Hey everyone, I have recently learned about these mud boats and motors we do not have them in Norhtern Canada. I hunt a lot of lakes that only have between a few inches of water to 4 or 5 feet with lots of thick nasty mud all along the outer edge of the lake. I would also like to use the boat for fishing seeing as I have two younger kids that love to come with me everywhere.

After researching the internet and readign on this site it really is overwhelming the amount of different manufacuuers of these types of boats and motors. I would say I would be using it June, July and August for fishing and then September, October and some of November before we get iced over for hunting. Even thought there are less days in hunting season I would use it probably 70/30 hunting vs fishing.

Duck hunting main purpose and fishing secondary for the kids. I am just looking for opinions and different makes and modles. I am looking for the entire set up from boat, motor, trailer and all blind accessories. I would think that $25 to 28K would be my top dollar allowance. I normaly hunt with at least 2 some times 3 guys and a dog. Most of the time it is 2 guys, 2 kids and a dog lol.

Thank you for any input.
Phil

What is available up there? How far at you from a mud motor dealer?

I fish and hunt with my boat. it's a perfect setup for me 17x54 cc. I've got $17,500 in it. boat, motor, and trailer.

Nothing, not one dealer for boats or motors I would be traveling to the US to pick it up. Have considered goign as far as Gator Trax LOL it would be a vacation/boat pick up. I can get John boats but they are not the same correct? I would like a boat that has the full blind built in for hunting, that would be a must.

Thanks
Phil

Go ahead and get you a real boat ordered from Louisiana, and swap a hunt with me on the way down!

Gator tail has dealers up in Wisconsin. If you want the best get a gator tail. If you don't mind driving a tiller it would be better for mud , to be able to work the motor . Steer wheels are good on long runs but hard to work in mud

Not sure if you have any dealers that far north, with that being said keep shipping costs in mind if you don't plan on coming to get the rig if that's what you plan in getting.

Good point lol I am thinking after spending all day and most of the evening on the web either the prodrive 35 with reverse or gator tail with reverse and the gator tail gator hide gen II in a 3 man. Not sure if the 4 man would be pushed by the 35 or would you need a bigger motor?

Thanks for the input
Phil

This is an idea of what I hunt in
http://youtu.be/Om1JFQTzkok

It shouldnt take anymore than 2 1/2 - 3 days to travel that far man!

Gator-Tail and Pro-Drive both make solid motors and you cant go wrong with either, stand up guys at both places!

Phil, check out the 1860 gatortail in classifieds, things brand new and the guys on wisconsin.

^ what he said. Or just get a custom boat n ship it to you u would save a few bucks on the build but would have to spend few hundo on shipping

I run a phowler 1760 w a pro-drive and use it for both fishing and hunting. I had them put a trolling motor plate on the boat when I ordered it. I recommend contacting Paul at Illowa Marine (http://www.larrysillowamarine.com/) if you are interested in a Pro-Drive. I know he has done deals with people from North of the border before. Last time I saw him, he was trailering a new boat from his shop up to North Dakota and basically meeting the buyer halfway from his house in Canada.

If you're looking for Gatortail, I'm pretty sure there are Gatortail dealers in WI. Depending on where you're coming from in Canada, that could save you a ton of driving.

One thing I would consider for taking kids fishing is the amount of waves you will encounter while fishing. My boat is perfectly safe on a windy day, but the flat bottom definitely rides rougher in the waves than one with a V. It basically climbs each wave and slaps down rather then cutting through. I know they make mud boats with a kind of hybrid flat bottom/V setup, but don't have any experience with them. Good luck, you will enjoy having a mud boat!

Okay lets add to the question what would your ultimate duck hunting rig be budget $28K and who would it be from. Needs to be complete ready to hunt boat, blind, motor and trailer.

This was a PM I sent someone on what I was thinking for an ultimate duck hunting boat.

"I was really looking hard that that Goator Trax, Gator Hide gen II boat, it looks to be exactly what I need for duck hunting and can be broke down to fish from. I imagine that you could get a polling deck made that would come off as well. Do you think any of the bigger names are much better than the others really? Gator Trax, Gator Tail, Pro Drive, Phowler? I mean isn't it kinda like Ford, Dodge and Chevy their top of the line trucks are all good trucks.

I think I would want the following as well on the boat, the gator trax has a hunt deck already, but I would like the hybrid rake (v nose) for bigger water. I have a list I looked at on the site of options and man there are lots.

Boat 11330
Motor 9000 pro drive with auto reverse
Paint 1000
hunt deck built in tank 450
hydro turf 1000
grass kit 550
gun box 600
polling platform 600
frotn storage hatch 250
dog ladder 250
pump and dual batteries 400
led lights 400
side lights, rocker switches, bow lights 12 volt plug lights under blind when set up 600
trolling mount 100
receiver for hybrid 260
tailer 3500

Hmm this may be crazy but that is 29930 add tax what ever that is 7% most likely is just a hair over 32K. I was wanting to stay in the 28K range because I was going to make a holiday out of the trip to get it so that would be my budget cut. 35K for the boat, trip and getting home that would be exchange and taxes at the boarder too. Not sure if I could swing it with a 32K boat.


Now I am sure I could live with out a few items like the built in gas tank, polling platform that would shave a grand.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Phil

Phil, u can buy any brand new rig u want from gatortail or prodrive, decked out to the gills and have money left over. That's with one motor. Those price listed for the boat only is ridiculous, when u get the same quality boat built exactly the way u want for half. Just my two cents. Good luck sir

The Best

paint.jpg

I'd look at phowler their in Iowa its a much shorter drive. They can rig a boat and blind ready to go the way you listed. I would look at several different manufactures of boat and motor and pick one that best suits your conditions theres a lot of info on here. Most manufactures/builders will build a boat to accept whatever motor you choose. My buddy has an 1854 and its very comfortable to fish out of and hunts well too.

I am in no rush and purchase date is not till sometime in 2014 just taking the time to research adn get it done properly and the best set up for duck hunting. It is not like I will be able to drive over to who ever I get it from and say "hey lets modify this"

Thanks for the input.
Phil

I think if I get a mud boat for hunting ducks here in Oil Town Northern Alberta, land of the lifited diesels, 36 foot fifth wheels, 60K river boats and quads,. sleds and sided x sides out the waazoo there will soon be a few more purchased lol. That is the problem with an oil town everyone wants the new latest and greatest toy if someone else has it. Maybe I can get a referal fee form who ever I decide to get one from LMAO. I showed a friend one, already and he said last night in the blind....I am thinking that gator tail boat looks nice. I said when did you start looking at them? I googled them after you told me lol.

Later
Phil

Here is an idea of the mud and water I am looking to run in. Most of that water is only 4-8 inches deep and out at the far weed bed it is about 12 inches all with 15 inches of mud or so and thick weed beds floating all over.


For all you Southern guys this is what we hunted today, 6 days after that pic above.


Thanks
Phil

This is a good article and sums up pretty much why I have started looked at a duck hunting mud boat 12 to 18 months in advance. Not sure if may of you have read this but I like a few of the ideas and seems he said that 18X54 was the smalles he coudl get away with but doesn't say what it ended up being exactly.



Later
Phil