Sportsman Series

The 30’ Minnow Houseboat

The "Just Us" Escape

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If your priority is "lines in the water," the 30-foot Minnow is the boat you want. As the smallest vessel in our fleet, it is nimble, easy to handle, and purpose-built for the serious angler who wants to get into the tight bays where the trophies hide.

The Details

The Exterior (360-Degree Fishability): On most houseboats, to get from the front to the back, you have to walk through the cabin. Not on the Mallard. This boat features a dedicated External Walkway along both sides.

  • The Tactical Advantage: Imagine you hook a 40-inch Northern Pike off the front deck. As he makes a run toward the back of the boat, you don't have to panic. You can simply walk along the side rail, rod in hand, fighting the fish all the way to the rear swim platform for the net job. You have 360-degree access to the water.

The Interior (Efficiency First): Step inside, and you’ll see a cabin designed with zero wasted space. It’s compact, practical, and has everything you need to stay fed and rested between bites.

  • The Galley (Starboard): On your right, a compact galley with a stove, sink, and refrigerator. It’s perfectly set up for frying up the morning’s catch or heating up a pot of chili after a long day on the ice-out waters.

  • The Dinette (Starboard): Just forward of the kitchen is a booth dinette. It’s your map room, your card table, and your dining room.

  • Sleeping & Living (Port): Across the aisle, you have a Day Bed that serves as a sofa during the day and sleeping quarters at night. Combined with the convertible dinette, this boat comfortably sleeps two anglers (or a couple) without any fuss.

The Head: Tucked efficiently into the rear corner is the bathroom with a toilet and shower. It’s tight, but after three days of camping on the water, that hot shower is a game-changer.

The "Penthouse" Deck: Just like her big sisters, the Mallard features a spiral staircase on the rear deck leading to the roof.

  • The Scout Tower: While it’s a great spot for a lawn chair, for the angler, this is your spotting tower. Get up high with a pair of polarized sunglasses to spot submerged boulders, weed lines, and cruising fish that you can't see from the water level.

  • The Slide: And yes, even the workhorse of the fleet has a water slide off the back. Because even the most serious fisherman needs to cool off in July. (And hey, if you’re that serious we’ll pop it off before you head out for a nominal fee so you can stay totally focused.)

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Common Questions

[ FAQ ]

  • This is our "Couples Cruiser." While the rest of our fleet is built to host reunions and fishing crews of 4 to 12 people, the Sportsman 30 is purpose-built for two. It is the most intimate vessel on the water, making it the overwhelming favorite for honeymoons, anniversaries, or solo anglers looking for a quiet retreat. Think of it less like a hotel and more like a floating, private tiny home.

  • Absolutely. In fact, it is the easiest boat in our entire fleet to handle. At 30 feet, it maneuvers much more like a large pontoon than the 50-foot "Birch Lake" series boats. If you are intimidated by the idea of captaining a vessel, the Sportsman 30 is your perfect entry point. It’s nimble, responsive, and makes parking at your campsite a breeze.

  • Not at all. Despite being our most compact footprint, we didn’t strip the fun. The Sportsman 30 still features a water slide off the back deck, just like the big boats. You still get the front deck for morning coffee and a rear deck for casting a line. It’s all the adventure of the houseboat lifestyle, just distilled down to the essentials.

  • The main difference is efficiency. The larger boats (like the 44’ or 52’) have separated stateroom area. The Sportsman 30 features a streamlined, open layout designed for connection, with a day bed and dinette integrated into the living space. You have a full galley (kitchen) and a toilet/shower combo, so you are fully self-sufficient without managing extra rooms you don't need.

  • Total freedom for a fraction of the price. The Sportsman 30 offers our most accessible price point, often comparable to or less than our mid-sized land cabins. But unlike a cabin, you can wake up in a different bay every morning. If you want the "wilderness immersion" of camping but the comfort of a roof and a stove, this is your boat.

  • The Sportsman 30 is arguably our best tactical houseboat. Because of its smaller size and shallow draft, you can tuck into tighter bays and structure areas that the 52-footers might shy away from. It’s a favorite for the "Hardcore Angler" duo who wants to park right on top of the Walleye or Pike spots.