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Message
Duck boats in Venice....
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:05 am
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:05 am
For those of you wanting to consider pushing the limit in a duck boat. A river pilot friend of mine told me they just pulled two guys out of the river that capsized their surface drive in the river. Just medivaced them out. They think if they were in the water another minute would have been too late. As it was one of them in bad shape.
The river is not a place for small boats! Especially on a day like today a duck simply isn't worth it.
That being said on my way now for an afternoon hunt..... In a LARGE boat.
The river is not a place for small boats! Especially on a day like today a duck simply isn't worth it.
That being said on my way now for an afternoon hunt..... In a LARGE boat.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:15 am to Da Hammer
I saw a bunch putting in at the Venice marina yesterday. Boats where loaded down, I figured they were staying in one of the house boats or condos. Nope straight out into the pass and down the river. Boats were loaded down and no life jackets.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:25 am to Da Hammer
What's a large boat? You just get to the area and paddle in? I've never hunted Venice so I legit have no idea what it's like during the winter
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:30 am to PapaPogey
He has a 24' bay boat. Uses pirouges. Glad I sat out this weekend it wasn't worth it even in my bay boat. I'll be down there the last two weekends..
I'm glad they are okay but some of those people are just dumb. No way I would have crossed or entered the river this weekend
I'm glad they are okay but some of those people are just dumb. No way I would have crossed or entered the river this weekend
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:31 am to PapaPogey
My boat is 25' with radar. I have pirouge racks built in and park boat at hunting area and paddle to where I hunt.
Even in a larger boat Venice is dangerous. I always take instances like this to help show those who just see a place to kill ducks that you need to be careful.
Even in a larger boat Venice is dangerous. I always take instances like this to help show those who just see a place to kill ducks that you need to be careful.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:35 am to Da Hammer
Down in the WMA now. Came down Thursday night smooth as glass. 35 mph gusts are no joke today. Sawdust bend is white capping.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 10:46 am to PapaPogey
When hammer says duck boat I am assuming he is talking about a surface drive. This is our venice rig (now have radar installed), with what we call a "duck boat" stacked in a large pirogue. We use the larger boat to run the river/passes, then launch the pirogues/duckboat to hunt. Typically just pushpoling over a flat to set up.
Just taking a guess but I assume when hammer is talking about a big enough boat he is not just talking size, HP plays a big factor as well. An underpowered boat running the river can get you in a bind real quick. Yeah your surface drive may be 18ft but if it has low sides and is only being pushed by a 36hp motor you will catch hell crossing a cargo ship wake or running back up river in a NW wind.
A lot of my friends do not respect the river because they have made it down and back safe 2 or 3 times. I try to explain to them that yeah you will probably be ok 9 out of 10 times but it only takes a seemingly small variable to put you in a world of hurt if you don't give the river the respect it deserves (demands really).
Edit to add after seeing Hammers reply:
There are times where we decided it was better to wait it out at the camp an extra day rather then head back upriver when a front is breaking in this boat which has made hundreds of trips up and down the river.
Hopefully people heed your advice hammer, unfortunately most who have been bitten by the Venice bug after 1-2 trips with a buddy probably won't.
This post was edited on 1/7/17 at 10:52 am
Posted on 1/7/17 at 11:32 am to Da Hammer
quote:
Even in a larger boat Venice is dangerous
And not to be underestimated. We took a huge ghost roller over the bow of a 25' Reno running in the fog two years ago. Boat is completely outfitted. Radar, gps, etc. you know the owner, Hammer. You will never catch me in that river in my duck boat. I did it when I was younger and dumber. Not anymore.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 11:41 am to Whatafrekinchessiebr
You're dead on. The size of the boat is only one of the variables. Horsepower and outfit are equally as important. Too many people who haven't spent a large amount of time on the after do not understand that, and unfortunately, a lot of people who recently started duck hunting fall into that category.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 2:17 pm to Da Hammer
quote:
with radar.
Radar is very important. The fog can be like a wall when you hit the river not to mention numerous hazards.
