Advice on sneakbox - AA Broadbill or MLB Wigeon
- Thread starter Scott Gilliland
- Start date
Scott Gilliland
Member
Yes... that was a sad day. I've visited the Canot Norwest shop a couple of times and there was a lot of history there. I'm not sure what the Inuit are going to do - they rely heavily on these canoes. There are more and more large welded aluminum boats in the Arctic, but the canoes are the first boats on, and last boats off the water. With a crew, canoes can be manhandled across ice, or loaded on a komatik and moved to the ice edge. The Inuit are extremely resourceful -- on a couple of the islands we stopped there were pieces of an old canoe. I mean little pieces (1x3'). They pulled them apart and saved all the tacks, ribs and skins... perfect pieces to have in your boat if you need to make a quick repair.
I'm not a great photographer. The only way I get good pictures is to take a lot go there and one or 2 ends up good. But they all tell a story. Here is couple more. I'm fairly new to discussion forms and know I'm well off topic... I hope you don't mind if a post a few pictures.
The islands are barren and rocky. This island actually has a lot of vegetation!
A lot of the nutrients on the islands comes from the duck shit. Here you can see a rich growth of mosses around an old eider nest bowl.
A nice active eider nest
There are a lot of ponds on the islands. The ponds are surrounded by deposit of rich organic guano that comes from generations and generations of eiders nesting on the islands. I coined these "eider gardens".
Our nest search crew
The Inuit are very social and stop frequently for boil ups. They are very funny. Often it's just couple cans of Click, some home made bannock and a cup of hot tea, but shared with friends and a few laughs ... it does not get better.
And maybe a charr or two
Here are a few more pics
I'm not a great photographer. The only way I get good pictures is to take a lot go there and one or 2 ends up good. But they all tell a story. Here is couple more. I'm fairly new to discussion forms and know I'm well off topic... I hope you don't mind if a post a few pictures.
The islands are barren and rocky. This island actually has a lot of vegetation!
A lot of the nutrients on the islands comes from the duck shit. Here you can see a rich growth of mosses around an old eider nest bowl.
A nice active eider nest
There are a lot of ponds on the islands. The ponds are surrounded by deposit of rich organic guano that comes from generations and generations of eiders nesting on the islands. I coined these "eider gardens".
Our nest search crew
The Inuit are very social and stop frequently for boil ups. They are very funny. Often it's just couple cans of Click, some home made bannock and a cup of hot tea, but shared with friends and a few laughs ... it does not get better.
And maybe a charr or two
Here are a few more pics
Paul Taylor
Active member
Absolutely incredible photos!!! Thank you for posting!
It's great to hear someone actually pronounce Quebec properly.
Great video too!
It's great to hear someone actually pronounce Quebec properly.
Great video too!
It's their hardware store! These are great photos and give us a window on life to the far north. Keep them coming.
noweil Mike
Well-known member
The 2 big differences are going to be the hulls. The MLB is a displacement hull and they are little boats. The AA is a planing hull, will take a bigger motor and cover water much quicker. So of the MLB's had problems with hulls cracking or breaking. I think some broke just loading on the trailer. I have never had a AA Broadbill but had a couple other AA models. They would go fast.
Scott Gilliland
Member
Well, we're back on topic. I managed to catch the Covid and I've been house bound all week. This has given me a bit of time to think and I'
ve not been able to make that impulse purchase. I think prices are a bit high 3500 CAD for the AA with a good trailer and no motor and 3000 CAD for the MLB. The MLB has a cheap trailer and needs a bit of fibreglass work and a new paint job. I did a search in the NJ and area and y9u guys have a lot more options. If I could get one of these at a reasonable price I'd like to try them, but I'm thinking I might wait for the right one. Thanks
Scott
ve not been able to make that impulse purchase. I think prices are a bit high 3500 CAD for the AA with a good trailer and no motor and 3000 CAD for the MLB. The MLB has a cheap trailer and needs a bit of fibreglass work and a new paint job. I did a search in the NJ and area and y9u guys have a lot more options. If I could get one of these at a reasonable price I'd like to try them, but I'm thinking I might wait for the right one. Thanks
Scott
Scott
Used boat prices are pretty much all over the map, but for those prices and no motors the hulls would have to be in very good shape. The sellers may find they need to lower the prices to move them. Keep an eye on them or maybe float a lower offer and tell the seller to keep you in mind. As weeks pass you might drop them a note and they will be tired of looking at it and sell for much lower.
