Perfect punt?

I've been through the HBC website and looked at the postings on Momarsh punts and a few other boats but am wondering if anyone has any views on what constitutes the perfect duckboat? To me this is something that can get you off the Westham foreshore/Brunswick in all but the snarbiest weather but is versatile enough to shoot the inner marsh, Pitt etc. It would hold two, their gear and decoys, maybe a dog.

I've looked at a number of sites and seen some pretty good rigs

http://www.duckboats.com/
http://www.devlinboat.com/
http://duckboats.net/
http://www.classicbarnegat.com/
http://www.classicbarnegat.com/

Any thoughts?

I've had a bunch of different punts over the years and found that there isn't the perfect punt for all conditions. If you're thinking of something that will be suitable for the Brunswick and such then I wouldn't think of anything under 14' that has doors as it can get nasty real quick. Check out Branthunters punt, it's probably as good as it gets for versatility. K

I would agree with branthunters boat is very nice and well suited for lots of areas, Your boat would work just fine too Kelly, as would Bryans or Jacks. I was surpised just how seaworthy Jacks punt was. It rode nicely ontop of the swells instead of plowing through them and taking water over the top.

I'd love a copy of Jacks in Aluminum to have for the 10 days in March. I like the doors, and front splash shield. Could take some more rougher weather if you run into it.

Jacks is RJ's original punt which was copied by another buddy of mine then I took mine off his, using it as a mold. K

Thanks to you both for your thoughts. Agree there is always going to be something of a compromise. Is the punt you're describing available commercially or a self-build? I've seen some good plans around and have been looking at some of Zack Taylor's designs in his 1974 book Successful Waterfowling (I've actually been lookng at these since I bought the book in 1978 so haven't made much progress). There is also a good sequence of photos on the web that follow someone building a Merrymeeting Bay design. That looks like a good rig. These look bombproof too: http://www.bankesboats.com/

Bankes are the top of the top when it comes to waterfowling boats, them or duckwater boats but the price tag that comes with them is steep. I looked at bringing a bankes 17' over but all said and done was too much to justify the low number of days a year I'd use one. There's also TDB fiberglass boats, I've searched for years to find one on the west coast when the pop up in wash/ Oregon but haven't pulled the trigger on one of them either. All these boats mentioned though are big boats, probably suited better for open water then showing a low profile in the marsh.

Some of the boats in question from the previous posts.

Fiberglass

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f5...rant201014.jpg

Aluminum

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f5...rant201016.jpg

There is no perfect duck boat PERIOD!

I figure you need 3
a big/open water boat
a small water/marsh boat
a canoe or skinny water boat like an Aquapod, MoMarsh, KARA

Devlin has modernized many of the old designs converting them from on-frame to monocoque stitch and glue construction. I would say that a monderized merrymeeting scull (they are scull boats!) is as close to a versatile craft as you will get! Merrymeeting bay is good size water in coastal maine, been there. John Gardiner has an excellent write up with full lines in his books, most librarys have them. I think I have a photocopy if you're interested shoot me and email.

I have or have read about 90% of everything written on Barngates, still love the boat, but not right for me anymore. Same goes for all the old designs, hell if I had the space I'd have something under construction, I do miss that!

Ian

Great pictures. Thanks. I've always thought one of the the best looking duck boats was the Barnegat and often considered Zack Taylor's plywood version would be a good compromise (though it doesn't have the same clean lines). If I had to choose a favoutrite design though it would be a Bicknell like the one they have in the Ladner museum. We once found a smashed up, half sunk waterlogged one near Canoe Pass. Pulled it out and dried it but it was beyond repair. One side was completely ripped out, the canvas was rotten and the wood was beginning to go. It looked like it had been in the river a long time. I kept the rusted Bicknell badge but the rest was ultimately returned to the deep. Unusually for a Bicknell it had a motor well, negating the need for a destabilizing side-mount (again like the Ladner museum example).

