which of these boats is better suited?

M

michael barnes

Active member
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1
or
http://momarsh.com/fatboy.html

if the links dont work, they are the momarsh fatboy and the otter 1200
for use in smooth water in the summer fishing two people, and for duck hunting in the winter, one hunter, no dog, hunting from the boat. the water may be choppy, but no big seas, i will be hunting in broken marsh, no real chance for seas to make, just kinda choppy and windy, prob 20 mph, no more. motor will be a 2.5 hp yamaha 4 stroke.
 
Michael,

Here is my take... You should go out and buy a 14' aluminum, either a mod-v or a v hull. You can tow it with anything and it will do what you want until you can go more specialized. The duck boats you are interested in are very specialized affairs and make compromizes that you don't need to make if you want a do all boat.

A 14' aluminum can hunt or fish 2 people, can take an outboard, can be easily towed with a car, can be very stealthy for the majority of duck hunting, is light and is inexpensive and seaworthy. The majority of duck hunting is done from these boats - there are a lot of neat boats on this site. But if youare looking at bread and butter duckhunting a hundred or a thousand (or 10,000) times more ducks are killed every year out of an 14-16' aluminum boat than all the BBSB's and fatboys (and otter 1200's) out there. Just about everybody started out with one. Get one, hunt it, fish it and beat it and then figure out if you need something more specilaized.

Tod
 
I had a 1200 and would not want 2 people in it. From looking at the Fat Boy, I wouldn't want 2 people in that either. As a duckin' boat the 1200 was perfect. I had a 2 hp Honda on mine. You can's sit in the molded seat and operate the motor, you're behind it. I put a board across the gunnel and sat there. Even to paddle I used the board. It paddles much better from the middle as opposed to the seat. The seat is useless. I would put the 1200 against the shore line, lay down with a slant board, same one I sat on, pull camo burlap over the boat and the ducks would land 10' away. deadly rig. I hunted the salt bays with it and it handles 2'ers pretty well. Check the weight on that 4 stroke against a 2 stroke. With the motor on the side, when you let off the gas the boat turned that way because of drag. You get used to it.
If you really want to fish also, I would go aluminum as stated above.
 
Also, I bet if you look around, there's a bunch for sale, used.
(Even though new ones are kinda cheap)
You won't be sorry with a tin boat. Good advice from Tod O.
Bill Stahl
 
I agree with Tod, get an aluminum boat and beat on it a while. I run a 16 foot Xpress and also have a 13 foot scull boat and use my flatbottom probably 95% of the time. From what I have seen and found to be true for me is that a small jon boat with a good outboard, a sturdy closet rod or fiberglass push pole, and some patiance can get you to where the ducks are most of the time. And its spending all those days on the water in your area that answer the questions your asking. Its amazing how many "answers" go through your head when you want to hunt a spot and cant due to your equipment or you have to walk out your boat when the tide drops because the motor wont do it for you. I think one of the major joys of waterfowling is making it, even in some small ways, your own. Come up with your own ideas and answers and I think you will be more satisfied than if someone does it for you. I hate to sound "preachy" but thats just the mentality my dad drilled into my head as a kid. Good luck.
John Ven Huizen
 
i would love a aluminum boat, but i dont have a trailer, or a hitch on my car, and that and a boat and motor would be way out of my budget. so its either a cartoppable boat or nothing, as it is now. i can car top a 90 lb 17' canoe, so the shorter momarsh at the same weight would be no problem.
 
Michael,

Most all of us have all been where you are at... Duck hunting is about as gear intensive as you can get and it is only limited by your imagination and how much you are willing to spend.

Your most basic requirements seem to center around getting two guys out to hunt or fish. For the past 100 years there have been two options to handle those needs: a canoe or a small skiff (i.e., an aluminum boat). I hate to be a downer, but it may not be the time. Then again, a used aluminum boat, motor and trailer is not all that much money. Have you checked Craigs list?

T
 
Hi Michael,

I agree with Tod. There is very little you can't do with a wide bottomed 14' Jon. It's small enough to slither up beside the Marsh and easily hidden. Most will carry a good load and are fairly forgiving about being overloaded. If you keep the bow up they can handle more sea than you should attempt. Maintenece is all but zero and most any vehicle can tow one.

