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... tell me your thoughts. Tossing around the idea of building a hybrid similar to what y'all have been building, but hopefully modify it to be more of a layout boat. What're your thoughts on it?

The thought is to use it in the bay for brant. To separate myself from the clowns on the jetty on days when I'm hunting alone.

Now the kicker is that I have no intention of using a tender to tow it out (for now). Most hauls would be maybe 1/2 mile. If the left/ right (port/ starboard) diameter wasn't too wide, could ya see a kayak paddle handling it ok?

Been chatting with the famous or infamous Clyde on the matter. He had a rather large aluminum layout made he tenders out.

I don't know...should I just quit thinking

I guess it'd depend on how much you modify it. My boat is 42" at its widest and i paddled it 1 mile round trip with a single paddle. I wasn't fast but it wasn't too bad. This was also on completely flat calm water. I have a kayak paddle now but haven't gotten to test it. You can get them in a lot of lengths so as long as you got the arm span to do it you could find a paddle that would work.



Also all this advice hinges upon wether you mean an actual half mile or an infamous Redbeard "1/2" mile.

gila-river wrote:I guess it'd depend on how much you modify it. My boat is 42" at its widest and i paddled it 1 mile round trip with a single paddle. I wasn't fast but it wasn't too bad. This was also on completely flat calm water. I have a kayak paddle now but haven't gotten to test it. You can get them in a lot of lengths so as long as you got the arm span to do it you could find a paddle that would work.



Also all this advice hinges upon wether you mean an actual half mile or an infamous Redbeard "1/2" mile.

42" wide. Good to know. Thanks

No a true 1/2 mi this time

Redbeard wrote:

gila-river wrote:I guess it'd depend on how much you modify it. My boat is 42" at its widest and i paddled it 1 mile round trip with a single paddle. I wasn't fast but it wasn't too bad. This was also on completely flat calm water. I have a kayak paddle now but haven't gotten to test it. You can get them in a lot of lengths so as long as you got the arm span to do it you could find a paddle that would work.



Also all this advice hinges upon wether you mean an actual half mile or an infamous Redbeard "1/2" mile.

42" wide. Good to know. Thanks

No a true 1/2 mi this time

How much would you have to modify it to use it for layout hunting? It's pretty damn low profile as it is.

Why cant you outfit your scull boat with front and rear anchor points and use it? Is it a room/stability thing?

I've paddled the rat over a mile one way with a kayak paddle, loaded with a gun, blind bag, 6 slot bag with a dozen honkers floaters and a dozen ducks. And would totally comfortable in it in the bay.

gila-river wrote:

Redbeard wrote:

gila-river wrote:I guess it'd depend on how much you modify it. My boat is 42" at its widest and i paddled it 1 mile round trip with a single paddle. I wasn't fast but it wasn't too bad. This was also on completely flat calm water. I have a kayak paddle now but haven't gotten to test it. You can get them in a lot of lengths so as long as you got the arm span to do it you could find a paddle that would work.



Also all this advice hinges upon wether you mean an actual half mile or an infamous Redbeard "1/2" mile.

42" wide. Good to know. Thanks

No a true 1/2 mi this time

How much would you have to modify it to use it for layout hunting? It's pretty damn low profile as it is.

well honestly I don't know. I was planning on getting some specs from a true layout and kinda go from there.

Also wondering if the stern being tapered and rounded like the bow was a must. Dan? Any layout guys can interject here

3legged_lab wrote:Why cant you outfit your scull boat with front and rear anchor points and use it? Is it a room/stability thing?

I've paddled the rat over a mile one way with a kayak paddle, loaded with a gun, blind bag, 6 slot bag with a dozen honkers floaters and a dozen ducks. And would totally comfortable in it in the bay.

uploadfromtaptalk1405891824557.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1405891872492.jpg

great question and am why I would not even attempt to build this this until the following season, even it comes to that. I might give it a shot this season with the scull boat

Mine paddles, but not well. I'd just as soon not paddle it any further than I absolutely have to.

