanks. We rented a Wenoah for a Boundry Waters trip soe time back. Poked a hole in it. Duck tape to.the rescue. I will look at the square stern model
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Wish you were closer, as that Hoefgen at 65 pounds is about my speed these days, and a little more flexible for ducks than my fleet of canoes. Anything under ~60 pounds and bigger than the Poke Boat is going to be very fragile, very expensive, or both. Other than Wenonah mentioned above, the better light weight canoes I see these days are coming out of Canada, but that may just reflect that Old Town has pretty much gone full heavy plastic, and Mad River seems to be following them. Nova Craft makes some nice canoes that get down in the 40 lb range at 14-16'. Look at their Prospector line and also some of the Recreational Series. Paddling friends rave about the Bob Special, but I have no idea how it would work for hunting. When my Royalex canoes get too heavy for me, one of their Prospectors will replace them. https://www.novacraft.com/canoe/recreational/

For less money, Esquif has several ~15' Prospector type boats at around 60 lbs in T-Formex, which I think is just a new producer of what used to be Royalex. But I don't think you'll get under 60 pounds without going to fancy composites. The Royalex/T-Formex boats take a lot of abuse that composite canoes will not stand up to--and duck hunting is an abuse-rich environment . . . .
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Thanks - I looked at the Nova Craft and they do have canoes that are lightweight. I am looking for a square back as I do plan to hand my mini mud motor of the end to power it. I've seen some double enders with modified motor side mounts and while they work for electric motors and small outboards, they do not work well with a long tail. With the prop being so far back, the stability of the canoe is't great when turning.

I did see on squareback but in an aramid fiber, it still weighed 62lbs.

Thanks

Mark
 
Mark W said:
One of my duckboats is just getting too heavy for me. I have a fiberglass Hoefgen that weighs in around 65lbs. For me to load it in to the pick up bed, get it out, drag it to the water and repeat after the hunt is just too much. I love everything about it. 15' is a perfect length. I love the design as I can carry all my gear safely, and I can put on a small longtail motor if the distance to the hunt is too far to paddle.

I have been looking for the kevlar version of this boat for some time without much luck. Ron S sold one a few years back and I should have jumped on it.

Any suggestions on a similar boat that weighs closer to 40 lbs? I currently have a 22 lb Poke Boat for hunts in small places and a Lund Ducker with a 7hp longtail that gets me to far away places. Just need something in between.

Mark
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Here's something to look at on the light side If you're considering options. They have a 12ft that comes in at 17lbs. Says they have a location in Minneapolis.

www.hornbeckboats.com

new trick 12 | HornbeckBoats

Like a kayak without the cramped cockpit. Free those knees. Our bestselling pack boat. It is suitable for a wide range of people, is very speedy, carries lots of gear and transports easily on your shoulder, or with a yoke.
www.hornbeckboats.com www.hornbeckboats.com
 
What is it about the boat that makes it too heavy, is it the loading and unloading aspect, or is it about the hump to the water from where you drop it off? You might be able to keep the boat if you could make a dolly of some sort that would allow you to get it around easier when it isn't in the water.

Seems a shame to lose the boat since you like it in all other regards.
 
Todd Duncan Tennyson said:
What is it about the boat that makes it too heavy, is it the loading and unloading aspect, or is it about the hump to the water from where you drop it off? You might be able to keep the boat if you could make a dolly of some sort that would allow you to get it around easier when it isn't in the water.

Seems a shame to lose the boat since you like it in all other regards.
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It is the lifting in and out of the truck. It is the dragging on land from the truck to the water. It is the way the boat is made that makes it very awkward to lift.

I love the boat, just can't handle it anymore.
 
Mark, you are not going to find what you want that will be light enough to make that big a difference. I would suggest working on ways to overcome the challenges. Add wheels for moving, and a winch to pull it into the truck. I added a winch for the same reason, and am finding it quite useful in saving my back.
 
Todd Duncan Tennyson said:
What is it about the boat that makes it too heavy, is it the loading and unloading aspect, or is it about the hump to the water from where you drop it off? You might be able to keep the boat if you could make a dolly of some sort that would allow you to get it around easier when it isn't in the water.

Seems a shame to lose the boat since you like it in all other regards.
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Mark, like myself, lives in Minnesota. The problem I have and I suspect Mark as well is alot of the duck hunting areas are walk in only for several hundred yards and then fighting your way through seventy five yards of cattails. It can be a bit much. Like Mark I am exploring several options. One idea I have had is to build a light strip built canoe with a decked bow and stern. Portaging is easier than dragging. Thirty pounds would be about right so that you could still carry some decoys on your back. Minnesota regs are cumbersome but without them I think we would lose the few mallards we have.
RM
 
Dave Diefenderfer said:
Mark, you are not going to find what you want that will be light enough to make that big a difference. I would suggest working on ways to overcome the challenges. Add wheels for moving, and a winch to pull it into the truck. I added a winch for the same reason, and am finding it quite useful in saving my back.
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I have found several boats that are 45 lbs or lighter. Was hoping someone here has experience with what I'm looking for?