I have a 15 hp 2 strokeYammie on mine and the rig will really scoot ( bought a 2 stroke because it's much lighter and some cheaper than a 4 stroke.

I don't have the time or place to build a Devlin right now, which is what I want to do when my situation changes. The Jon boat is simply a doofer (albeit a goodun). I suspect my son will inherit the jon as it'll no doubt last longer than I will.

Best wishes with your hunt for the right boat. Always remember a man cannot have too many boats or shotguns,

Harry
 
i dunno what to do, maybe ill just stick to deer hunting till i get outta college and get rich, lol
if it was strictly a one man duck boat, would that make the momarsh any more desireable?
 
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I surely didn't get rich when I got out of college or grad school either. Check with the Va, Dept of Game and Fish and I'll bet you can find some state sponsored walk in impoundments where you only need chest waders and a bag of dekes to hunt. We are blessed in NC by having several walk ins. Only trouble with those is that they are so full of suck mud that we have a hunter or two have heart attacks every year while trying to extricate himself from the muck. I'm too old to hunt them anymore but they usually hold a good number of waterfowl. If you get an out of state license you are welcome to come hunt with me. Or, if you find some good places I'll come take you in Va. as I buy a Va. non resident hunting and fishing license every year. I'm told ther are some good places to hunt snow geese on the Eastern Shore where you don't need a boat.

If you want to duck hunt badly enough you will find away.

Best,
Harry
 
Michael, Unless you have a used fatboy lined up you better run some numbers and get grounded in reality. The basic fatboy runs $1025 and unless you’re driving to Missouri to pick it up you'll pay a $50 crate fee and $150 to $250 shipping tab. Say a minimum of $1250 for a very nice little duck boat. Accessories can add significantly to this price. Now check your want add fliers for used 14-ft aluminum boats. You should be able to find a few with trailer and outboard for under $1000. You will need to drive around and look at them and be ready to rebuild the trailer (repack bearings and mess with the lights) but you should be able to get a nice package ready to use. Trailer hitches are not difficult to install, I did my first few myself, purchased out of J.C. Witney. The toughest part is the wiring, get the correct wiring connectors for you car, one with it's fused power lead taken off the battery not from the car's running lights. This way if you pop a fuse messing with the trailer lights you won't kill the cars lights too. For the same or less money as a new fatboy, you should be able to put together a complete versatile rig.


Please note that a used rig will most probably need more tlc and maintenance than if you had bought a new $4000 rig. If this scares you stick with the canoe until you can affort a new rig You won't be a student forever.
 
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i really appreciate all the responses. i have looked at used boats, and like you said, i have found what i think are great deals, 12-16', 500-1200$, boat motor and trailer. the only thing holding me back is the used motors. i know nothing about motors, but i guess id better learn. im not afraid or working on a used rig, im just afraid ill get in over my head.
 
I agree with what tod posted 100 %. My fleet consists of A 19 ft lund alaskan, a 15 foot sportspal canoe with trailer and a 3.5 nissan motor, and 2 kayaks. 90 % of my hunting is done out of the kayaks and the rest from the sportspal. Iwould'nt go near the otter or th glass boat. I've had more boas in the last 5 years than I care to think on. Ny canoe cost me 500 bucks from a add at the local waterfowl managed area the motor was 400 in the Bargain cave of the local cabelas and the trailer was 100 bucks from a local marina and another 100 to get it right. If you give us your budget we can steer you a little better. If you come to the dundee cabelas bargain I can hook you up with a used motor cheap most of the time. early spring or early fall are the best times for that. don't dispair! you can find your rig.
 
i am not arguing with the respones, i am only trying to understand. if i could get a momarsh fatboy dp and a 2.5 hp, and a aluminum 14 ft boat and motor, for the same price, for duck hunting, would the aluminum boat still be the better choice? does the aluminum option really that much better, or is it the better choice because of the cost?
i know the momarsh is alot of money, much more than a used aluminum, im just seeing why the aluminum is the better choice. thanks for your patience with me.
 
i am not arguing with the respones, i am only trying to understand. if i could get a momarsh fatboy dp and a 2.5 hp, and a aluminum 14 ft boat and motor, for the same price, for duck hunting, would the aluminum boat still be the better choice? does the aluminum option really that much better, or is it the better choice because of the cost?
i know the momarsh is alot of money, much more than a used aluminum, im just seeing why the aluminum is the better choice. thanks for your patience with me.
Click to expand...


