what are your thoughts on the kara hummer?

M

michael barnes

Active member
what are your thoughts on this boat, as a one man boat to hunt from, no dog, in fairly calm water? it seems easy enough to build. how do you think it would do with a 5-6hp longtail?
 
Love the boat


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Have built two myself and have friends that have them. The boat is perfect for what you are describing. I have not tried along tail on mine but as soon as the funding allows it I will.
 
They are an awesome boat for what they are designed for. I built two and hunted from them for several years before switching to an all fiberglass boat that I built based on the design of the Hummer. Here are the drawbacks of the Hummer as I see it:

1) water removal. The design doesn't include a way to get water out easily. You have to pull the floorboards and sponge/shop vac the water out. A bit of a design change would allow you to put a plug in one end or the other and get all of the water out fairly easily

2) weight. The Hummer weighs in around 125 or so (a guesstimate). A similar size boat all fiberglass is in the 85-90 pound range. Doesn't seem like much, but when loading onto a trailer or dragging over a levee by yourself, that 30-40 pounds makes a big difference.

Even with those two complaints, I highly recommend the boats as an inexpensive and easy build that will provide an awesome platform for hunting.

I can't comment on the use of a mud motor with these boats, but I know quite a few guys use small mud motors on them so it can be done.
 
thanks for the response. its a neat looking little boat, and maybe in the next year or 2, i can build one. got an old starcraft to keep me busy right now, but they are a neat looking boat, and it looks easy enough to build for me....never built a boat before. thanks again, mike.
 
I have an unused set of plans for a Hummer, the weight just put me off. I ended up building a Devlin Poleboat instead. It was more money but ended up wieghing about 85# instead of over 100. I added a motormount to mine and run a 4 hp Evinrude on it if I have a long ways to go. If you would like I made a CD of the build and some on the water pics that I will send if you want. PM me w/ your snail mail addy and I will get you one. This is my fourth build and I am considering a BB3 or Scaup next, just to give you an idea of my experience level. Any of these can be built without a lot of special wood working tools or skills. I'm a mechanic for Pete's sake. Good Luck
 
My karas weighed in the 80 -90 lb range at least intially;I don't know if they still weigh that after spending several seasons down in the marsh. I cut limber holes in the bottom of the ribs to allow water to drain, and didn't put blue foam under the floor but used another method to support the floor. The boats drain well and I have a little bilge pump that pumps the water out of the rear compartment.

Ed.

Check out my Kara website.
 
could the hummer handle 1-1.5 seas if it has too? i know it wouldnt be ideal, but could it? it looks very similer to the momarsh fatboy dp, just not quite as deep. could it do what the fatboy can do? less? more? thanks again.
 
Regarding the water drain, I put limber holes in the top ribs as well.
I put a drain at the center of each coaming and flip it over to let the water
drain from the top ( now the bottom).

I just store it in that position.
 
I would say no on the 1 1/2 foot seas. Can it be done. Sure. Is it smart or the best choice. I wouldnt want to have to do it in mine. This boat is for protected water and is best sneaking in with a pole to a spot others cant get to with a jon boat.
Mud motor just makes it a tall boat in the marsh and takes away from the thing that makes the boat best. Low profile hide in shallow water where the ducks want to be.
 
I have only seen pictures, but there is no way I would run such a craft in one foot seas. Keep it in the marsh.
 
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