Momarsh Fatboy vs. Fatboy DP vs. 4 Rivers 11'

M

Matt Griffin

New member
I am looking for my first boat for hunting tidal marshes in the north end of San Francisco bay and I was wondering if any of you out there have experience with the above mentioned rigs. I probably will not have to cross any major water to get to where I am going, but will possibly be travelling a couple of miles through back waters. Any feedback on how these rigs handle with paddling / trolling motors / 5 hp mudmotors? Stability? Tracking? Anybody car-top these boats on a mid-size SUV, or is a trailer the way to go? Any feedback / tips / other suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Matt Griffin
 
Got rid of the Four Rivers boat back when I discovered the original Fat Boy....

IMO either of the MoMarsh products is better than the Four Rivers boat....I currently run a 4hp air cooled Mercury on the FatBoy and have run the 5 hp mud motors on it....if I was going with a mud motor exclusively I'd go with the DP because of the way that the transom is set up...

The DP tracks better when towed and "might" be the better boat when paddled. If I'm poling I prefer the Fat Boy....

Either is extremely stable. I'm 230 and have been launching and recovering a 100 lb Lab out of mine since I got them, from either a staked or anchored rig with nothing to support it and have had no problems getting the dog back into the boat in either scenario....In addition I've fished out of the Fat Boy with two people and I've poled and shot Rails and Ducks out of both with two people and have had no issues with stability in either situation....

You can car top either with about the same amount of difficulty...it isn't the wt. that will work against you but the width and the cockpit....the two combined make it tough to get a hold of it to be able to sing it up onto the racks....

If you had one of the racks with the pull out extensions on them that would make getting the boat up on the roof way easier...

Steve
 
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Steve, Thanks a ton for the info, I think the original Fatboy may be better for me, as I will probably never have to tow it, and it sounds like it is very stable. I figure I will be paddling the boat more than using a pole, so I guess the smaller boat should paddle easier? Also I am not sure I'll need a mud motor, and a little short shaft 3-4 hp outboard will probably be fine. Thanks again.

Anyone else out there, please feel free to chime in.

Matt Griffin
 
the rocker in the hull gives it a bit of an advantage there but if you are going to use a motor as well as paddle and if the motor isn't a mud motor I'd pick the FatBoy....

Where are you in the Bay area? I'm trying to remember if Paul Gery has a DP.....I think he does and if your close I'm sure you could arrange to see his boat.....Ira could also tell you who has boats in your area and if they frequent this page I know they'd let you look at theirs..

Steve
 
Steve,

Thanks again. Just so I am clear regarding your recommendation: If I plan on paddling, and using a small outboard, then the FatBoy is the better choice, but If I am paddling and using a mud motor, then you would recommend DP? Bottom line is that I need to figure out what type of motor I need for the area I want to start hunting.

The area is a marsh, and they are tidal influenced for certain. Almost all of the area is accessible via small watercraft only. (some areas you can walk in). It appears it can get pretty tight, so either of these boats will have an advantage over a traditional Johnboat/blind rig.

Two dog questions: When you hunt your DP's or Fatboy, do you set up your seat so the dog is actually down in the cockpit behind you, or up on the little platform (DP)? I imagine it would be much easier to conceal the dog if it was in the cockpit behind you. Second question is do you need a dog ladder/platform, or do you just haul the dog over the side back into the boat after the retrieve?

I live in San Francisco, and new to hunting around the bay marshes. If there are any users on this site in the bay area that own a fatboy, or DP, I would love to meet up or just get your thoughts.

Thanks again.

Matt Griffin
 
and FatBoy if you're using an outboard....the reason for that is hull design, (the DP has a good amount of rocker and the DP is essentially flat bottomed), and the transom set up....

the FatBoy's square stern lets you sit right at the stern and control the motor without the need for an extension on the tiller, which is nice since most of the small stuff have the throttle on the motor itself and you need to be able to reach that quickly....your wt. in the rear will also allow you to trim the boat so that you can lift the bow when you need to....

the DP has the transom mounted aft of the cockpit...perfect for the mud motor set up because it allows you to stayin the cockpit because of the long tiller which will have the throttle on it....the DP doesn't rely as much on how you load the boat to trim it because of the rocker..you can certainly chage the trim but ts not as necessary as it is in the FatBoy.....

