Pop up blind

S

shane blanchard

New member
Hello everyone, I need some of your expert advice. My plans to buy a estuary have not woked out, so plan "B" is now in effect. I have a small box for the marsh and I have an 18ft john for the bigger water. I would like to know some opions of the pop-up blinds for my 18. I have done some reading on the avery, cabels northern flight, and mud buddy's grass blind. Does anyone have an opion on any of these or know of another blind that works better. Any advice would be helpful. I have never used this type of blind and really have no idea on which is better than the other.
 
All of them work fine but you can build your own for a hell of a lot less money.
I have about $30.00 in my frame and $100.00 in green/brown camo netting from Barre Army Navy.
Its not as fancy as the pop ups but works just as well.
You can use cerex, camo netting or fast grass with this setup.
We stick some cane in around the blind to make it blend in better, for top cover and hold the boat in place.

[inline CerexBlind2.jpg ]


View attachment BoatBlind1.jpg

[inline BoatBlind2.jpg ]

View attachment CerexBlind2.jpg
View attachment BoatBlind2.jpg
 
I had a mud buddy on my 18 ft mod V and loved it. Sold the boat and blind recently. I would get another in a second if I get another john boat. They are much better than the Avery. I hear a lot of people complain about the frame of the avery blind being very weak. Mud buddy is sturdy as can be and easy to put up and down. Transport while on boat is no issue. You can run the boat to chase a cripple with it up also. The flip top keeps the weather off ya when you want and since it is adjustable you can really have it wide open if you want or completely closed. They arent cheap but you should be able to find a used one for about 500-600
 
I also use extra camo netting for top cover, pin it to the rails with clothes pins.
 
Shane,

I've got a Beavertail fold up on my Starcraft 16' that works very well for me. When folded the blind is one one side of the boat leaving the other side to climb in & out. It's a very simple design that works well, the bows that support the fabric are just electrical conduit so if one gets damaged it's a simple repair.

I'm working about 4hrs from home this week, but when I get home this weekend I'll find the CD that has the pics of my blind and post them for you.

http://www.explorebeavertail.com/1800boatblind.html

Here's a link to Beavertails website that show the blind I have.

Jim S
 
You may want to look into building your own scissor blind. See the refuge for some "how to" pictures. Cost for home made is a lot less then a commercial built, and can be much better in many ways.

Issues with Commercial built. The box say 18-20 foot boat, but really would be best for 19. or its not quite wide enough for your taste, etc... I have used an Avery, its a good sollution if you have no build ideas or skills, BUT.... I think the biggest complaint I had was it moved too much. Some guys I know welded their Avery together so it didn't fold. They had the same movement issues I had. Also they don't work as good if you have a side consol with the throttle up by the gunnell. Its a lot of little fitment issues that you will find.

All that said you also don't have to look for that perfect fit clip or hindge, etc with Commercial units. No creativity needed to follow the directions to build it.

Good luck
Dave
 
Dave has some good points in his post, the same things the Beavertail guy helped me through when I ordered my blind. I have an 18' blind on my 16' boat. When I called in my order the gent on the other end asked what boat it was going on. He recommended the 18, when I went to install the blind the front crossmember was to wide. A quick call to Beavertail & the narrower crossmember was at the house in 2 days, no questions asked.

One nice feature of the Beavertail is you can set it up to fold to the side you decide is right for you. Mine folds to the left gunwale so the steering console isn't a problem.

Jim S
 
To me it seems that for most people if they sit down and list all the features that they need/want there will only be one or two commercial blinds that will fit the bill but which one that is will vary by person. At least that was the case for me.

I have a mud motor so I needed something that got out of the way of the long tiller. I have a snap on cover for the boat so I needed something that stayed completely inside the gunnels and I wanted a roof to really close up the top opening and keep rain out. Only one or two did all that.

Before I hunted with a homemade blind that worked ok but was a compromise of all the things I wanted.

Just take your time and think about it alot before you take the plunge.
 
I have a scissor Blind diagram at home, I will try to post it tonight.
 
Again guys thanks for all the info. Its really giving me alot more to consider, i had never even thought about the issue with my side console
 
Here is the scissor blind plan. My partner used this on a 14' semi-v hull when we first met. He used military netting but cerex or burlap would work fine too.

Unlike the drawing here, he made it so the support ends were "telescoping". The center cotter pins at the pivot point served to hold the top peices extended as well as keeping it from folding.

[inline ScissorBlind.jpg ]

View attachment ScissorBlind2.jpg
View attachment ScissorBlind.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top