I have tried various methods of loading the Hoefgen into the truck bed. I have tried more than one method of getting the boat from the truck to the water. Nothing works the way I need it to be. Been at this for 2 years. I have a nice Poke Boat to carry to the water. Weighs 22 pounds. I have a lightweight 105 Lund Ducker with a 7hp longtail for bigger water and longer distances where there is a boat launch. I am missing the intermediate boat that I can get into the back of the truck, load it up with gear and add a motor to it to get mew to where I want to be. The Hoefgen filled this need very well (I have owed it for 20 years) but it is just too heavy for me to easily work with.

Thanks for the input.

Mark
 
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RM Anderson said:
Mark, like myself, lives in Minnesota. The problem I have and I suspect Mark as well is alot of the duck hunting areas are walk in only for several hundred yards and then fighting your way through seventy five yards of cattails. It can be a bit much. Like Mark I am exploring several options. One idea I have had is to build a light strip built canoe with a decked bow and stern. Portaging is easier than dragging. Thirty pounds would be about right so that you could still carry some decoys on your back. Minnesota regs are cumbersome but without them I think we would lose the few mallards we have.
RM
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Spot on. My issue is that 65 lbs is alot for a 66 year old. Sure, I could make it work with a lot of effort. I'm beyond a lot of effort. I have the 22 lb kayak that I can take anywhere. Issue is I don't want to paddle this a couple of miles or more nor use on realy windy days when waves are big.

I have the boat that will go everywhere i hunt but this boat reqiures a boat landing.

The Hoefgen filled the in between until it became too heavy for me to enjoy using. When I want to hunt a spot that requires this boat, I dread it. And if I dread it I wake up hunting morning and go back to bed.

And as you mention, what you are looking for I am looking for. Except not every hunt requires log walks and drags. Even if I have to drag the Hoefgen 20 yards, it is just too much.

Mark
 
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I hope I never have to choose my boat based on whether I can get it in the truck. One solution to transporting the boat from the truck to the water is a deer buggy or kayak transporter. A board or ramp to slide the boat on and a small block and tackle in the truck bed will load it. I've done both solo with boats over 150 pounds. I'm 65, where there's a will there's a way. Rage against the dying of the light. :)
 
SJ Fairbank said:
I hope I never have to choose my boat based on whether I can get it in the truck. One solution to transporting the boat from the truck to the water is a deer buggy or kayak transporter. A board or ramp to slide the boat on and a small block and tackle in the truck bed will load it. I've done both solo with boats over 150 pounds. I'm 65, where there's a will there's a way. Rage against the dying of the light. :)
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I have some medical issues that might make it harder for me than you? I have a kayak cart. More than one actually. To get the boat out of the bed I have to get it out and then assemble the kayak cart. I then have to get the Hoefgen on the cart solo which is a pain. Then have to strap it down and hope I have it on there centered. Then I drag it to the water (20-100 yards) and have to unstrap it,, lift it off the cart. Getting back to the truck is the reverse. This is too much for a 20 yard walk and I can't drag the boat on the ground

Also have ramps and a drill powered winch I have used. It too has become too much. Also have a small Yakima trailer that carries the boat well and is easier to load and unload but I can't use this if I drive down very narrow trails to get to where I put the boat in. Some of these trails are a couple hundred yards long or longer. No place to turn around and can't unhitch the trailer to turn around either

I have had this boat for over 20 years and love it. It has just become too heavy for me. I already sold my 14' Lund that weighed close to 300 lbs with a 100 llb motor on it and replaced it with a 105 lb boat with a 70 lb motor. World of difference using this boat solo. Requires a boat launch which many of the places I hunt don't have. Also have sold my heavier ice fishing shacks and replaced them with smaller lighter weight units. Going up tomorrow to visit my Cousin who is the CEO of Clam to see what else I can do to lighten my load.

For me it is either go lighter or give up. I'm not ready to give up and I can afford to go lighter. i don't hunt private land and therefore I hunt places that are harder to get to and require some effort. Otherwise I'm out there with 50 other hunters who shoot at anything that flies. This is not enjoyable to me.

Mark
 
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Sorry to hear about the health challenges. Can't say I enjoy aging, and when my back acts up it sucks.

Glad to hear you're still in the icefishing game. One of my favorite pastimes, a wonderful way to get outside in the dead of winter. I rarely use a hardside shack, I much prefer flipovers and popups in ME and NY. Here in CT I use a Wilcraft, which is the perfect setup since I can leave it fully loaded in a cargo trailer between trips. Just add bait, beer and fuel and it's good to go on a night expedition for old Walter.
 
Mark Wo said:
It is the lifting in and out of the truck. It is the dragging on land from the truck to the water. It is the way the boat is made that makes it very awkward to lift.

I love the boat, just can't handle it anymore.
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If the ground has frozen, use gluv it or ski wax on the hull so it will have less friction as you pull or push it across the land. You didn't mention any dog in the equation.. .Is that the case?
 
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