any of you guys used those blue 55 gallon barrels to make a big floating duck blind? We are interested in putting one together for a duck club. Anyone have any pictures or what not?

Me and a friend made one when we were youger, it was nice but was unstable as hell. I wouldn't want to hunt out of it with a dog that's for sure.

What was nice about was when the water dropped the drum where sitting in the mud so it made it stable but when the water was up it was a different story. I wouldn't recommend hunting more than 2 people out of it if you do build one.

Good luck

I built a couple of boat houses using a "work barge" that was 10x20 with 55 gallon drums under it. even at that size... it floated a little too well, if you know what I mean.

We used to have one built like that. We spudded on two corners and it made it a lot more stable, it could still float with the water level but it look all of the rocking out of it. That blind worked good until some azzhole shot out the barrels. I would recommend using this type of blind on a lease not public lake.

I have 3 of them and know several folks that hunt from them also. Like anything else, built properly and it will be stable and safe. IMO you can't go any less than 8' wide on the barrel pontoons. The blind box can be smaller but for stability 8' seems to be minimal. My small blind is about 6' wide x 16' long. Sits on 2-16' (5-barrel) pontoons. Hunts 4 comfortably. Rocks a little but its not a problem due to limited area for movement. Here is a pic after I got it refloated after it was burned and sunk last year. No boat hide keeps topwaters at bay. If they cant drive their boat in and step out to hunt they pass by.




This one is a 10'x14'. Can hunt 4 but 3 folks is perfect. Pretty stable. Sits on 4-10' (3-barrel) pontoons. No boat hide although I plan to add one that can be locked.




This one is a 10'x20'. Drive in design. Has a gate across entrance to lock out claim jumpers.

I'll look and see what I got. Its brushed now so it would be tough to get some pics but I may be able to get some from the inside. Basically a 55 gl drum is 24" wide x 36" tall. You build a frame that has and inside width (slot) of 18" wide and the barrel will be cradled up into the slot without passing through so its held in place. You dont have to do anything else but if your worried about them coming loose you could add straps or like I do a piece of rope under the barrel tying it to the frame. I only secure them because I tow the blind around. I may have to drag it over stumps and crap that could dislodge a barrel. The small a-frame is welded sq tube with a deck board floor. Pirouge will fit underneath & open top. The medium blind is mostly 2x6 framing with a deck board floor. Pontoons are 2x6 boards. The big blind has a welded sq tube frame with the actual blind box of treated wood. I would suggest staying with as small a profile as possible. How you going to get to the blind? Jon boat or wade in? Treated wood 2x6 and deck boards will last a long time so metal is not a necessity.

I would say if is gonna be in the middle a feild to jus build u a floating platform and use laydown blinds ontop of it. That's about as low proflie as it gets

1 plastic 55 gallon drum will float 500 pounds!!

layout blinds on top of the floater, good idea, will have to look into it.

we will be wading into it, about 200-250 yards through some nice thick, sticky mud.

Layout boats are kind of out of the question, as everyone would have to buy one etc etc, if it were just me then i would use one.

Thanks for the ideas

Went out today and set up a floater blind on a couple of 55gallon drums. I believe the coast gaurd wouldnt have approved The most rediculous unsafe design ive ever come up with! Ended up just putting it on some posts due to being in a hurry to get it up. Ill try to get some pics up tomorrow after the hunt.

Try Lunmar Boat Lifts in Sulphur, La. They sell flotation blocks for floating piers, etc. Should be perfect for that setup.