Transforming a Jon Boat to a Duck Boat

A johnboat is too small to carry friends, their dogs and their decoys. A blind would get in the way or end up in the water with your dog's enthusiastic departure to retrieve the first duck. This makes transforming a johnboat into a duck boat a search. You have to find room for a dog and decoys, plus some storage for lunch and storage for ducks, in case you're both smart and lucky.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Marine plywood
  • Marine carpet adhesive
  • Notched trowel
  • Marine carpet scraps
  • Saw
  • Screw-eyes
  • 48-quart cooler
  • Bungee cords
  • Doggie treats
  • Lunch
  • Ice
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the inside of the bottom of your boat, using a measuring tape. Cut one or more sheets of marine plywood into sections large enough to fit inside the bottom of your boat, but small enough to remove between hunting trips.

    • 2

      Spread marine carpet adhesive over one side of the plywood, using a notched trowel. Press scrap marine carpet onto the adhesive, so the plywood is covered completely. Even if your dog's claws are clipped, they'll still make almost as much racket on bare plywood as they would on the bottom of a metal johnboat.

    • 3

      Screw two screw-eyes through the carpet and into the plywood at the front of the boat, 2 feet apart. Place a clean 48 quart cooler -- for duck storage -- between the screw-eyes. Hook a bungee cord to one screw-eye, stretch it over the cooler and secure it to the other screw-eye.