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I need a lightweight duck boat for use on small lakes that have cypress knees and snags, and for getting around in flooded timber. I like the River Hawk boats, but have concerns about the fiberglass hull. Anyone have any experience hunting out of them, or have other recommendations?

War Eagle or Express makes the best duck boat in my opinion.

you thought about a square back canoe

Gator Trax baby!!! Thick, slick and smooth!!! Different styles to choose from. Heck they'll make em' just about anyway you want em'. Toughest SOB out there... That I promise!

I have a buddy who has a trtion and its nice but if I was going to buy a new one(maybe next year) I would go with a gator Trax or maybe a War Eagle. but don't rule out a go devil boat

what kind of access do you have to this place?

If you have a ramp for a trailor then a larger boat (10, 12, 14') with a motor would be nice.
If not then a 10' john and a paddle would work.
if it is just you, then a pirogue is the key.

I have an xpress 16 foot welded aluminum with a 40hp. I use it in everything from the arkansas river, lakes, oxbows, and flodded timber. Its all welded, wide and safe. I would highly recomend an all welded boat with built in flotation. If you want something smaller a 14 or 15 work nice with a 25 on the back. Its hard to beat a wide all welded aluminum no matter what brand.
I had a fiberglass boat....sank it once, almost sank it a second time and decided my life was worth more than trying to be cheap and hunt out of something not completly safe. Granted it was a 1968 Crosby. Good luck on your search.

a war eagle and express is not a duck boat it is a fishing boat painted camo try a gator trax for a duck boat http://www.discounthuntingandfishinggear.com

I got a brand new 13' riverhawk that i would sell.
never been in the water.
$700

Try http://www.southernduckboats.com
I bet they can beat any price you find. They are totally custom and Mississippi made. Worth the call I guarantee it.

I wonder if you can fish from a Gatortrax?

Double wrote:I need a lightweight duck boat for use on small lakes that have cypress knees and snags, and for getting around in flooded timber. I like the River Hawk boats, but have concerns about the fiberglass hull. Anyone have any experience hunting out of them, or have other recommendations?

I don't have any experience with River Hawk boats......and I don't know how the fiberglass would hold-up in the stumps. 'Couldn't be any worse than a .080" 'lightweight' aluminum jon in the same terrain.

But I will say that any light-gauge aluminum hull will suffer some fatigueing, especially in the area just in front of the rear seat. That's about the center of mass (balance or pivot point) of a boat with a motor and one occupant......and the are that is most prone to suffer stress, when you run-up on a stump.

I would recommend a minimum of .100" high-grade aluminum with extra bracing in the stress zone. I think Duracraft jons have additional longitudinal ribs in that area, but that adds more weight. X-press hulls are too heavy. Polarcraft jons son't have enough ribs and the ones they have, are 'ribbeted'. Alumicraft 1436 jons' rear seat is too far forward to reach the tiller comfortably although it's the best-built, lightest jon on the market. I haven't lloked at the small Tritons, Weld-Bilts are good quality, but any welded boat you get is going to be heavier and more expensive.

'Lotta stuff to consider.......just do your homework.....go look at as many boats as you can......visualize how you're going to rig it out........match the weight with HP ratings. The Alumicraft 1436 is rated for a 20hp but a 15 is lighter and will push 2 hunters, dog and gear just fine......and hold-up under moderate use in the stumps.

So, in response to your original question.....you might have to make a trade-off between light weight and durability in the type of terrain you described. Maybe the fiberglass hull is worth consideration.

I would say War Eagle all the way u cant find a better boat

Have any of yall heard of a brand name Buddy Boat? Just wondering if it is any count.

lipsplitter wrote:a war eagle and express is not a duck boat it is a fishing boat painted camo try a gator trax for a duck boat http://www.discounthuntingandfishinggear.com

Now why would you promote gator trax over these two well established boat makers. Business interest?