[Hunt15]

I'm new on here from East-central Nebraska, just started bowfishing this summer and I'm addicted. I've already been taking care of a few commons and gar at some of the local sandpit lakes, but I'm still learning. I shoot a Parker Sidekick with an AMS retriever pro and an octane hostage arrow rest. No boat as of right now, but I get by.

 

[mattman]

Hey welcome from Michigan, Also welcome to the addiction! it all starts with shooting a few fish, then next thing you know you have a boat all set up and have hundreds put into it. in no way is taht depressing. Also feel free to ask any question you may have. Someone on here should be able to answer it

 

[fr3db3ar]

As Matt said, welcome to the addiction. I'd say we could help with that but we're really a bunch of enablers. Bowfishing is it's own therapy

 

[NuffDaddy]

Welcome!!!!
They said it all...better start saving money now.

 

[Hunt15]

Thanks guys, I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions when I'm setting up my boat before next spring.

 

[mattman]

do you have a boat yet? if you do what kind? what kinda setup do you think your going to be running

 

[Hunt15]

Haven't bought a boat yet, looking at a 12'x36" john boat, something light i can throw on a trailer, and I've been looking around to see how I rig up a platform that I could take off pretty easy. I'm not sure if I want to spend the dough on a generator, might just try to run some smaller lights off a big marine battery. There's mostly smaller lakes around here, so I don't think I'll be needing a big motor, a trolling motor should do. Hopefully I'll have something going on by the time the spawn starts next spring.

 

[mattman]

If your shooting clear water I would go leds off batteries. A flush deck would work great maybe just a sheet of plywood coated with some sealer and you would be good to go. My boat is a 17 footer and I just run a 55 lbs troller until I can buy a outboard

 

[NuffDaddy]

Definitely don't do a raised platform. Anything under a 60" bottom isn't wide enough to be elevated. A few LEDs and a couple batteries would be a good way to start. If you can find a 12-14 foot Jon boat with a 40" bottom you would be much happier than a 36" bottom, but a 36 will work. Just be smart and know your limits with a smaller boat.

 

[Hunt15]

Thanks for the advice. How well does running a bigger boat off just a trolling motor work? My uncle has a 16' with a 42" bottom he said I could have for a couple hundred bucks, but I always figured I'd need an outboard for a boat that size.

 

[mattman]

works pretty good. Untill your in faster moving water. But we get going fast enough where if we hit a long I will mostl likely fall out.lol

 

[fr3db3ar]

Nope that will never work. you should trade me that for my 1448 which works great with a troller

 

[NuffDaddy]

Thanks for the advice. How well does running a bigger boat off just a trolling motor work? My uncle has a 16' with a 42" bottom he said I could have for a couple hundred bucks, but I always figured I'd need an outboard for a boat that size.

Take it!!!!!!! I have a 1648 and a 45lb thrust troller on the front...Pulls me along just fine. You can just keep your eyes open on Craigslist for a cheapo 9.9 or 15hp to push it too.

 

[Hunt15]

Alright, I'll have to do that. I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions when I set it up this winter.

 

[NuffDaddy]

Feel free to ask. Look at as many pictures you can find so you get an idea of what you want.
Here is my boat just to get ideas turning.
This is what I started with.

Ended with this.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Tell me about that sexy stick you got there Nuff.

 

[NuffDaddy]

My stick steer??? Lol.
Here is a daylight pic of it.

It's a 6" long 2x2 that screws to the foot pedal from the bottom up with 2 drywall screws. Then it's a leftover piece of half inch plywood about 3" wide and 3 1/2' long screwed into the 2x2. 2 U bolts through the ply, one at the top and one at the bottom. Then a piece of PVC slid down loosely through the ubolts, and it lines up with the power button. Put a bungee cord pulling up on the PVC to keep it off the gas unless I push down.
So basically I push down for gas and push/pull for steering. When I take my hand off to shoot, the power cuts so I can fight the fish. It's as ******* as it gets, but I love it...and it has lasted for about 2doz nights so far with no sign of weakness.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Simple yet effective. I like it.

big plus, I already have all the ingredients sitting around the garage

 

[Hunt15]

That looks pretty nice, Nuff. Looks expensive too. I'm not sure I want to spend that kinda money yet, but I might have to steal a couple of ideas from your boat.

 

[NuffDaddy]

That looks pretty nice, Nuff. Looks expensive too. I'm not sure I want to spend that kinda money yet, but I might have to steal a couple of ideas from your boat.

Everything was homemade, so it was quite cheap. The generator platform in the back is made from 2 sticks of 3/4"emt, and I had the neighbor weld it up. So that was about $6 with paint. Platform was a little more, but I went overboard...and I don't like it. It's 5 1/2'x7' and weights around 150lbs. Takes up almost all the room in the boat, and weighs so much I can only put 2 guys up front. Next year I'm making one out of thin wall steel and it's going to be 4'x5'.