Improvement ideas for my duck boat

[jehler]

not al at the same time, so i can choose the color

[Tomkat]

Got ya. I am pretty sold on whorehouse red, I watched too many WW2 movies.

[Flightstopper]

PM sent to both

[Tomkat]

Speaking of LED lights-

What do you fellas suggest for a box to mount them in? I would like to have them in something tought that I could also put my navagation light in.

[Tomkat]

Speaking of LED lights-

What do you fellas suggest for a box to mount them in? I would like to have them in something tought that I could also put my navagation light in.

So no one here has ever mounted LED lights on a duck boat?

[MuddyWaterWarlock]

I use a couple of spot lights. I don't see headlights helping me much in the big water and if I'm hunting timber I don't see them surviving long enough to have. Sorry

[Tomkat]

Not a problem Warlock. I read lots of comments from people and bought a pair anyway. too late! LOL

I am thinking they would be handy to have for setting out deeks, etc. I have a spotlight to use as well.

[MuddyWaterWarlock]

Not a problem Warlock. I read lots of comments from people and bought a pair anyway. too late! LOL

I am thinking they would be handy to have for setting out deeks, etc. I have a spotlight to use as well.

Setting deeks or slow running in creeks or rivers, they would probably be great.

[3legged_lab]

Tk, I'll go out to the garage and take a picture of the light box I built for my boat.

[3legged_lab]

I used 1 spot and 1 flood light from a fleetpride parts store. They were about 12 bucks each. I built the box out of .125" aluminum, and powered it through a round 4 pin metal trailer plug so it could be removable.
I think I was in the whole thing for under 40 bucks.

[Tomkat]

Nice! How did you make it?


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[3legged_lab]

Nice! How did you make it?


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I have an 8 foot sheet metal break at the hvac shop. I bought the aluminum from a fab shop and had them cut the pieces on a hydraulic shear to my sizes, bent them, and assembled with regular pop rivets. The bottom bracket is screwed to the boat and the light box is removable by way of 2 pins.

When I bought the boat a similar light option was a $250 add-on.

[Tomkat]

I wish I had a metal break.


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[3legged_lab]

I wish I had a metal break.


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Tom, you could make one of these with a 2x4 and a C-clamp.

[MuddyWaterWarlock]

Poor mans metal break, two 2x4's and a couple of clamps. Small pieces can just be bent in a bench vise. Railroad ties and a floor jack can do some bending too!

[3legged_lab]

A rubber mallet too.

The small radius corners on the 2x4 would be good for the aluminum. I made the corners on that light box with 3 point bends just to make sure I didn't stress the metal.

[Tomkat]

All good ideas. As it turns out my neighbor has a metal break and a some sheet metal

[3legged_lab]

All good ideas. As it turns out my neighbor has a metal break and a some sheet metal

Make sure its aluminum, and make it tough. Guests are never careful, I can stand on mine.

[Tomkat]

All good ideas. As it turns out my neighbor has a metal break and a some sheet metal

Make sure its aluminum, and make it tough. Guests are never careful, I can stand on mine.

What would be the PERFECT material to use?

[Tomkat]

UPDATE: Rogers is having a pretty good sale on Minn Kota motors. I picked up a 45lb thrust transom mount, should move me along ok.

[Flightstopper]

UPDATE: Rogers is having a pretty good sale on Minn Kota motors. I picked up a 45lb thrust transom mount, should move me along ok.

You can fab up some kind of mount on the bow and then spin the head 180 to use as a bow mount. Transom mounts suck.

[Goldfish]

All good ideas. As it turns out my neighbor has a metal break and a some sheet metal

Make sure its aluminum, and make it tough. Guests are never careful, I can stand on mine.

What would be the PERFECT material to use?

Titanium

[3legged_lab]

All good ideas. As it turns out my neighbor has a metal break and a some sheet metal

Make sure its aluminum, and make it tough. Guests are never careful, I can stand on mine.

What would be the PERFECT material to use?

I'm happy with the aluminum. Its light, tough, non corrosive, and fairly inexpensive.

[3legged_lab]

Took these pictures per request TK.
Approx 66" long X 11" high

Btw, she has not been cleaned since the last time I hunted out of it early December.

[3legged_lab]

A small thing that could go overlooked when setting up your boat but gets used every time we hunt out of it is the drink/shell holder. I made a pair of these, but I think cabelas sells a similar one made out of plastic.

[assateague]

What'd I tell you, TK? Cupholders.

[Tomkat]

Thanks for the pictures. That is exactly what I have in mind, but I was thinking about making them wide enough to sit on so I dont have to carry buckets, chairs, etc. And I could store my decoys in there. Was yours made out of wood? How did yo attach it to your boat.

Hell yes I want cup and shell holders, as well as a way to hold our guns in a vertical position. AT my cousin was 2 steps ahead of ya on this, he likes his coffee.

Also want to get a propane tank GKR gave me painted to run a heater for coffee and maybe to cook on and a propane type heater for cold days (anything below 55 degrees so Jarbo will be happy)

Why do transom mount trolling motors suck? If I sheer a pin off I would like a ride back to the boat dock....

[Flightstopper]

Thanks for the pictures. That is exactly what I have in mind, but I was thinking about making them wide enough to sit on so I dont have to carry buckets, chairs, etc. And I could store my decoys in there. Was yours made out of wood? How did yo attach it to your boat.

Hell yes I want cup and shell holders, as well as a way to hold our guns in a vertical position. AT my cousin was 2 steps ahead of ya on this, he likes his coffee.

Also want to get a propane tank GKR gave me painted to run a heater for coffee and maybe to cook on and a propane type heater for cold days (anything below 55 degrees so Jarbo will be happy)

Why do transom mount trolling motors suck? If I sheer a pin off I would like a ride back to the boat dock....

It's the steering aspect. On the bow it pulls the boat in the direction it is pointed. On the transom you of course push the boat and when you turn it pushes the ass of the boat sideways first ad eventually the now in the direction you want to go. You really have to anticipate the turns. It's also easier to work off the bow in most cases.

[Tomkat]

I am planning on taking it out this spring and getting used to it, but I can see what you mean. I was telling the KKK how excited I am getting for next season. Having the boat all tested and ready to go should make for a nice season. I have this vision of us all on board on a cold day, shooting ducks, drinking coffee, and staying warm. NOT laying on the ground in the mud, and not getting beat to our spot in public hunting. Hopefully thats how it works out.

[Tomkat]

UPDATE: Look what came today. Minn Kota 45 lb thrust. Should move my boat thru the water. Can't wait to get a battery for it and try it out.

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