"We're gonna need a bigger boat"

Nick Zito

Nick Zito

Active member
Took the girls (including wife) out for closing day. I've been making noise about needing to upgrade from the DW15 to something more spacious now that Rose is 12 (legal age) and Charlotte is 11. After a long, slow morning, I heard the famous words come out of Andrea's mouth "Nick, now that we're going to have four hunters, we're gonna need a bigger boat."

Open to suggestions. I'd like a boat blind, was eyeing something in the 19' range. Small enough to get in the marsh but big enough to shoot sea ducks. Or maybe we just need a second boat 😳
 

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Congrats! Hehe... mentioned at least once a year for the past few about a new motor. Finally last season when I was having an on going issue with the lower unit the wife said I think you need to have a new motor so I'm not worried about you!
 
Not the most cost effective way, but you definitely need a second boat Nick. The 19 will be great for the harbor and sound, but I'll be able to watch you from the boat ramp when you are in the marsh! When the water goes down and the mud comes up, a larger boat might get stuck like a suction cup on glass. Time to build that barn, now even bigger, for your fleet.

I love the pictures
 
Another vote for a second boat. In CT, we have way too many choices of locations, marshes, sandy or rocky shores, etc.. No one boat can do it all. Every hunter needs a fleet.

Fantastic family pics.
 
Nick Zito said:
Took the girls (including wife) out for closing day. I've been making noise about needing to upgrade from the DW15 to something more spacious now that Rose is 12 (legal age) and Charlotte is 11. After a long, slow morning, I heard the famous words come out of Andrea's mouth "Nick, now that we're going to have four hunters, we're gonna need a bigger boat."

Open to suggestions. I'd like a boat blind, was eyeing something in the 19' range. Small enough to get in the marsh but big enough to shoot sea ducks. Or maybe we just need a second boat 😳
Click to expand...
The TDB 17!!!! Congrats on a last hunt and as you know.. there's always room for another boat!
 
@Anthony Babich i was going to ask the same as Mike. My DW15 cockpit is 20" shorter than the tdb17 cockpit. Have you hunted four before? Also curious in the ride. The Freedom hull looks like it would take wake better than the TDB. My DW15 is fine is smaller chop but it bangs around pretty good. Somewhat annoying. I assumed the TDB would be similar, but never hunted one
 
@SJ Fairbank I should clarify that we currently have 3 kayaks, a flat back canoe with a 2.5hp Honda, the dw15, and a two man layout (rarely used). There's also a 23' cuddy cabin in the family for the summer season, but always seems to be pulled before November. Was thinking one of the 17' boat blinds to replace the DW15, then continuing with the small vessels for the small holes
 
Nick Zito said:
@Anthony Babich i was going to ask the same as Mike. My DW15 cockpit is 20" shorter than the tdb17 cockpit. Have you hunted four before? Also curious in the ride. The Freedom hull looks like it would take wake better than the TDB. My DW15 is fine is smaller chop but it bangs around pretty good. Somewhat annoying. I assumed the TDB would be similar, but never hunted one
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Good morning, Nick~

I have hunted from Craig Kessler's TDB 17 for many years (decades) - almost always with 4 gunners. Ample room. Craig is meticulous about covering everything - mostly with Salt Hay down low and Cordgrass higher up.

sm CWK approach in TDB 17.JPG

One thing that Craig did was to almost always have another vessel along. Sometimes it was a partner's powered garvey or sometimes just a Carsten Pintail. The second vessel was for picking up downed birds etc - to keep from having to move the TDB for that purpose. Often, it was planned that the big boat was aground for part of the hunt - with stove keeping the crew warm and well-fed - so the smaller vessel kept everything flowing along.

Craig runs a 70-horse - and wears ski goggles when at speed.

Hope this helps!

SJS
 
Nick Zito said:
@SJ Fairbank I should clarify that we currently have 3 kayaks, a flat back canoe with a 2.5hp Honda, the dw15, and a two man layout (rarely used). There's also a 23' cuddy cabin in the family for the summer season, but always seems to be pulled before November. Was thinking one of the 17' boat blinds to replace the DW15, then continuing with the small vessels for the small holes
Click to expand...
That's a nice start to a fleet! I had a early 2000's DW 17, obviously a TDB 17 knockoff. Four people can hunt from it ok, although three is better. Assuming you're thinking another boat blind, if I was buying a glass boat, I'd buy a Bankes of the desired length. In CT, we have enough rocks so I think I'd also consider the aluminum boat blinds (Duckwater). My gripe with the metal boats is they get so darn cold, the dogs feet can freeze to the floor.
 
Crusader I think the new company is making the Bankes Crusader 19 footer again. I love mine. You can't find a more seaworthy hull design in a duckboat. It's big enough to shoot 4 and small enough that one person can handle it.
 
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