Thanks again for your replies.

I haven't hunted from a punt... YET! My waterfouling partner is in the midst of rebuilding the transom on his home made punt. He built it over 50 years ago and it went form a 14 foot punt down to a 12. So we'll probably be out off of westam island pretty soon here!!

I'm pretty excited... not going to lie. I'll try to get some pics up.

Keep lookin' Beachcomber!:mrgreen: As I said you'll need at least 2,one of which can be used as a tow boat.Plus more room will be needed when you get a real dog....Cheers,Gunner

Built over 20 yrs. ago (X-section measurements taken off a friends punt --RK--and then lengthened and tweaked) for open water brant , it works perfectly for wavies in the grass patches out front and just as well for ducks (carries about 50 goose floaters, gets out in a storm, and hides in pretty thin grass ). It can travel in pretty rough conditions but still hides well in low cover. It poles pretty well, altho is a bit heavy for that if the wind is really up. Jake is standing in it in the 3rd pic and the lump is the motor (15 hp.)
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_0733.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMGP2017.jpghttp://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...SC_0023_13.jpg

For the best hide these next two are the best. The 1st is fiberglass over plywood I built in 1975. It's got a V bottom so presents a low profile and tows well, altho it can be tricky to pole until you get the hang of it. The entire decks and doors can be grassed with lines . The 2nd one shown is aluminum. This one is the sweetest to pole and, like the fiberglass/ply, it can hide in 10" of cover on a high tide.
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...PICT0020_2.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...DSC_0144_2.jpg
cont'd.

continued-fiber/ply
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...DSC_0184_3.jpg
aluminum
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_0273.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/DSC_0101.jpg

Right you are Gunner---I forgot the towboat. This old seine skiff works well for me---it will take pretty much any wind and waves and with the 50 that's on it now it gets up and goes with two aboard and towing both little marsh punts . I used to tow with the big punt or just go out with the two of us (this is when the young man, my son in the tow pic, was in his 12ish years) but running all the way back in the dark, ,let alone with any kind of weather, from the front was too close to the edge so we got the seine skiff and started travelling with both boats (ie. it and the big punt ) .
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/PICT0076.jpg
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_0020.jpg
I'd like to reinforce the earlier comment here on the risks of punt hunting the S. Fraser marshes, inner or outer, but especially the latter......although maybe I shouldn't say that because in a big blow the upper marshes and channels that access them can get pretty scary. The weather can go from breezy to the howling 50's in 5-10 minutes. It's no place for inexperience in rough weather small boat handling and navigation. When it gets rough like that you sometimes can't even recognize where you are in the marsh, where the ditches and channels are, or which way to go to get to safety---. If the river gets too rough to come out of the marsh and head back upstream just stay put....or sometimes you can take the nearest back channel into the dyke and walk to the nearest farm. Even for the ones walking out onto the Brunswick there are risks from misjudging the tide or stepping into unseen ditches or getting trapped outside a big ditch........ walk-out hunters have drowned out there.

i got myself a marsh rat from mallard marine...it was a pain to get..i had to drive down and get it from washington state...they dont ship...that being said its a super great little duck boat...very stable and holds a good load of stuff! its sneaky and it draws very little water...i use it to hunt some small marshes and to go down the river! its a pretty lazy river mind you...anyhow its a thumbs up boat. heres a link
http://www.mallardmarine.net/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gunner

Keep lookin' Beachcomber!:mrgreen: As I said you'll need at least 2,one of which can be used as a tow boat.Plus more room will be needed when you get a real dog....Cheers,Gunner

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He IS a real dog it's just that he doesn't realise it yet! Anyway he just ate a chunk of my black parade gloss shoe polish so his transition to lab is underway.

