I am looking for a setup to purchase in the next few months. It will most likely get a GTR35 with a 20X50 hull. It will be used for:

1. Small bayous in Louisiana WMAs for deer hunting.
2. Duck hunting in Louisiana WMAs like the Biloxi Marsh.
3. Fishing for specks and reds in the marshes around Leeville.

Here is the catch, my wife and I have 5 children (2 are mine and 3 I'm raising like they are mine) from ages 6-12. I would occasionally like for the boat I get to be able to fish with all of us. I'm not worried about having enough room for all 7 to fish as it will be just about the kids fishing.

My questions are:

1. Can I legally have 7 people in a 20X50 boat?
2. Is 20X50 with a boat blind too big to use for duck hunting?
3. Am I asking too much of this boat?

Thanks,
Kendall in Baton Rouge

I run a 18x50 and hunt 4 comfortable but would not even think of putting 7 people in it!! Not that it wouldn't hold them just don't enough room especially fishing!!

Only the 5 kids would be fishing. And from an anchored spot, not trolling around.

My other option would be buy a pontoon boat, and a cheap 16' bateau with a used MM.

I've fished 5 out of a 1442, it can be done.

Id go with the Pontoon and cheaper duck boat just for safety sake

20x50 gonna make a big blind. Might as well go 20x54 for the extra stability wif 7 people moving around n the boat. May consider leaving the wife at home when taking the kids fishing, but u will have plenty room 4 perch jerk type fishing. I don't think 1 35GTR will perform at all when u take the family fishing though.

5 kids under 12 in a 20x50....I sure would not do it

I have trouble with one 3 year old in a 18x48...

You can legally carry what the USCG rating plate says you can carry, so long as you have appropriate life preservers for them. However, hunting or fishing with that load is another matter.

I can carry my four children (ages 7-12) and a buddy fishing in my 20X66 with no problems. If lots of casting is involved (like shad or crappy fishing with artificials), I can't fish. I have to do air traffic control instead, because the children have only mastered over hand casting so far!

20x50 is bigger than some of my five man permanent blinds, but so long as it is well camoflaged, I would not think it would be a problem.

I don't hunt tall timber, but the few times I've attempted to negotiate my way through flooded timber, I took a chainsaw! Smaller boats are a whole lot more maneuverable in the trees.

No, I don't think you are asking too much of the boat, so long as you select the right boat.