The "best" grass boat for two hunters and a dog? TDB vs DuckBoss?

MIKE-SID said:
Great summary and explanation Jay! I love my DI, and would not let it go. I'm hoping to pass it on to my grandsons.
I like the fact that it sits low, really low. I think it hides second to none in the marsh. The ducks and geese landing in my decoys never know what hit them! Some do get to see who missed them, but that's a different story. My boat, which I also bought from Rich has a full blind, with folding top. I don't think that's an option anymore.
Like Jay said the cockpit is big for a 13' boat 36" x 84" on the top opening, with the length and with at the deck level larger. I sit about milk crate high, and my legs often extend in front of me under the gunnel. ( I hope I'm expressing my ideas in correct terms, please correct me)
For power I have a 20 hp Suzuki 4 stroke, with a hydraulic jack plate ( game changer).
Solo with light gear, I'm skipping along at 24mph. Loaded with a second hunter, closer to 15, is my guess, but still acceptable for me.
After more thought, I would say the Duck Boss 13 might work for you.
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See this is why I love this forum.
 
I'll agree with @MIKE-SID that his DI13 is good for 2. It's very low. Great for those low spartina marshes I love to hunt. It's way too small for two average sized guys and a big dog in my mind. It felt right with just mike and I. Maybe something like a small AWS. I'm also used to not hunting with a dog so it works for me. I'd probably cramp up on it on a long day with multiple people.

I have a duck wrangler 15 (SJ Hoover build, glass, 2004). That's the perfect size in my mind for two people and a full sized dog. The blind is pretty high though. It doesn't work well in low marshes without customizations, which of course I've made. I have 4 different blind setup positions depending on where I'm going: 1. standard issue, high sides, port side extra high with custom roof; 2. high sides, uniform all around, no roof (sea duck hunting); 3. Low position blind all sides, no roof; 4. Low position on bow, port, and stern, with roof, and starboard flapper board (still blind material).

The boat is generally too tall for a lot of places I prefer to sneak into, but it's also dry and I don't have to unload anything when I hunt it, I just roll out and leave it in my yard (marina). It's a nice "all around boat." I currently use @MIKE-SID 's old radisson with a 2hp air cooled 4 stroke Honda. The radisson is slowly sinking and gets patched annually. It's wet; it works.

One day when I have money to throw at toys again I'd probably upgrade to a duckwater 19 or 21 for sea ducks, and the DI13 for my sneaky spots for puddlers.

I'm using the position 2 in the photos from today with my girls. Youngest will be legal to shoot on 1/4/26, which of course is closed. It's workable with us 3. We've hunted 4, my wife and kids, but it's way too snug.
 

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David K said:
I have been hunting my 1982 Aeromarine "two man" which never really was a two man in my opinion. It gets up and goes with a 20hp Suzuki on it, but there is just and I mean JUST enough room for my 70-pound lab plus my lanky 6'3" frame. I am brainstorming some ideas for the Aeromarine, but have been looking at the TDB 14 as well as the DuckBoss 13. Both seem to hunt well and safe while also holding their value. I would ultimately like something where I can bring another hunter and be "comfortable." Please sound off with your opinions.
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Dave, In my opinion, all the options discussed would only be acceptable for me for a puddler rig. I have a 16ft Scaup, with a very large cockpit, and it is snug with 2 guys and all the decoys we haul (4dozen min). I could certainly add a dog, but to haul all this in a 13/14ft boat would not be my idea of fun or safe. I would be looking at the 15ft. I do hunt out of a 14TDB SC, 2 hunters and a dog. We only use 2 dozen decoys max, and with the canvas blind, are shoulder to shoulder.
 
David K said:
I have been hunting my 1982 Aeromarine "two man" which never really was a two man in my opinion. It gets up and goes with a 20hp Suzuki on it, but there is just and I mean JUST enough room for my 70-pound lab plus my lanky 6'3" frame. I am brainstorming some ideas for the Aeromarine, but have been looking at the TDB 14 as well as the DuckBoss 13. Both seem to hunt well and safe while also holding their value. I would ultimately like something where I can bring another hunter and be "comfortable." Please sound off with your opinions.
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My apologies, I read the posts, but missed the "Grass Boat" in the title of this thread!
 
Dave Diefenderfer said:
My apologies, I read the posts, but missed the "Grass Boat" in the title of this thread!
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No worries. I mostly hunt puddlers and sometimes Geese. Of course if it's a slow day and a bufflehead makes the mistake of coming too close they might be on the table. I'm hunting with less than a dozen decoys 99% of the time. Sometimes less than 6 to be honest.
 
David K said:
No worries. I mostly hunt puddlers and sometimes Geese. Of course if it's a slow day and a bufflehead makes the mistake of coming too close they might be on the table. I'm hunting with less than a dozen decoys 99% of the time. Sometimes less than 6 to be honest.
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I typically only set a dozen or so myself. Where we hunt, big spreads seem to be counterproductive. I only hunt puddlers as well. Every now and then I'll throw a small broadbill rig out and/or some brant.

Last year, I brought a full set of puddle ducks (12) and a small broadbill rig (16) out at the same time to switch it up midday. I was by myself and had a ton of room even with the two decoy bags in the Duck Invader.
 
T Entwistle said:
I hunt a 16 Scaup. Plenty of room for 2, can fit a dog but plan on getting wet ! The dog could also fit on the forward deck.
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I was always intrigued by them. I had given them some thought, myself, before I bought the DI13. The issue I had was you'd see a lot of them that needed work or possibly were built, not as well. I loved the idea of the size and extra room though.

Your rig looks fantastic and unbelievably well built. I'm sure that boat gets the job done and then some. Beautiful.
 
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