There is also the option of finding an old fiberglass sailboat hull and building your own sneakbox from it. Search for the works of Steve Sanford and others here and you will get a ton of ideas for a project you might enjoy. Below are a couple of my favorites.
duckboats.net
duckboats.net
Used boat prices are pretty much all over the map, but for those prices and no motors the hulls would have to be in very good shape. The sellers may find they need to lower the prices to move them. Keep an eye on them or maybe float a lower offer and tell the seller to keep you in mind. As weeks pass you might drop them a note and they will be tired of looking at it and sell for much lower.
There is also the option of finding an old fiberglass sailboat hull and building your own sneakbox from it. Search for the works of Steve Sanford and others here and you will get a ton of ideas for a project you might enjoy. Below are a couple of my favorites.
Gilgo Gunboat - a Sunfish conversion
All~ In response to Joe Daly's inquiry, I have expanded the post on my own website to include 52 images of the conversion process. So here is a lighter presentation. For the complete blow-by-blow, go to "How I Do It" tab: http://stevenjaysanford.com/sunfish-to-gunning-boat/ Here are the...
duckboats.net
JAMES CAIRD - A Sneakbox Restoration - Ready-to-hunt!
Good morning, All~ I do not recall if I began this tale in earlier posts. I know I have included some snippets in the occasional Work Bench post. I built this vessel with a friend sometime in the early 90s - when we were both still on Long Island. He hunted it successfully for several...
duckboats.net
Scott Gilliland
Member
Eric: Steve's sailboat conversions are what got me looking at these boats. Soon after retirement I started thinking about decoys.... I thought I was going to have loads of time on my hands. I searched around for decoy patterns and I found Steve's site. I really liked his lines and I fired him an email to see if he's sell his patterns. He was very generous and sent me his goldeneye patterns. I also found out he was a retired waterfowl biologist who worked closely with the NJ waterfowl Biologist who I know and hunted eiders with. Both of themspent a bit of time on Baffin Island working with Austin Reed. Austin is a real gentleman, is the dad of one of my best friends and is also my wife's mentor... she is now the Arctic Goose Biologist in Québec. I am thinking I may have to head south to meet these guys some time.... thanks Eric.
jode hillman
Well-known member
You must be referring to Paul Castelli! A great guy and a fixture Both on Long Island and local New Jersey scene.
I know it may not be in the cards but if you could make it to the Tuckerton show on the 28th and 29th of this month the options for boats, both old and new wood probably boggle the mind.
Scott Gilliland
Member
That would be him... I did not get to know him real well, I worked mostly on sea ducks and he was more focused on geese and black ducks. Really nice guy. I'd love to come down to the show, opener here is tomorrow and timing is not great.... I'm putting it on my wish list for next year.
Thanks
Scott
Thanks
Scott
Scott Gilliland
Member
Well, I could not help myself. I drove over to see the boat and I came home with it, I got the BroadBill. Overall the boat is in very good shape. I did not check the plywood closely, but quick inspection seems to be high quality marine plywood. Just requires a couple of minor fibreglass repairs. I've not had it on the water yet and hope to get it out tomorrow. First thing will be to build a cockpit cover for it. Eventually I'll replace the floorboards and spray hood and add grassing rails. But I have a couple of questions I hope someone might answer:
1: Where the keel meets the transom it sits between to knee braces where he has a bilge pump there. The keel sits proud of the floor of the boat and there are no limber holes in the knee braces. Seems to me there will always be water sitting there. I'm thinking I will eventually add limber holes to the braces, level the floor with the keel near the transom and add a drain plug. But I' also thinking it was designed this way for a reason. does anyone have ideas why it was built this way? Or would there be a reason to modify it?
2: I would like to add a rowing station. I've looked at a few of the boats that Steve Sanford has worked on and have an idea how I will build it, but I'm looking of some advice on placement. Appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Scott
1: Where the keel meets the transom it sits between to knee braces where he has a bilge pump there. The keel sits proud of the floor of the boat and there are no limber holes in the knee braces. Seems to me there will always be water sitting there. I'm thinking I will eventually add limber holes to the braces, level the floor with the keel near the transom and add a drain plug. But I' also thinking it was designed this way for a reason. does anyone have ideas why it was built this way? Or would there be a reason to modify it?
2: I would like to add a rowing station. I've looked at a few of the boats that Steve Sanford has worked on and have an idea how I will build it, but I'm looking of some advice on placement. Appreciate any advice.
Thanks
Scott
Scott
Congratulations on your new sneak boat. I guess as Covid passed your urge to get one came back strong. It's hard not to love a sneak boat and I bet when you walked up and set your eyes on it you knew it was meant to be in your care.
I have the plans at home and will check tonight to see what bilge area info I can find. As many times as I looked at those plans I don't remember how the bilge is configured but hopefully I can find out.
