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Bowfishing

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fowbish

Well-known member
I have found an airboat that is fiberglass and was wanting to know if it will hold up to bowfishing. I will be in everythting from open mud flats to stups, logs and crossing beaver dams.
 
The hardest thing on fiberglass is coquina rocks. Outside of rocks they generally will go where anything else will. If ya add a sheet of plastic on the bottom they become tough as nails.

Cheeper for the enthusiast to repair cause you dont have to own a welder and repair kits can be had at Wal-MArt.

Scotty
 
can not say that I will be around many rocks, but beaver dams and stumps should not bother it?
 
You can knock a hole in anything even the Titanic. But normal care and smart ops and it shouldnt be any trouble at all.

Scotty
 
Fowbish, I bowfish off of mine ....... 14' fiberglass. :wink: .
You might want to have a railing made for the bow of it later. I don't use one ..... I think they get in the way, but that's a matter of personal preference.

BF
 
I have built several alum boats over the past years, two were mine and never had a railing. if you have a friend that needs to cool down I always had that option of hitting a log they did not see and watching them fall with a satisfying SPLASH. The last boat had a small rail, just tall enough to cover the lights that were mounted on top of the deck. Which I will never do again.
 
A buddy of mine in central Florida is a SERIOUS bowfisherman, and damn good at it. They take Talapia (Nile Perch) in major numbers. They have a stainless railing on the bow of his boat that is at just the right height to make a foot rest ... and keep the line from fouling the light on a retrieve. I'll see if he has a picture of it and try to show it to you. It's the best I've seen.
The high 'leaning' rails are always in the way for me.

BF
 
The one I'm talkin' about looks like a bumper ...... it's made of maybe 1 1/2" dia. stainless tube, and matches the contour of the bow. It extends forward maybe a foot, and you can step forward on it for a shot, but the large diameter tube never interferes with the line. Guessing again, it's probably around 6" high. It works great.

BF
 
I am sorry, I changed this subject. What I was asking is do ya'll shoot off the original front deck or t ya'll build a raised platform to get a higher view of the fish? Like I said again sorry.
 
we just drag chains hooked to batteries then go back and scoop the fish up, much easier and you don't get hit in the head.
 
Probably works, but I could never afford to have my boat impounded ......
 
that is where we hide the fish on the way out. Black walnuts work good but it takes many buckets
 
fowbish go to my web http://www.searchandrescueairboats.com their is pics of our bowfishing / search and rescue airboat... The hand rails are 2" emt and they are just below your knees for high. they have saved our buts several times from going over board and in April in Mich. you don't want to go swimming. the only draw back is that you have to watch the bottom limb on your bow they make a terrible sound when they hit that hand rail. a few of our bowfishing guys have fiberglass hulls and they like them -- but each to their own--- as said earlier any hull will work as long as you treat it with respect--it can be a long walk--swim back to the landing in your friendly waters.
 
I am going to get the boat this am. I have not bought it but the owner told me to go get it and use it like it was mine. I just want to look it over and see if I can find anything wrong. It is 16x8 custom made hull with a 350 stroked to 388. it has a 2 blade carbon on it but the guy has a 4 and 5 blade also. with a 2:1 gear reduction. I just want to get an idea on the cost and everything to set it up to bowfish.
 
fowbish That is going to be up to you and your wallet... I can tell you how to set up 12volt 50wat lights real cheep that will work but the are the bottom line type of lighting or how to rig a a small generator with one mast and 2 or 3 halogen lights that will do a good job or on up from their. if you are going to do night bowfishing. But for daytime all you need is some tubs to put the fish in. Check out the bowfishing webs look at their lighting and go from their.
Airboating --Bowfishing --and fire dept. are my 3 favorite topics.
 
Thanks, I needed to be a bit more specific. I was wanting to know more about the cleanest way to run a second steering set up but after looking at it I have figured it out. I will post before during and after photos of the build. I will end up with 8 lights on the front deck, two each side mid ship, and some on the cage. I have built several alum out boards from 16 ft ling to 20ft with a 200 hp outboard. It is interesting how easy this is goign to be.
 
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