I lost my precious lease and it's nothing but waiting lists around me, therefore I'm wanting to get a duck boat for the upcoming season. I'd largely be hunting back lakes on the south shore of Matagorda Bay. Ideally I'd get a larger (24') cat, but I'm not in to paying $50-75k for one in decent shape and low hours or 95+ for new. Thus, I'm considering an aluminum boat with a surface drive. Buuuuut a 30-45 min trip across the bay also sounds like it sucks and would greatly limit it's use as it would be nice to fish out of it too. Anybody make this decision before and live to regret their choice/are glad they did what they did?

This is the best option by far…hunt ducks from a duck boat
https://boats-from-usa.com/not-specified/dukw-duck-boat-131539

You talking East Matty or West Matty? I don't really have experience in West Matty but in East Matty you can either drive down the beach and then take one of the cuts through the dunes to get to those lakes and walk in (or kayak). But you'd be fine with a 16'-17' semi-v jon boat and regular tiller outboard. No need for a surface drive.

No opinions, but a plug for a boat for sale

https://www.facebook.com/share/zxEWc9LWLoHG2tiJ/?mibextid=kL3p88

Probably both, but mostly west. Does it get pretty crowded back in those lakes behind that first cut?

BCO07 said:

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Probably both, but mostly west. Does it get pretty crowded back in those lakes behind that first cut?

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I really can't say because it's been a long time since I duck hunted those East Matty back lakes.

mosdefn14 said:

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No opinions, but a plug for a boat for sale

https://www.facebook.com/share/zxEWc9LWLoHG2tiJ/?mibextid=kL3p88

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That looks woefully underpowered with that 25HP

What is the white thing that has been X'd out?

Animal said:

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mosdefn14 said:

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No opinions, but a plug for a boat for sale

https://www.facebook.com/share/zxEWc9LWLoHG2tiJ/?mibextid=kL3p88

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That looks woefully underpowered with that 25HP

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25hp tiller on a 16' duck boat is plenty.

Captain Winky said:

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What is the white thing that has been X'd out?

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I think it's an infrared thing for navigating in the dark.

Just ideas for ya. This has been very effective for guiding rich fat guys who don't want to wear waders or get muddy on divers and real and gadwalls etc back in the marsh. Can cross the roughest of bays. Floats ankle deep. 6 seats right down the middle tiller steer wide open tub. 21ft Lund Alaskan tiller.

Fort Grem https://imgur.com/a/KcASDxt

https://i.imgur.com/NDtcPvG.webp

(The wife says "dude you can't insult your customers calling them rich fat guys.... I tell her that the rich fat guys I'm referencing are very proud of being rich fat guys and are super laid back and happy to be that.)

That's pretty damn cool. I'd bet it handles chop well. Run reasonably fast?

This would probably work, it's got plenty of room for shooting, a place to take a nap and drop a deuce if the ducks aren't flying …. Maybe a little out of the price range though

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2024-ocean-alexander-37-legend-8968110/

BCO07 said:

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That's pretty damn cool. I'd bet it handles chop well. Run reasonably fast?

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Handles the worst of chop crossing Aransas Bay in purdy scary conditions with 5 people and all our gear very confidently.

It has a 90 tiller and gets about 34mph.... fixing to repower with a 140....

They build these as big Alaskan style skiffs. I bought it in Iowa....it was a bug walleye boat and I set it up for duck hunting.....and as a back up to my big everyday guide boat should I have a mechanical issue I can still get my customers out on the water. It has served me very very well.... bass and bream fishes excellent too. Very happy with this big open tub. My wife loves it more than my big battleship 26ft bay boat. And being so light it is our travel boat.

My father in law bought a mud buddy for the family to use in Seadrift. It sucked running it on the bay and didn't hold up to Saltwater at all. They are all built on lawnmower engines. After just a couple of years it was having more problems than it was worth.

TarponChaser said:

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25hp tiller on a 16' duck boat is plenty.

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Yeah, nope.

Quick look on War Eagle website shows that boat is rated for 40HP motor- that tells you all you need to know.

Already has the blind on there so add decoys, dog, people and equipment and I bet it will hardly plane out.

Animal said:

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TarponChaser said:

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25hp tiller on a 16' duck boat is plenty.

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Yeah, nope.

Quick look on War Eagle website shows that boat is rated for 40HP motor- that tells you all you need to know.

Already has the blind on there so add decoys, dog, people and equipment and I bet it will hardly plane out.

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I had a 25hp Yammy on a 16' semi-v that I added a floor to and some other accessories and fully loaded with 3 men we had zero issue getting on plane. It wasn't fast, maybe low-20's but running in the dark and skinny water I didn't want or need to go fast. It just ain't safe.

TarponChaser said:

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I had a 25hp Yammy on a 16' semi-v that I added a floor to and some other accessories and fully loaded with 3 men we had zero issue getting on plane. It wasn't fast, maybe low-20's but running in the dark and skinny water I didn't want or need to go fast. It just ain't safe.

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I have a 1543 War Eagle that I run a 25hp on and it is about right. This is a lot more boat than mine and that is what I'm basing it on.

I generally try to get the max HP that the boat is rated for. You can have the power and not use it but you can't use it if you don't have it.

It's only dark on the way there and skinny is usually the destination, not the whole run.

I would look at a G3CCT with a 90 Yamaha on jack plate. I had this boat for 15 years without a single issue. Can handle the chop on the bay (will only rattle some of your teeth out) and can get increadibly shallow. I loved this boat and not only duck hunted out of it but also fished the bay systems out of it.

It has a tunnel hull and pods on the back to keep the stern up. I would recommend you add a couped prop for a quick shot out of the hole.

https://www.g3boats.com/gator-tough-18-cct/

Just my 2 cents.

I would look in to an alum tunnel hull, center console, no less than a 1754, and a 50HP with an electric jack plate. Sponsons (pods) are a great addition and make it easier to get in an out of the boat with, as well as running shallow.

Get an Edge or Havoc. They are fast, run skinny and are made out of the right material for duck hunting

fullback44 said:

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This would probably work, it's got plenty of room for shooting, a place to take a nap and drop a deuce if the ducks aren't flying …. Maybe a little out of the price range though

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2024-ocean-alexander-37-legend-8968110/

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Does it come w a trailer? Galvanized?

Friend of mine was going to buy a duck boat to hunt POC. Late January very low water we ran out of a back lake loaded with 4 very large men, Dog and decoys right past a duck boat being pushed by 2 skinny dudes. 21' Majek RFL 150 TRP of mine.

RFL with a TRP is and will always be the undefeated shallow water boat. It does what it was designed to do perfectly.

I wouldn't limit myself to just hunting the bay though. Some of the better lakes to duck hunt in Texas get pretty rough and I wouldn't want to be in an RFL in them.