Thread: Duck boats

Actually @Tertle I've got enthused to perhaps knock out a 10mm Ply Jon boat for the pond this year - We'll see how bored I get at christmas!

Any thoughts pile them in here...

years back I built "tetinytanic" 1 8x4 sheet of ply coversheet about 15mm thick and one off cut...made it with 12" high sides so she was 2' across,6'6'' long so had slope on front (thus need for offcut) square sided and square bummed meant it was as stable as shit,would float in 2-3" of water and could be run aground to shoot out of legally on opening weekend...plenty of shots fired out on water through rest of season never resulted in a dunking...funnyist even was when our longline of decoys in deep water started to get pulled under by our sack of rocks anchor...bro in law held off side of boat from his kayak and I pulled rope in over the other side...kept hauling up rope till got it close to boat and all dekes were recovered then cut main line.....what I hadnt realised is how much downward force anchor was applying....must have sprung back up about 8''..the only time she nearly went over...I could paddle as fast as a paddling duck...no less and no more,meaning woundie chases were a shoot as quick as I could affair.
the dogs loved it,great way to cart stuff.I sat in it in calm water till worked out point of balance then built back board in right place,put lid of rear compartment and called it done.....sealed it up with litres of paint,had 1x1'' batterns around inside of corners for extra strength and water sealing...more places for paint.....

Originally Posted by Tertle

i know i know......... i should actually be removing the rotten framing and making up the templates to re frame the corners, i also have to find a dummies guide to panel beating!!!!! but hey i got it back in one piece from the farm......that was a better than expected

I will go get some timber and make a start

Attachment 124385

I'd be happy to help you with the project, but you're on the wrong side of the urth and upside-down.

That looks like a super hunting rig in the making...just the right size, IMO.

Rates a Two-Cool

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

years back I built "tetinytanic" 1 8x4 sheet of ply coversheet about 15mm thick and one off cut...made it with 12" high sides so she was 2' across,6'6'' long so had slope on front (thus need for offcut) square sided and square bummed meant it was as stable as shit,would float in 2-3" of water and could be run aground to shoot out of legally on opening weekend...plenty of shots fired out on water through rest of season never resulted in a dunking...funnyist even was when our longline of decoys in deep water started to get pulled under by our sack of rocks anchor...bro in law held off side of boat from his kayak and I pulled rope in over the other side...kept hauling up rope till got it close to boat and all dekes were recovered then cut main line.....what I hadnt realised is how much downward force anchor was applying....must have sprung back up about 8''..the only time she nearly went over...I could paddle as fast as a paddling duck...no less and no more,meaning woundie chases were a shoot as quick as I could affair.
the dogs loved it,great way to cart stuff.I sat in it in calm water till worked out point of balance then built back board in right place,put lid of rear compartment and called it done.....sealed it up with litres of paint,had 1x1'' batterns around inside of corners for extra strength and water sealing...more places for paint.....

That's brilliant - reminds me of the flat bottom punts units they used to have for hire at Taieri Mouth when I was growing up - I think thats kinda what they were like.
If you by any chance had a photo just to cement this that would be awesome. The ponds pretty small but the alluvial run-off from the quarry upstream has made it too deadly deep to wade in its soft bottom.

@Carpe Diem I use a punt on my pond i will take a pic later on if you want and can put up the measurments

2.4 Inflatable

My duck boat of choice 2hp and it goes exceptionally well

@Carpe Diem
the O/A lenght is 2.2m x 900 wide 210mm high. This punt is 45 + yrs old. It was 1200mm wide before my dad cut it down to the 900 to fit in the old falcon station wagon and gave it a birthday 30 odd years back. The sides are 25mm dressed pine and has 40x20 runners going across the floor a 400 centers approx. Floor ply might be only 7mm. Then has that false floor which is basically 40x12 slats which is removable. When he rebuilt it he used a two pot epoxy marine glue between sides and ply floor and nailed at 150 center with small headed galv flat heads. the only change i would make is the sides a little higher and thicker ply on the bottom
.

Love it - thats a bit of me, and practical as for my little pond. Setting the pattern and the mojo duck and the occasional duck that drops right in the middle that I cant reach.. Usually have to wait til the flow takes it down to the weir or my long pole net.. lol

that's exactly what i use this for, i can fit couple bins of decoys in front and behind (40) i can stand in it and paddle or i just kneel. Set all my decoys for opening weekend in my pond and in the shallow water i just dig the oar in and lever of the back of the boat.
Just developed a leak the year.

sorry,very few photos of the tinytanic......the front was between 30 and 45 degrees,made it a breeze to get in and out of,even on not so shallow water,I just nosed into bank and dog walked out the front,it the bottom was on anything I could stand up and walk out too.Ive got pretty good at getting in and out of tinny quietly but its nowhere near as easy as the old tanic.....many a goose waited too long before taking flight,2-3" of water took me pretty close to the huas on the shores of lake...no other boat could get near them before running aground.

Originally Posted by luv2safari

I'd be happy to help you with the project, but you're on the wrong side of the urth and upside-down.

That looks like a super hunting rig in the making...just the right size, IMO.

Rates a Two-Cool

ive managed to get a gas / 12 volt oven, fridge, small (20Lt) hot water cylinder, a ducted heating unit, 40 litre fresh water storage, cabinets, beds etc, ive added solar options. i want to lift the suspension just a little to address things like grey water storage and allow me some ground clearance and improved suspension. its going to be a great wee project, and yes its small enough to give me a great hunting rig, ive a few batteries (understatement as @gonetroppo can attest!) so she'll be a great set up......one day so any suggestions even if they are upside down let me know!!!

i know a few pics but gives you some idea of my options!

We commonly weld on the spring perch on top of the axle and mount the springs on top for moderate added clearance. Most travel trailers as we call them have the springs mounted under the axle here in the US. Also, some have "U" axles that we flip over.

Originally Posted by bigbear

@Carpe Diem
the O/A lenght is 2.2m x 900 wide 210mm high. This punt is 45 + yrs old. It was 1200mm wide before my dad cut it down to the 900 to fit in the old falcon station wagon and gave it a birthday 30 odd years back. The sides are 25mm dressed pine and has 40x20 runners going across the floor a 400 centers approx. Floor ply might be only 7mm. Then has that false floor which is basically 40x12 slats which is removable. When he rebuilt it he used a two pot epoxy marine glue between sides and ply floor and nailed at 150 center with small headed galv flat heads. the only change i would make is the sides a little higher and thicker ply on the bottom
.Attachment 124580Attachment 124582Attachment 124583Attachment 124581

LMAO when I saw the boat, because it reminded me of a duck hunt 50 years ago. I had that boat's twin, a ton of decoys, and a 90 pound Lab retriever. I loaded the deeks, my gun, and me into the boat at a small makeshift dock. Buster the Lab then jumped onto the end in front. We Sank! There was a skiff of ice on the water and a stiff wind as I sank in 3 feet of water. That was my record shortest hunt ever.

I love the boat! It looks very well made.

Originally Posted by berg243

Hey @Tertle where did you score the oven i might need one when we sell our farmlet and move to our section as we might have to live in a garage or a container for a while till i can build a house if the wifes lucky that is.

Your not going to believe it but a friend mentioned that his parents were renovating their caravan and had all this “junk” in their garage they wanted to get rid of......... 1 bottle of khalua and a dozen beers