Can anyone tell me if this is a Shell Lake Boats Mallard Queen? It’s a wood strip boat with what appears to be a homemade fiberglass exterior that most likely covered the original canvas. It dates from the 1930’s to 40’s from pictures I have if it being used in an old family album. It’s about 12’ 8” long by approx 43”.
Newbie with an oldie boat ID request
- Thread starter dekeeb
- Start date
Deke
I checked some of my resources and found no other makers of a model with a smooth bottom, that beamy, and of that length. If I have more time this weekend I'll look in a few more places but I tend to think it is the Mallard Queen. By the way, I have seen different dimensions for the Mallard Queen listed. I do not know why that is the case.
You can find more info in the Resources section. Have you looked there?
I checked some of my resources and found no other makers of a model with a smooth bottom, that beamy, and of that length. If I have more time this weekend I'll look in a few more places but I tend to think it is the Mallard Queen. By the way, I have seen different dimensions for the Mallard Queen listed. I do not know why that is the case.
You can find more info in the Resources section. Have you looked there?
Thanks for your quick feedback on this boat. Its been stored inside an old garage since the 60's and I've been its caretaker for the past 15 years and had it displayed in my pole shed. A recent remodel of my shed left me without the space to display it any longer and I'll be looking for someone who would like to bring it back to its former glory. As a duck hunter myself, I can't help but look for good home for this boat as it's just too dang neat to fill it with dirt and plant petunias in it in somebody's front yard. Does anyone have any ideas of the value of one of these? I'm certain the fiberglass skin has hurt its value. The boat's skeleton appears to be fully intact and without rot or any broken ribs. Thanks for the link to the Shell Lake catalog, if this isn't a Mallard Queen, its a direct ripoff of that model. It makes sense the boat may be a Shell Lake boat, as the original owner lived western Wisconsin, less than two hours from Shell Lake. The boat has an interesting history of hunting on the Mississippi River and the hunting photo attached is this boat in action back in the 1940's.Deke
I checked some of my resources and found no other makers of a model with a smooth bottom, that beamy, and of that length. If I have more time this weekend I'll look in a few more places but I tend to think it is the Mallard Queen. By the way, I have seen different dimensions for the Mallard Queen listed. I do not know why that is the case.
You can find more info in the Resources section. Have you looked there?
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Deke
I don't know what the value would be. Honestly, somebody wanting it for decor in a restaurant, bar, or hunting lodge will probably pay more than a hunter who intends to use it. I always say start high and lower until you start getting bites. The more patient or time you have to sell the longer it stays high. When you get ready to list it please contact me and I'll wave the 30 post rule to list in the classifieds. I'd like somebody here to get a shot at it. That's a great picture too.
I don't know what the value would be. Honestly, somebody wanting it for decor in a restaurant, bar, or hunting lodge will probably pay more than a hunter who intends to use it. I always say start high and lower until you start getting bites. The more patient or time you have to sell the longer it stays high. When you get ready to list it please contact me and I'll wave the 30 post rule to list in the classifieds. I'd like somebody here to get a shot at it. That's a great picture too.
Great, thanks again for your feedback. It's been a fun little project just to get this information. Yes, I'd really like to get this boat to the right person with the right intentions....I think the boat has a lot of potential in the right hands.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, Deke~
Check out Dan Kidney & Son boats - from Depere, WI (near Green Bay) They offered numerous model of gunning boat:
https://woodencanoemuseum.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/Kidney circa 1920 red.pdf
I have one that is similar - but with oarlock stanchions or shelves like yours. Mine previously had tubes fore and aft for "spuds" to hold the vessel stable whilst gunning. It was strip built. I have read that Kidney, at one time (pre WW II), was the largest maker of small boats on the planet.
Like yours, the bottom has been nicely 'glassed - but the decks are still canvas.
As an Atlantic Tidewater guy, I am no expert on these gorgeous Midwestern gunning skiffs. I imagine Bob Welsh will chime in.