Since I started this line of thinking... The aluminum v hull or modified v is a much bigger boat and will hunt and fish 2 people, which is something you have mentioned you want in several posts. An aluminum boat is dramatically more versatile, you can hunt and fish varied waters from ponds and small lakes to marshes to large lakes and the oceans on calm days. You could fish out of a fatboy, but I wouldn't want to, a 14-16' aluminum boat is a fishing boat. The fatboy excells at what it does, it hides well and is a one man boat that is suited for very sheltered waters.
 
In my opinion, Tod is on the money. I have hunted using 14-16 foot aluminum for 30 some odd years. Mostly used them to get 2 or 3 of us to blinds and a little bit of hunting right out of the boat. We had V hulls. Be sure if you choose a V-hull to get one with a flat front fishing deck instead of a front cowling and dashboard. Motors are tough with the ethanol problem we have these days. But... 2 strokes do seem to go on forever.

My 2 cents
Good luck
Bill
 
boat Michael I was in your postion once. No trailer no place to store the boat except on top of the car. I hope the link works "red letters" I wanted to go duck hunting yet fish. The boat the sports yak is what filled the need. It did not break the bank. The boat is primarly sold as a dingy. It is very light weight, I have carried it on my back to fish beaver ponds for trout. I have duck hunted out of it. Easy to lay down and cover up. It is also very sea worthy I have been out on lake Winnebago in two foot waves and felt secure. I never had a motor on it but they sell a motor mount, also a sail. I rowed it and had a sail rig for it. The boat has molded seats on both ends. For fishing I had a small folding stool put it in the middle and that worked well. Well it is some thing to think about.
Sports Authority - KL Industries Sport Yak Dingy Boat
 
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Micheal,

It appears your trying to do what simply can't be done. A lot of us have been in your spot. I have three boats to do what you want to do. I have a 17 foot Starcraft for big water, a 14 foot flat bottom with a mod-v bow for back waters and a Momarsh Fatboy for sheltered water. I know your looking at the pictures on the Momarsh site showing two guys fishing with a little one sitting in the boat. It looks good in the photo but trust me there just isn't room for two guys to be comfortable slinging treble hooks around. I love the Fatboy for what I bought it for which is one guy, a bag of decoys, and a gun where if I had to I could get out and walk out if need be. I got the boat in August and I took it out intentionally on a windy day that had a pretty good chop but it was still summer weather. With a 2hp Johnson in front of my house where the water depth was 3 to 4ft deep. I knew in a worst case I wasn't going to drown but I wanted to know what the boat would handle. The motor had just enough power to make head way into the wind but the waves were coming over the coaming and thats the dangerous part. At this point you just need to sit down and decide what the boat will be used for the majority of the time and base your decision on that.

Good luck,

Ed L.
 
Mike ,

I concur with much of what was said. You can get some real deals on used boats if you look long enough. Try ebay, craigslist, and read the for sale ads in your are every day. I bought a 14 ft aluminum v hull with trailer for $450. Bought it just for the trailer and ended up bartering the boat to a local vet for some dog dental work that would have cost me more than that. In my area we have a local charity called "rawhide" for troubled boys. They take in old boats and cars, check them out , do some work and then sell them. I see another organization called "boat angel" on ebay that does the same thing.They have boats all over the country for sale very cheap.

Now and in wither is a great time to buy as folks don't want to store boats over winter. Ditto on the motor. You may want to look at the briggs and stratton 5 hp . I have bought several of these motors ( I have a couple of boats) . They aren't fast , not powerful enough to plough thru mud or heavy weeds but they get teh job done. Again, watch ebay and craigs list. The cheapest I've gotten one for is $200 and the most I pay is $400. If they have trouble it is usually the carb. You just brig them in to the local lawn mower shop for repair.

The momarsh and four rivers boats are both good boats but as was mentioned , they are tight for 2 guys. Depending on how your marsh is a good 17 ft canoe may be o.k. as well. I hunted/fished for many many years out of one. May be perfect for a broken marsh you describe. If your travel distance is 2 miles or so you can make decent time in a canoe. Paint it up a drab collar, get to where you want to go , pull it into the weeds and your all set.

good luck
 
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