New boat design, any thoughts?

Kevin Stupp

Kevin Stupp

Active member
I've been using the new Puddler for a few weeks now and working out pretty good. I let a buddy borrow it and now he wants me to build him something similiar, but he wants flip doors like his layout blind. I think they would be in the way while paddling. We kicked around a few ideas and I thought of this.

Kayak style, but big enough cockpit that once you paddle to your spot, you step out and you can set up your layout blind in the cockpit. Allows for double duty for a layout blind and don't have to spend money on building a blind for the boat.

Still in the design stages. Any thoughts?
 
I know a couple of guys that do this with the Kara style boats. It works pretty well, but you have to get the right blind or modify the cockpit size of the boat to make it work. The Kara is a MUCH bigger boat than the Puddler (~13.5' x 4')

I have mine set up with pairs of hinged doors along each side of the cockpit. The forwarddoors stay connected all the time while the aft doors can be detached for easier access/paddling, etc. I just drilled holes down through the top of the combing and have bolts that slide into the holes to hold the hinges in place. On the forward bolts, I added a nut to hold them while the aft bolts don't have a nut.
 
"I now a couple of guys that do this with the Kara style boats. It works pretty well, but you have to get the right blind or modify the cockpit size of the boat to make it work. The Kara is a MUCH bigger boat than the Puddler (~13.5' x 4')"

Thanks for the input! Keep it coming.
I figured I probably wasn't the1st to think of something like this. Size isn't really an issue. Weight will be low. Less then 3 full sheets of 3mm okoume plywood coated with Westsytem and painted with Petit paint. It isn't going to have a motor and not holding a lot of weight, so it doesn't need to be a super structure.

As for making flip doors, the idea is to not have the added material cost and utilizing something he already has.
 
Design the flip right and the doors don't get in the way. I finally found my pictures of my flip doors on the Hoefgen. I'll post them up later today. I keep the doors open while paddling and they are not in the way nor are they dragging in the water.

Mark W
 
Mark

I would really like to see those pics. I am in the process of deciding how to do flip doors on my canvasback. I wan the option to hunt it alone laying down or with a partner, both sitting and facing the side of the boat.

Thanks!
 
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