Great set up you have Branthunter and the points on safety are well made. It is remarkable how conditions can change - I recall those stories of hunters walking out and gettting cut off. The current itself is surprisingly strong and, add in a tide rip in skanky weather, and it can a recipe for trouble. I've gone out there in inadequate boats (zodiac) myself and had some sketchy trips home, hugging the dyke in the dark. A lack of judgement on my part that won't be repeated - especially after seeing some of the cool boats here. Still plan to build that Bicknell one day though.

"Still plan to build that Bicknell one day though."

If you need extra hands let me know, I'd love to help out......building punts is a great joy, although it's years since I did my last one...I've built 2 wood ones from scratch and done the finishing woodwork on my 2 aluminum ones.
I found this pic of the interior of the big punt empty with the doors open.
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMGP5188.jpg

please take heed to what brant hunter has said about weather and tide,he couldn,t be more right.i was born and raised in canoe pass and have been involved in two many rescue,s and other not so lucky incidents.i know only use a 16 ft high sided tow boat to tow my 14 ft. punt out front as i,ve been involved in a couple of close calls myself....take heed....fowl

Cheers Branthunter. The London-Ladner shuttle is going to make this a tough project right now but when I get back there I will take you up on that. Think it would be a great project and would be nice to see it on the marsh.

does anybody have plans for a 14+ft fiberglass punt?or an idea where to look for these plans?

Best to get measurements and pictures. All of them are like versions 1 through 10 of everyone building or tweeking something to make their own or what they figure is better.

I looked at that route before we ran into one for sale we jumped on. Bryan offered to let me take pics of his boat and measurements to get another made out of aluminum. I'm sure there's enough guys on here, Kelly too, that you'd find everything you'd need.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pnbrock

does anybody have plans for a 14+ft fiberglass punt?or an idea where to look for these plans?

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What I did when I built mine was to pop a mold off a buddy of mines. Mine has had a mold popped off of it, yer welcome to take one also. It's very easy to tweak it as you go. If I were to do it again I would only make one change, but what did I know about building punts outta glass 32 years ago, hahaha....K

i now own a 14'floating coffin so now it needs a paint job, need to look good drowning in new to me punt.what is the best paint and color for the bay?

Some ideas here: http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showth...uck-boat-paint

This may not be the perfect punt, but this is the best I could come up with. I hope this is up to the previous owners standards - Jack Evans and RJ.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...pspuu9f1hv.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...psgzwsvxss.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps98nytafc.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...psxmaqcld5.jpg

Hard time for the second guy to see with the doors down hahahaha

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crazy_Farmer

Hard time for the second guy to see with the doors down hahahaha

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What ya got for days Adam, mommy gonna let ya play? :) K

Hmm RJ and I bought are punts together so if that is his it was a mirror to mine and mine did not look like that (built by Beanie Suzuki on river road) lol great job Pat said it before missed your true calling:)

thx dutch after a full weekend hunting from a punt i had no idea how stable and sea worthy these boats can be.now to figure out snow goose hunting in the marsh.

Nice PN ....... You will have a lot if fun with that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dutch

Hmm RJ and I bought are punts together so if that is his it was a mirror to mine and mine did not look like that (built by Beanie Suzuki on river road) lol great job Pat said it before missed your true calling:)

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Probably not talking about the same RJ, the one that sold that one to JE built most of it himself and had Lynwood Boats do the glass! K

so how did my camo job do kelly,i think you were set up closer to beach from me?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pnbrock

so how did my camo job do kelly,i think you were set up closer to beach from me?

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Ya, I thought it looked real good, it sure looked different than the pics you posted though. K

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pnbrock

so how did my camo job do kelly,i think you were set up closer to beach from me?

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Is the punt now the same color as the Pics above or did you repaint it, it looked way more gray than the garage pic. K

must have been lighting its battleship grey.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pnbrock

must have been lighting its battleship grey.

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Looks good in the water but looks way more greenish and browns in the pics, regardless, looks real good out there, nice job! K

from the success so far the color must be good

Any pics of that beauty on the water/marsh pnbrock? Deadly looking rig.