Equipping and Outfitting your Duck Boat
Heading out for the duck hunting season, you need to make sure you're prepared for anything. As any seasoned sportsman knows, your plan will work 100% of the time, about 50% of the time, so making sure you're equipped for a wide range of hiccups, as well as more serious scenarios, is important to having a safe and successful hunt. This list is brought to your by L & M Marine, proudly serving the states of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.
Safety
When you're heading out hunting, safety is always the first priority. When you're outfitting your boat you need to be prepared for anything. The Coast Guard requires you to carry the following items: A life jacket for each passenger, a type IV flotation device, an audible signaling device (whistle or air horn), a visual signaling device (flares), a fire extinguisher.
Beyond that, there are several other essentials that you should carry as a matter of common sense. A spare set of dry clothes, including socks, skivvies, and over layer, stowed in a dry bag. Heading out on a boat you can expect to get wet, but if you ever wind up drenched a spare set of clothes will keep hypothermia at bay. A full first aid kit is a must have for obvious reasons. You should also bring a survival kit with extra food, a waterproof fire starting solution, space blanket, multi-tool, and paracord.
Utility
Beyond staying safe, you'll want to make sure you've got the right gear stowed away to handle the infinite situations you'll encounter that would otherwise put a cramp in your day.
A push pole, and a long handle paddle are both great options for remaining mobile if your engine fails on you, and the push pole can be generally useful for reaching for objects in the water, like your decoys. A headlamp is always a good tool to have so you free up your hands when you're trying to set your gear in the dark. Bring along a toolbox equipped with the simple tools you need, as well as some rescue tape for your fuel hose and some duct tape, because you never know.
Other useful items you'll likely want to bring along are some camo-netting to throw over your motor, quick start spray for your engine, some sturdy rope, and a dog ladder (for your four legged friend).
Comfort
There are a few things that will just make your hunting trip more comfortable, and your day will just go smoother. A small single burner stove to heat up some coffee (don't forget the coffee pot) a set of limb pruners will help you gather foliage for your blind, and allow you to slide your boat under low hanging branches. A sturdy GPS unit and some spare batteries (stored in a secured zip lock) will make sure you're heading in the right direction, and your cell phone (also stored safely in a waterproof bag) should stay on hand in case of an emergency.
We hope this list jars your memory and you recall that critical piece of gear you forgot on your packing list this year, and we hope you have a successful season. Remember for all of your duck boat needs, including duck boats, surface drive motors, long tail motors, and more, you can come in and see us at L&M Marine in Theodore and Stapleton, Alabama, proudly serving the cities of Mobile, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; and Biloxi, Mississippi.