I'm one of those guys that just can't bring myself to beleive that an exposed dog doesn't scare ducks....there are alot of people that believe that an exposed dog is no problem and if you are one of those people then you can hunt either boat so that the dog is outside the cockpit behind you...(on the FatBoy shoot over the stern and let the dog sit on the front deck--on the DP shoot over the bow and let the dog sit on the flat rear deck)....

Like I said my own personal beleif is that if dogs don't flare ducks then why the heck do we mess with camo at all? Why not just dress up in a Lab suit and kill ducks without the worry of camo? Based on that I hunt the dog from inside the cockpit and locate them BEHIND me....this can create problems if your dog isn't steady to shot, but if that is the case then they are dangerous, to both you and themsevles, in small boats, because they'll try to exit the boat in a straight line and if that line is over your head thats where they'll go...you'll leran to orient the boat to solve that problem....In the Fat Boy I shoot over the stern which leaves the widest part of the cockpit behind me open for the dog....I have the blind doors for both boats and have then cut so that behind me doesn't there is a gap in the farme to allow the dog to look out... if the cover is high enough I shoot with the doors up and open...if I'm in really low cover the doors are closed and the dog lays down so that his head is no higher than the top of the blind doors...

No need for a ladder...the sides of either boat are low enough so that you can help the dog onto the decks with a hand behind the head.

I know there are a couple of Fat Boys up in the Redding area but I'm not sure of any in the Bay area...

Steve
 
Matt.
I hunt the bay area you are referencing and would think a bit before commiting to the momarsh boats for the bay. The areas you talk about sound a lot like Napa Sonoma, Napa river , South Bay and the Petaluma river estuary complexes. Have you spent a few days out there? The wind, current and tides are something to strongly consider. As you may have noticed it can get pretty nasty - quick. For the best boat application out there, a barnegat style boat would be you best choice. Small, light, can take a motor and safer in those elements. Dont get me wrong you could hunt it in a DP (i would pass on the FB becasue of the hull draft and front entry) but you will limit where and what days quite a bit. I have hunted that area with a kayak for years, but I know paddling, have a seaworthy boat and can get home even in rough stuff. I have also been out there in BBSB type craft and they are hands down the best rig to hunt that area. Boats like Sutton's BBSB (bud miles BBSB) are as light as the boats you were talking about. Paul Gery hunts that area a lot more than I and would be worth getting some advice from.
 
Hey Matt, Not Quite the bay area but I have a original Fat Boy up in Redding that you are welcome to come up and play with if you get the chance. The Fat Boy is a great little boat, very versatile! I would suggest that you try some form of push poll though especially in very shallow waters. You can can poll when it's too shallow or weedy to paddle and with a lot less effort. I car top mine on my Nissan P/U, I put racks on the camper shell and on level ground I can manage ok ( lots easier with two people for balance). The only drawback to the all the boats you mentioned is that they are fiberglass and you can't drag them over anything hard so launching can be tricky. I have a canoe carrier that Cabelas sells and that works very well.
 
Steve, Derek and Vick,

Thank you all for your help, thoughts and advice. I appreciate it and am glad I found this website! I am still in research mode for now, but will certainly come calling with more questions. Thanks again, and Vick, I appreciate the offer to check out the original FB. If I make it up your way I will try and hook up with you.
 
Matt,

I would follow Derek Z's lead, he has great experience and knowledge hunting these Areas. I live in Sebastopol and would be more than willing to take you out on these waters before you purchase the boat. I have hunted these waters and the delta for the past 3 years with an 18' gator trax and mud motor and am now considering adding someting smaller like an Estuary to my collection.

Feel free to contact me.

Steve
 
Steve, Thank you and I would love to take you up on the offer. Ironically, I was just looking at the estuary boat right before I saw your post. Nice looking rig. If you are planning on heading out there sometime in the off season, or maybe sometime for a hunt in the 07-08 season, that would be fantastic. I would be happy to reciprocate and get you up hunting at my club in colusa. Thanks again.

Matt Griffin
415-215-0699
 
Matt
I have a couple of Barnegats if you want to take a look at them and try them in the water. One is the glass classic barnegat and the other(s) are home-built BBSBs of my own design. I am up in the Roseville/Granite Bay area, about 10 minutes from Folsom Lake. If your ever out this way let me knwo and you can try them out.

Steve Sanchez: How is your restraunt doing? Did you quit the day job yet?
 
Not yet, but it's doing great, thanks for asking, still grinding away building out office space, man o man are we busy. Hey I might take you up on your test drive offer, how are your new builds coming? been awhile since I have seen any photos....

Let us see....
 
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