Short review of my new 13' Duck Invader

MIKE-SID

MIKE-SID

Active member
I picked up the boat from Rich in PA early spring. Rich is a great guy, real easy to deal with, no drama, and he is true to his word. Very professional, he told me an estimated completion time, keep me updated, and was timely
The good: I love the boat! Enough room to hunt 2, today I hunted solo for the first time , and I loved it. (I prefer to hunt alone). The 1st hunt I used the 15 2 stroke off my Estuary. I clocked myself doing 28mph solo on my GPS, but loaded up with 2 and decoys and gear, I bet the max was 15mph. Before my 2nd hunt I secured a 2018 4 stoke 20hp Suzuki..with electric start....
The boat moves great with 1 or 2.
The blind works great, really glad I went with it.
I'm using browning stutter chairs Browning Camping Strutter Hunting Chair https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RT72TKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_T564VKNJ61SEBP3T4F21
They are perfect and comfortable. The boat is low profile, even at high tide, I'm not higher than the marsh, it's about even. This boat draws less water than any duck boat I've been in, I'm really impressed. I also went with the electric package with a bilge pump, decoy curtains, and a keel guard. I asked Rich if he could put one on, and he did!
This is my small water boat, for the marsh and local lakes. I'll also hunt the harbor shores on a calm day.

Now the bad


Early season closes Saturday [frown]
 
20hp is perfect IMO. I plug bass on the LIS in the summer with mine.Stable and draws 3" on water. Great boat.
 
So was it worth it to get rid of the estuary and hunt with that if you prefer to hunt solo?!

Also, does that side flap fold down for shooting? Pretty slick. I'll have to check it out in an area outside of your driveway sometime.
 
Nick.
The test was yesterday. The birds acted like I wasn't there. One more test is today. I'm going on the salt marsh.
Yes, I think it was worth it, even for solo. I can take more decoys easier, in my opinion. I used to put a bag of 8 geese on the bow, and was tricky for me to get to from in the boat.
Drawing less water is also going to help in the marsh, my area grows a lot of mud at low tide, maybe I can stay out longer.
I'm not saying that the Estuary draws a lot of water, but this draws less.
There are 2 sections to the side blind. Each fold down separately. When all grassed up they fold down easily.
 
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It's not fair to say that you can't get to your decoys on the front deck because you bought a used boat built to someone else's needs.
I have spent time talking to Dave over the years and he could make a canvas like the one on your new boat and also make an Estuary with a 8 foot cockpit and also rate the HP for more. He makes a boat for the customer. Grant you it drafts more under power but I've been out with Pete Britain sea duck hunting in marsh's on Cape Code and the guy has 72 Eider decoys, 2 Labrador's and enough stuff in the boat to live in it for a week and it still floats in 5 inches of water with the motor on shallow tilt. The dodgers are made to hold 100erd's of pounds on top, or have a spray shield made with a folding top to get to the front deck with out climbing over the dodger. The EstuaryII can have a 8 foot cockpit and a 25hp on it with flapper boards or canvas like on your new boat.
Phil
 
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I gun a 13 duck boss got it from Rich back in 14-15. Love the boat breaks ice no problem on the frozen bays and built like a tank. I normaly run solo with my dog , i run the flapper boards no canvas blind, I ran a 25hp for yrs on mine an was fine then got my hands on 30hp 2 stroke man does she boogie !
 
I,m liking liking how that roof system folds forward. Does it stow folded along with blind or does it have to be installed after set up. How about a close up pic of the hinge system that allows for that configuration.
 
Mike,

Really glad you are enjoying the boat. I recently upgraded mine to a 25hp Mercury 2 stroke last month. The 20hp Suzuki is the lightest 4 stroke 20hp on the market. It's a niche motor. It's a very nice fit for that boat. Is that the newer, slightly lower blind that Rich is making?

And yes, Rich is a fantastic guy to deal with. He's true to his word, stands behind his boats and really loves what he does.
 
Phil, not looking to compare boats, they are different animals. There are many wonderful boats, mine is now a Duck Invader.
Just my lowly opinion of how things looked from my perspective.

Roy.
You can definitely travel with it on, but might flap around if not secured. I will just pop it on at the ramp..
I must confess I haven't used it yet, but will in the late season



roy brewington said:
I,m liking liking how that roof system folds forward. Does it stow folded along with blind or does it have to be installed after set up. How about a close up pic of the hinge system that allows for that configuration.
Click to expand...
View attachment 20211014_144835.jpgView attachment 20211014_144828.jpgView attachment 20211014_144816.jpg
 
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Jay K said:
Mike,

Really glad you are enjoying the boat. I recently upgraded mine to a 25hp Mercury 2 stroke last month. The 20hp Suzuki is the lightest 4 stroke 20hp on the market. It's a niche motor. It's a very nice fit for that boat. Is that the newer, slightly lower blind that Rich is making?