And my stern is square.

assateague wrote:And my stern is square.

i imagine rounding and tapering the stern, like the bow, wouldn't be a big deal right

Redbeard wrote:

gila-river wrote:

Redbeard wrote:

gila-river wrote:I guess it'd depend on how much you modify it. My boat is 42" at its widest and i paddled it 1 mile round trip with a single paddle. I wasn't fast but it wasn't too bad. This was also on completely flat calm water. I have a kayak paddle now but haven't gotten to test it. You can get them in a lot of lengths so as long as you got the arm span to do it you could find a paddle that would work.



Also all this advice hinges upon wether you mean an actual half mile or an infamous Redbeard "1/2" mile.

42" wide. Good to know. Thanks

No a true 1/2 mi this time

How much would you have to modify it to use it for layout hunting? It's pretty damn low profile as it is.

well honestly I don't know. I was planning on getting some specs from a true layout and kinda go from there.

Also wondering if the stern being tapered and rounded like the bow was a must. Dan? Any layout guys can interject here

True layouts don't paddle worth a shit. They are intended to tow or stow in a tender boat. Sneak boats like JR is talking about are a better option. I think a pod or pod like boat is a better option. That's why I bought the halfbreed. I hope to be able to bring it down there to hunt with you this fall. You can get a good idea if it is what you want after trying it out on the water.
I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

Just a thought...but maybe go with more of a layout modified toward a hybrid. I've never built either of them, but I've done quite a bit of research on both. I think if you took the plans for a layout boat and just put a slight upsweep on the bow it should paddle alright and still function as a layout.

QH's Paw wrote:I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

He was a firm believer in his product, Mike.

3legged_lab wrote:

QH's Paw wrote:I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

He was a firm believer in his product, Mike.

Yep, took his final stand in one didn't he.
Actually, that's why they put foam in both ends of the boat now.
Well, actually, they quit making them for now. If you go to their website, it's shut down for boats.

Like Nuff said - true layouts don't paddle worth a damn, because the are designed to have the edges actually just in or under the water - they plow like a bastard when paddled.

I have nothing else to add really. Only hunted Brant a couple times and they didn't seem too bright - I'd imagine that you could anchor up your current rig and try it, but there is a reason that all the layout boats are designed to "melt" into the water.

3legged_lab wrote:

QH's Paw wrote:I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

He was a firm believer in his product, Mike.

Just like the Segway guy

Redbeard wrote:

assateague wrote:And my stern is square.

i imagine rounding and tapering the stern, like the bow, wouldn't be a big deal right

The "original" hybrid was like that- bow and stern the same. I believe he still has the plans on the website. It's called the DE Hybrid, I believe, for "double ended".

NuffDaddy wrote:Just a thought...but maybe go with more of a layout modified toward a hybrid. I've never built either of them, but I've done quite a bit of research on both. I think if you took the plans for a layout boat and just put a slight upsweep on the bow it should paddle alright and still function as a layout.

glad you mentioned that. Was kind of my intent

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Like Nuff said - true layouts don't paddle worth a damn, because the are designed to have the edges actually just in or under the water - they plow like a bastard when paddled.

I have nothing else to add really. Only hunted Brant a couple times and they didn't seem too bright - I'd imagine that you could anchor up your current rig and try it, but there is a reason that all the layout boats are designed to "melt" into the water.

heres what I had in mind. Clyde's rig

But you're right, maybe my scull will do just fine, and row well in the mean time

On a calm day just weigh it down a little extra to get it lower in the water.

I ended up building the Kara instead because I wanted the "layout" stability. Feels just like a surfboard.

3legged_lab wrote:On a calm day just weigh it down a little extra to get it lower in the water.

yup just like we do our scull boats

Eric Haynes wrote:I ended up building the Kara instead because I wanted the "layout" stability. Feels just like a surfboard.

ya ever use it?

QH's Paw wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:

QH's Paw wrote:I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

He was a firm believer in his product, Mike.