Congratulations on your new sneak boat. I guess as Covid passed your urge to get one came back strong. It's hard not to love a sneak boat and I bet when you walked up and set your eyes on it you knew it was meant to be in your care.
I have the plans at home and will check tonight to see what bilge area info I can find. As many times as I looked at those plans I don't remember how the bilge is configured but hopefully I can find out.
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
I installed a drain plug on my SB, and it did help. The bilge pump in yours looks much more efficient than a drain plug as it sits much lower. I also carried a hand bailer, and 2 large sponges that combined are amazingly good at emptying water ASAP from the bottom of the vessel.
I'm no expert but from what I see you have very good, and well made Sneakbox. I myself would think twice at making improvements until after much use. As in "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
I agree on oar locks/stations. Where depends on the craft and the length of the oars you intend to use.
my 2 cents
I'm no expert but from what I see you have very good, and well made Sneakbox. I myself would think twice at making improvements until after much use. As in "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
I agree on oar locks/stations. Where depends on the craft and the length of the oars you intend to use.
my 2 cents
Many yrs ago, I had a plywood garvey in Vermont. I added oarlocks and had 10ft oars. I could row standing and walking and really move her along.
Scott Gilliland
Member
I took her for a short run ... I have a 15hp 4-stroke Suzuki .. She runs real nice. I've stripped off all the camo and netting and removed the LED flood lights. The netting was held in place with para-cord and small screw eyes. I removed all the eyes and will do a little patching with epoxy and put together a temporary cockpit cover.
As I mentioned, the centre of the bilge where the pump is located sits proud of the floor. The pump is not working and I order another -- I'll wait and see how it works. Thanks for the idea about sponges - we use those in our layouts too.
Thanks
Scott
As I mentioned, the centre of the bilge where the pump is located sits proud of the floor. The pump is not working and I order another -- I'll wait and see how it works. Thanks for the idea about sponges - we use those in our layouts too.
Thanks
Scott
Scott
I looked everywhere and the plans I had are gone. Sorry, I thought I had the answer to your question about the bilge but I don't.
I looked everywhere and the plans I had are gone. Sorry, I thought I had the answer to your question about the bilge but I don't.
Scott Gilliland
Member
No problem Eric -- Thanks for looking.
Scott Gilliland
Member
I quickly built a cockpit cover this morning and filled in a bunch of holes from removing eye screw with thickened epoxy. I was thinking about heading to the cabin this afternoon, but I got looking at those floor boards and thought I'd change them. They were screwed down to the frames and I'd like to be able to remove them to clean the mud out. ... not sure I should have done that. I noticed a bit of a crinkle in the floor on either side of the keel. I thought it was a thick line of epoxy. I started picking at it and it was not epoxy, It was the surface layer of the plywood in a bi wrinkle and it was wet. There is a section of the hull around the first frame that is punky and the one of the knee braces is like a sponge and I just pulled it out.
The water on the floor came from squeezing the brace
It just pulled out.
At the frame just below the front of the cockpit there are boards the floor between the stringers (I think that's what you call them). The block any water that gets in front of the boat from drained and there is a bit of water damage in the front,
At least a 4' section the hull between the keel and stringer (~8" wide) needs to be replaced. The keel looks ok, but I'm guessing it might need replacement as well.
There is a lot of work ... I don't think I'll get out for a sneakbox hunt this year :-(
The water on the floor came from squeezing the brace
It just pulled out.
At the frame just below the front of the cockpit there are boards the floor between the stringers (I think that's what you call them). The block any water that gets in front of the boat from drained and there is a bit of water damage in the front,
At least a 4' section the hull between the keel and stringer (~8" wide) needs to be replaced. The keel looks ok, but I'm guessing it might need replacement as well.
There is a lot of work ... I don't think I'll get out for a sneakbox hunt this year :-(
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
This is troubling news about what you have found so far. Sorry to read that. You have much work ahead.
Brings to mind all the issues that led to the demise of my old sneakbox. The upside of my sneakbox problems was the 22 year lasting friendship with the man that owned the local boatworks. I was there almost everyday he was open, and what a education it was.
Good duckboats are like a apparition. There and then gone. Ours to enjoy while they last.
Best regards
Vince
Brings to mind all the issues that led to the demise of my old sneakbox. The upside of my sneakbox problems was the 22 year lasting friendship with the man that owned the local boatworks. I was there almost everyday he was open, and what a education it was.
Good duckboats are like a apparition. There and then gone. Ours to enjoy while they last.
Best regards
Vince
Matt Mahoney
Active member
I just stumbled upon this thread. Thank you for all of the wonderful photos and information on your eider research Scott. I don't hunt them anymore, but have some wonderful memories of hunting them in upper Buzzards Bay and near Woods Hole back in the 1970s. They are special birds.