And yes, Rich is a fantastic guy to deal with. He's true to his word, stands behind his boats and really loves what he does.
Click to expand...

Jay,
Yes my 20 is awesome, and I love the electric start, not needed, but why not!
I'm no sure about the blind, I got my boat new in April
 
Thanks for the pics. I thought maybe they had designed it to fold accordion style along side of blind while sidewalls were up but I think I may be wrong unless that hinge point can flip completely backwards. Can see how they,ve attached bottom of roof back flap to sidewall support. Thanks.
 
Mike do you have any pics of the inside of the boat with you sitting in it? I’m really close to buying one but I’m looking to hunt two six foot tall guys with a lab.
 
MIKE-SID said:
I picked up the boat from Rich in PA early spring. Rich is a great guy, real easy to deal with, no drama, and he is true to his word. Very professional, he told me an estimated completion time, keep me updated, and was timely
The good: I love the boat! Enough room to hunt 2, today I hunted solo for the first time , and I loved it. (I prefer to hunt alone). The 1st hunt I used the 15 2 stroke off my Estuary. I clocked myself doing 28mph solo on my GPS, but loaded up with 2 and decoys and gear, I bet the max was 15mph. Before my 2nd hunt I secured a 2018 4 stoke 20hp Suzuki..with electric start....
The boat moves great with 1 or 2.
The blind works great, really glad I went with it.
I'm using browning stutter chairs Browning Camping Strutter Hunting Chair https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RT72TKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_T564VKNJ61SEBP3T4F21
They are perfect and comfortable. The boat is low profile, even at high tide, I'm not higher than the marsh, it's about even. This boat draws less water than any duck boat I've been in, I'm really impressed. I also went with the electric package with a bilge pump, decoy curtains, and a keel guard. I asked Rich if he could put one on, and he did!
This is my small water boat, for the marsh and local lakes. I'll also hunt the harbor shores on a calm day.

Now the bad


Early season closes Saturday [frown]
Click to expand...
Mike~

Congratulations on the new vessel! I have worked on just one Duck Invader - but I was very impressed with the build quality and the hull shape. The 3-inch draft certainly looks right - and it's what I want for gunning the South Shore.

The custom features were for gunning as a 1-man + dog, as I recall.

Y - DI 56 - Bow Quarter B.JPG

Flap boards chocked up in gunning position.

Q - DI 44 - Flap Boards chocked - with stern hatch in place.JPG

They lay flat when open - to help managing the rig.

L - DI 43 - Flap boards - level with decoys.JPG

A sweet boat all around!

E - DI 38B - Ducks Eye View - darker.JPG

Will I see you in Tuckerton?

All the best,

SJS
 
MIKE-SID said:
I picked up the boat from Rich in PA early spring. Rich is a great guy, real easy to deal with, no drama, and he is true to his word. Very professional, he told me an estimated completion time, keep me updated, and was timely
The good: I love the boat! Enough room to hunt 2, today I hunted solo for the first time , and I loved it. (I prefer to hunt alone). The 1st hunt I used the 15 2 stroke off my Estuary. I clocked myself doing 28mph solo on my GPS, but loaded up with 2 and decoys and gear, I bet the max was 15mph. Before my 2nd hunt I secured a 2018 4 stoke 20hp Suzuki..with electric start....
The boat moves great with 1 or 2.
The blind works great, really glad I went with it.
I'm using browning stutter chairs Browning Camping Strutter Hunting Chair https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RT72TKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_T564VKNJ61SEBP3T4F21
They are perfect and comfortable. The boat is low profile, even at high tide, I'm not higher than the marsh, it's about even. This boat draws less water than any duck boat I've been in, I'm really impressed. I also went with the electric package with a bilge pump, decoy curtains, and a keel guard. I asked Rich if he could put one on, and he did!
This is my small water boat, for the marsh and local lakes. I'll also hunt the harbor shores on a calm day.

Now the bad


Early season closes Saturday [frown]
Click to expand...
I have owned every sneak box makers boat all great boats Estuary being the best and safest however my duck invader is the best duck hunting boat Dry spray goes aft runs thru ruff water no problem and the hide is amazing can hunt 2 men and dog comfortable I run an F25 yamaha 4 stroke
 
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