I have a 1960 Phowler I need a blind for, and I want to teach myself to weld aluminum. I think I am going to build a removable deck-type blind similar to that which the Gator Hide boats employ.

I am going to pick up 1 x 2 rectangular tubing for the deck frame tomorrow. How thick of sheeting should I be looking at to skin it?

This seems like a good project to learn on, but hopefully someone will chime in if it seems like a bad idea.

Doesn't sound like a bad idea but you'll probly need at least .100 if you're going to be walking around on top of it.


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Wihat makes the hide great just isn't the deck. the rails are crucial as well as the poles welded into the deck. Do a little more research on them and you'll see.

Yammer - I did this on a smaller boat but w/ wood when the GatorHide first came out to see how effective it would be. Worked well and I bought a 3 man and hunted it for 8 years. The issue for your boat is going to be laying out in boat and having the boat lean to the side you have 3-4 men hunting on if its in the water floating. The higher sides on your phowler may limit visibility - this would be avoided if you pull the boat on a mud flat or marsh. I would layout in the boat w/ 3 guys and see if the boat rolls to one side before you get into construction.

Thank you for the heads up. I will check that out before I start cutting aluminum.

Do the gatorhide boats lean also? Or is it something in their design that helps prevent it, other than width?

That would be easy enough to do on your own.


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