Re: Swamp boat
Hold on there.
First, wearing waders in a tippy boat is not for everyone (although I wear hip boots in a canoe in the marsh myself). You may be crossing or travelling over deep or open water at times. You better know your survival techniques for that.
Second, there are lots of boats for getting around in skinny water. For fishing, I think you want a boat you can move around in, rather then one you wear. Kayak fishing is kind of a specialty; most kayak fishermen use other boats as well.
if you are solo, a great small boat is a 12' jon. You can paddle, pole, walk and motor it, carry your gear, a cooler for the fish, and move around some.
if you might have company, look at a 14' wide body jon.
or any 12-14' carolina skiff.
For old wooden boats, 12-14' flat bottom row boat, or better if you can find one, a chincoteaque scow design.
Kayak--get a two man open cockpit (sit inside) so you have some room
Canoe--although I use a 13' solo to jump shoot ducks, a 17' is way better for your use. if you can find one, or afford new, get a Gheenoe, a great wide-body square back canoe.
My experience? Here are the boats that I use in the seaside marshes in Virginia: 13' canoe, 17' canoe, 12' jon, 14' wide jon, 17' folbot kayak (wood and canvas sea-going); 14' whaler, 17' Key West "bay boat' hull; 19' Carolina skiff J (perfectly flat). My friends use similar boats there. Same boats do well in Back Bay (Va) and the North Carolina sounds.
in the water.