The good thing about Venice is that a larger boat doesn't limit your access all that much.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 3:00 pm to Da Hammer
My uncle had a camp in Ostrica, use to launch my 16x48 Weldcraft, with a 55 Suzuki, at Riverside launch in Buras and run across the river to the locks.
Only time I wore a life jacket in my flat...
Only time I wore a life jacket in my flat...
Posted on 1/7/17 at 3:34 pm to Hangover Haven
A friend of mine helped rescue these guys. I don't know a lot about air cooled engines but I heard the spray from the river (with how rough it is) got sucked into the engine somehow and this caused the engine to kill. Once it killed they could not steer the boat into the waves correctly and it capsized.
Guys were lucky people were able to get to them quick enough. They had to bring them in the pilot station, strip them, and bring up their temperature slowly.
I went out in my 20ft flat this morning and seen 5 different mud boats running back from the river to the launch around 5am. They made a smart choice not to chance it.
Guys were lucky people were able to get to them quick enough. They had to bring them in the pilot station, strip them, and bring up their temperature slowly.
I went out in my 20ft flat this morning and seen 5 different mud boats running back from the river to the launch around 5am. They made a smart choice not to chance it.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 6:01 pm to JasonL79
Just getting back from a pm hunt it's windy and angry down here. Passed a few duck boats (surface drives) in the river they have bigger balls and less brains than I do.
Glad to see my thinking isn't in the minority here.
Glad to see my thinking isn't in the minority here.
Posted on 1/7/17 at 6:04 pm to Da Hammer
Yea I'm one of those who think like you do. We always go when conditions are right and always make decisions based on weather. I've been in the river in my 22' bay boat and have been nervous but I'm glad those guys are safe and hopefully people learn but I doubt it
Posted on 1/7/17 at 6:08 pm to WHODAT514
I go pretty much when I can down here but feel comfortable in the boat I have to do that. Still hairy sometimes always have to be on your toes here. This weather I do t leave without extra clothes, food, emergency supplies and EPIRB and PLB's
Posted on 1/8/17 at 7:17 pm to Da Hammer
I'm comfortable in my 20ft flat but I have high sides. Most of these mud boats have low sides and they get loaded down too much. It also depends on how experienced you are at navigating in the waves. But if you lose power like these guys, most people would have a hard time.
I also bring extra clothes and some supplies. I need to invest in a good radio though. Cell phones are spotty in certain areas down there. It also helps to have an anchor with a long line and a pirogue in case you break down and need to get to heavier boat traffic area.
I also bring extra clothes and some supplies. I need to invest in a good radio though. Cell phones are spotty in certain areas down there. It also helps to have an anchor with a long line and a pirogue in case you break down and need to get to heavier boat traffic area.
Posted on 1/8/17 at 7:28 pm to Da Hammer
Yeah, no duck is worth risking that. Hope they pull through.
Posted on 1/8/17 at 7:51 pm to Slickback
quote:
Hope they pull through
They were ok the same day. No major injuries that I heard of. One of the guys had a gash on his face. They were lucky they got to them quick.
Friend at bar pilots said a ship had radioed the pilots to help remove a boat from the ship channel. Apparently their running lights were still working even though they captsized. Bar pilot went out there to investigate and had to rescue them.
Posted on 1/8/17 at 8:19 pm to JasonL79
Jason the anchor with long rode is important more than most realize. If the shite hits the fan and you loose power in rough water an anchor on a long line even if not touching bottom will in some cases keep the bow of the boat into the waves.
I keep the following on my boat in the winter
Tarps
Space blankets
Old sleeping bag
2 pairs clothes
MREs
Extensive first aid kit
Flare gun
Back up VHF
battery jumper for boat and cell phone
Float coats
PLBx 2
EPRIB
Extra bilge pump
Extra plug and a whole lot of other stuff I probably can't think of. I put what I use on here to possibly help people maybe it will...
I keep the following on my boat in the winter
Tarps
Space blankets
Old sleeping bag
2 pairs clothes
MREs
Extensive first aid kit
Flare gun
Back up VHF
battery jumper for boat and cell phone
Float coats
PLBx 2
EPRIB
Extra bilge pump
Extra plug and a whole lot of other stuff I probably can't think of. I put what I use on here to possibly help people maybe it will...
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