Duck Punts

[Jimmy]

One of the guys I work with is an avid wood worker and is looking for a project and has said he would build me a duck punt. Does anybody on here have any plans or know were to find some plans for a two person & dog wooden duck punt? Thank you in advance Jimmy!

[the rifleman]

There are some really good plans avialable free if you do a Google search.

Some designs are built for certain hunting conditions, IE still water, vs rough water, paddle only, vs power driven, etc.. I would think really hard about the water conditions, and areas that you might be hunting in, before choosing a plan. Also factor in if you need to carry the punt any distance to launch, or if your trailering it, vs cartop. Some can weigh a ton depending on the construction. If you think you may go out on your own at times, a heavier punt might prevent that happening.

Many years ago, we used to hunt in the sloughs around Westham Island in punts. They were very stable, comfortable, fairly lightweight and had plenty of room for decoys, and a dog, but not designed for a motor. That was a mistake.
Crossing the Fraser either on the way out, or back, was a real bitch at times, just using just a paddle. With a tide running hard, and a wind blowing, I would have killed to have had a small motor attached..

Food for thought..

[Jimmy]

Rifleman,

Those are some very good points. I will be using it in the exact spot you describe around westham island and I have a small 5hp motor to put on it. I would imagine it will trailered because of the weight. I would prefer something that would be good in shallow water. I have looked on line and can not find any plans only pictures of the style of punt that would be good for this area. I am definetly willing to listen if you can direct me to a site. Thank you.

Jimmy

[powderburns]

A few years ago, on a saskatchewan fishing site there was a guy building small boats & punts. He lives in Saskatoon. I'll go back and see if I can dig up some info for you. Maybe I can find his email for you. Worth a try anyways.

[Jimmy]

Powderburns, that would be great thank you. I spent some time last night looking around but it is hard to find plans for the traditional duck punt with a two man cockpit. I appreciate all of your help. Jimmy

[the rifleman]

Are these along the lines of the punt your looking for?

http://www.gatorboats.com/images/bmduck2.jpeg

Big Mamma Wooden Boat Plans

This Duckhunter is a nice looking 2 man unit.

Duckhunter Wooden Boat Plans

Plans for these and others are available from Gator boats, I believe are $25. Apparently the build instructions are very thorough.

Our punts were single man, (with room for a dog). Old school canvas decks, and a paddle similar to a kayak paddle. They were lightweight (car-toppers) , so they tended to bob about in the waves, so not the greatest shooting platform in open water. They were extremely shallow though, so we could usually get them deep into the reeds. That was nice as we didn't have to do much for additional camo, other than drape a few bullrush's/reeds over the decks.

We usually tried to find a place in the Westham sloughs, were we could pull along side some slightly more solid ground, (the islands) so it was easier to get the dog in and out. Some pretty deep channels in that area, so before setting out any decoys, check the bottom depth, or on an incoming tide, your decoys may float away..
A local farmer who lived on the river, used to let us keep our punts up on the dike during hunting season, so we didn't have to pack them every time we went out. You might do some checking around as there may be some still willing to let you keep it there. I think we bought him a bottle at the end of the season to show our thanks. It might be a tad tricker with a larger powered punt, but you could mount/unmount the engine at the rivers edge. These days I would take the engine home between uses..rather than leave it under the punt..you never know who may be wandering the dikes..

Personally these days, I would be tempted to buy a flatbottomed aluminum lake boat, 10-12', and simply paint in camo colors, as well as draping or fastening some reeds/bullrush's to it. Easily rowed/paddled in the shallows where an engine may hit bottom, and lightweight. Not as cool looking mind you, as a traditional duck punt, but practical none the less.

[Jimmy]

Rifleman,

The Duckhunter model looks very cool and is along the lines of what we were thinking. Thank you for the tip about asking a farmer to store the boat. I live in Tsawwassen and I have a small trailer so it is no problem to launch at wellington and scoot accross to the marsh. We have hunted in the marsh for several years now with an older now rotten punt. When we got the last punt is was pretty well rotten. We managed to limp around out there probably not the safest but we sure have had fun over the years. Can wait to get out again next year. We have been limited to the fields this season. But hopefully next year we will be back out in the marsh. Thank you all for your help

Jimmy

[f350ps]

I may know where there's a punt for sale, I'll find out tomorrow. It's in Ladner. K