Yep, took his final stand in one didn't he.
Actually, that's why they put foam in both ends of the boat now.
Well, actually, they quit making them for now. If you go to their website, it's shut down for boats.

They were putting foam in them before he died, mine has it.
They stopped production again? Thought they were back up and going a year or so after David's death?

Redbeard wrote:

Eric Haynes wrote:I ended up building the Kara instead because I wanted the "layout" stability. Feels just like a surfboard.

ya ever use it?

Sure do, but not as often as I'd like. I'm the only one with one out of the people I hunt with so I only hunt out of it if I'm hunting alone for the day.

Mine is also filled with foam so it is heavy as fuck....around 120lbs, however it is damn near indestructible and unsinkable(under normal use)

Eric Haynes wrote:

Redbeard wrote:

Eric Haynes wrote:I ended up building the Kara instead because I wanted the "layout" stability. Feels just like a surfboard.

ya ever use it?

Sure do, but not as often as I'd like. I'm the only one with one out of the people I hunt with so I only hunt out of it if I'm hunting alone for the day.

Mine is also filled with foam so it is heavy as fuck....around 120lbs, however it is damn near indestructible and unsinkable(under normal use)

that would be my other issue. I was thinking if I ever hunt brant alone. And come to think of it, in the two years I've hunted them I haven't hunted them alone. There's always someone who wants to tag along. And I sure ain't building two one for a buddy

Though if it worked well enough if build one for Sam

3legged_lab wrote:

QH's Paw wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:

QH's Paw wrote:I kind of have a hard time buying and using a marsh rat since it's maker died in Tillamook bay using it to hunt Brant.

He was a firm believer in his product, Mike.

Yep, took his final stand in one didn't he.
Actually, that's why they put foam in both ends of the boat now.
Well, actually, they quit making them for now. If you go to their website, it's shut down for boats.

They were putting foam in them before he died, mine has it.
They stopped production again? Thought they were back up and going a year or so after David's death?

They did start making them again but, they stopped. Here is a link to their site.
http://www.mallardmarine.com/
All I know for sure is, the very next year after he died, they were at the sportsman's shows handing out foam and a template to anyone that said they had a rat, no questions asked. I just assumed that they were making them without foam before that. All of the rats I had seen prior to that had no foam in them.

Redbeard wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Like Nuff said - true layouts don't paddle worth a damn, because the are designed to have the edges actually just in or under the water - they plow like a bastard when paddled.

I have nothing else to add really. Only hunted Brant a couple times and they didn't seem too bright - I'd imagine that you could anchor up your current rig and try it, but there is a reason that all the layout boats are designed to "melt" into the water.

heres what I had in mind. Clyde's rig

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1405896473.859591.jpg

But you're right, maybe my scull will do just fine, and row well in the mean time

Red, you realize Clyde's boat is aluminum, right? I've hunted out of it. Just like your scull, we put a tractor weight in the bow to keep it at or below the water line when hunting. We towed it but, I've never paddled it. I wouldn't think it would paddle too well but, maybe I'm wrong.

QH's Paw wrote:

Redbeard wrote:

DeadEye_Dan wrote:Like Nuff said - true layouts don't paddle worth a damn, because the are designed to have the edges actually just in or under the water - they plow like a bastard when paddled.

I have nothing else to add really. Only hunted Brant a couple times and they didn't seem too bright - I'd imagine that you could anchor up your current rig and try it, but there is a reason that all the layout boats are designed to "melt" into the water.

heres what I had in mind. Clyde's rig

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1405896473.859591.jpg

But you're right, maybe my scull will do just fine, and row well in the mean time

Red, you realize Clyde's boat is aluminum, right? I've hunted out of it. Just like your scull, we put a tractor weight in the bow to keep it at or below the water line when hunting. We towed it but, I've never paddled it. I wouldn't think it would paddle too well but, maybe I'm wrong.

yea I talked to him about it. Flat bottom?