BTW: I paid ~ $300 for mine a few years ago. Little interest in the gunning market. Like Eric, I had advised the owner (a friend) to appeal to restaurants, antique stores or man caves for his various "white elephant" watercraft.
All the best,
SJS
Check out Dan Kidney & Son boats - from Depere, WI (near Green Bay) They offered numerous model of gunning boat:
https://woodencanoemuseum.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/Kidney circa 1920 red.pdf
I have one that is similar - but with oarlock stanchions or shelves like yours. Mine previously had tubes fore and aft for "spuds" to hold the vessel stable whilst gunning. It was strip built. I have read that Kidney, at one time (pre WW II), was the largest maker of small boats on the planet.
Like yours, the bottom has been nicely 'glassed - but the decks are still canvas.
As an Atlantic Tidewater guy, I am no expert on these gorgeous Midwestern gunning skiffs. I imagine Bob Welsh will chime in.
BTW: I paid ~ $300 for mine a few years ago. Little interest in the gunning market. Like Eric, I had advised the owner (a friend) to appeal to restaurants, antique stores or man caves for his various "white elephant" watercraft.
All the best,
SJS
bob welsh
Well-known member
I Would bet it is a Mallard Queen . Based on the pics, it has the correct oar locks, interior shelf shape and standard wood/canvas construction. Sometimes there is a builders tag on the inside of the combing. Later years production used decals. I have one that I rebuilt and use it every season.
Bob & Steve
The one thing that really makes me think it's a Mallard Queen are the dimensions, in addition to its construction. By coincidence, I've been pouring over old catalogs looking for makers of these boats (this info is headed to the Resources section when I get it all compiled and sorted). The mallard queen is the only one I've found that has that much beam until you get to 14' or longer boats. All other boats were 36" or less and this example is 43". I've yet to see a different boat with similar parameters so I suspect it was in fact built by Shell Lake.
The one thing that really makes me think it's a Mallard Queen are the dimensions, in addition to its construction. By coincidence, I've been pouring over old catalogs looking for makers of these boats (this info is headed to the Resources section when I get it all compiled and sorted). The mallard queen is the only one I've found that has that much beam until you get to 14' or longer boats. All other boats were 36" or less and this example is 43". I've yet to see a different boat with similar parameters so I suspect it was in fact built by Shell Lake.
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Capt Rich Geminski
Well-known member
Steve, great info. Looks to have been a large operation at the time.
Thanks for the feedback fellows, this has been a wonderful place to learn more about these old crafts. The Kidney and Son boat Steve shared sure looks a lot like the boat I have, although when I enlarge his fine photos it looks like the stripping is cut narrower than on my boat, and the gunwale is slightly different as well. They are certainly closely related, no doubt, as I'm sure builders back in the day were influencing each other in build styles, especially regionally as they competed with each other for sales.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Deke, Bob, Eric ~
Anthony Babich took this photo at Tuckerton. I neglected to take any photos of my own - and never did get the owner/restorer's name/contact info ('tho it's on My List....). The gentleman's first name is Barry.
We spoke at length and I'm pretty sure this hull was carvel-planked - not strip-built. It was the first Mallard Queen I had ever encountered. I know nothing about the company - except they were apparently in business in 1904 - and do not know how many models they may have offered, or if they used different building methods.
Lots to learn!
SJS
bob welsh
Well-known member
The planking on the shell lake duck boats was standard wood canvas canoe style. 3/16 by 3 inch wide planking clinch nailed( brass tacks) over ribs steam bent over a a rigid form . You might be able to track down more boat info by contacting the Washburn county historical society or the Wisconsin canoe museum in Spooner , Wi. Thats the region those boats came from, and ive picked up a couple mallard queens nearby.
bob welsh
Well-known member
https://duckboats.net/community/attachments/83a72be2-cdc6-4661-bcc3-67d6457d9b8b-jpeg.40703/
heres a pic of my boat
heres a pic of my boat
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, Bob~
Sweet boat! LOA and beam?
All the best,
SJS
Sweet boat! LOA and beam?
All the best,
SJS