Alumacraft Ducker info???

Dwight Flanders Jr

Dwight Flanders Jr

Member
Hi Guys,

I just picked up a really nice Alumacraft Ducker here in NY. I can't believe I actually own one now. The boat is in excellent condition and also has a set of aluminum oars.

Any info on this boat would be great. I have heard they were only made for a few years and only 3,000 boats were made??

Thanks in advance for any info. I am really excited about this boat. I tried posting a pic of it but the photo was to large. I'll try to get a pic posted soon. Thanks!
 
Its a great boat and very stable.

here are a couple pics of my ducker

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Dwight, That hull number is amazing. I almost bought D2130 up in Watertown but couldn't get there in time when I was out of town on business so it was sold to a guy down near Catskill. He painted it and tried to sell it a year later and I almost bought it but a guy in NH saw my ad wanting one and hooked me up with a real good deal. D2249 is my hull number and it was made in 1956. So yours could be even older. My ducker is now in the midwest with me since relocating to Wisconsin last August. It gets hunted with 3 other duckers all of which are late 60's vintage without the stablizer holes. A word of caution, keep an eye on the rivets in support for the airbox. If you sit up on the end when you row, it can stress this area. Also, the older vintage Duckers like ours have air in the box instead of foam. This will not save you if your air box leaks and you swamp the boat. These are stable little boats but just that. The perfect small slough, car topping, 1-2 man boat. I often use mine with another guy, dog and a couple doz decoys. It is great with just me, the dog and the decoys. Just don't ever sell it to anyone unless they will use it as intended. The guy that saw my ad googled me and saw my involvement in hunting, dog training etc. and then found me to be a worthy recipient as he was determined to be with his. My boat was originally purchased by an outdoor writer for a Boston Newspaper and he gave it to writer he had mentored that was friends with the grandfater of the guy I got it from. It was given to him with the same requirements for passing it on. My grandson will hunt from mine someday or else it will be sold to someone that will hunt it. Coincidentally, I just put the eye hooks in the garage ceiling yesterday and hoisted the 67 lbs up to the ceiling. Light enough to store that way. Not many are. Enjoy your new boat Dwight and if you ever decide to sell it, I know I guy in your area that is truely worthy and has the waterfowling addiction stuck deep in his jawbone like a halibut hook.
Ron
 
Dwight,

The Ducker was Built by a man named Erich Swenson born in Roneby Sweden in 1899. Mr Swenson left the Swedish Navy at the age of 20 and emigrated to Minnesota where he worked as a boat builder. In 1945, Flour City Ornamental Iron Works engaged Swenson to design the worlds first stretch-formed aluminum fishing boat. That 14 foot Model A was the beginning of Aluma-Craft. Mr Swenson was a avid duck hunter so somtime late in 1946 0r early 1947 he started to design an aluminum duck boat for duck hunting. The first Ducker came off the line in 1947 D100. In all,3236 Aluma Craft Lifetime Duckers were built between 1947 and 1969. This is a brief history of the Ducker. I hope this has been some help to you.

Tom
 
Ron,
thanks for the reply. That is a great story. I live just north of Saratoga Springs and bought this boat in Ballston Spa. I could'nt believe I actually found a Ducker locally. I guess sometimes you just neve know. Nothing is more fun than hunting a marsh out of a little boat over your own cork decoys. I sold my big boats and have hunted small for the last couple of years. Nothing better.

Thanks for the advice. I have hunted from smaller boats for sometime and will be hunting smaller rivers, creeks and bays/marshes with this boat. On the air box idea, could they be filled with foam for flotation? I was also thinking of glueing blue foundation foam to the underside of the decks. That might help also.

As soon as I can get some pics of the boat downloaded I will post them. Thanks!

Dwight

Matt, Great pics. Thanks for sharing! ND is a great state. I have been there twice waterfowling and had a ball both trips. You are very lucky.
My favorite part of the trip......Canvasbacks!
 
Thanks for the history on the boat I never know that much about the builder. I have one that was my fathers. He brought it in the 60's for $150. The same day the gentleman had a dozen old wood decoys that he wanted to sell for $150. My father told me years later and said why would I want some old wood decoys with all the new plastic stuff coming out. The decoy rig was a dozen Shang Wheelers. He always said that he could have put all three of his kids through school with those but did not know at the time. Great boats and I shot my first duck a drake woodie from one on a beaver bog in CT. Will always have it and my son will shoot out of it this year in MA when he turns 12. Best of luck with it. Hank
 
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