You can't beat a Bankes boat,now being built by Crusader.
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"We're gonna need a bigger boat"
- Thread starter Nick Zito
- Start date
Bankes is now being built by Barry Oneill Nova Scotia, Canada under Rock Solid Fabricators http://rocksolidfab.ca/ All boats are distributed from the NS factory and hit Freeway Sports in Michigan & Dock Sea Point Marina here in the U.S. The majority of inventory is located at Freeway Sports however Matt owner of Dock Sea here on Long Island, New York has the 14, 2-17's and a dozen layouts he is the sole distributor in the Northeast US.
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Love the 17 Classic! You can absolutely hunt 4 people with the right power setup and adjustments to the factory blind. I run 3 guys in mine with a 40hp and top out at 27mph. I will be adding a console and a 90hp this summer to that boat. It's the summer project! Can't say enough good things about the 17 classic, it was the industry standard and set the stage for many similar boats to follow after it was introduced
William Mills
Member
I’ll throw another recommendation for the TDB17.
Your DW 15 is that a Duck wrangler 15 or a Duck water 15? If it’s a wrangler I may have a buyer for it depending on location
Your DW 15 is that a Duck wrangler 15 or a Duck water 15? If it’s a wrangler I may have a buyer for it depending on location
Nick Zito
Active member
Anthony are those photos to scale? Looks like the sea class is smaller than the classic there. How does the TDB ride in wake? My Duck wrangler 15, which I thought was a similar hull design (modified flat bottomish) bangs pretty hard on wake. It doesn't stop me but it's enough to keep me out of anything too big.
Nick Zito
Active member
@William Mills yes it's the duck wrangler 15. The Steve Hoover fiberglass precursor to the duck water aluminum tank.
I believe the hull is an '02, with a '99 Suzuki DF40. I've added blind grass to the new blind (fabric remake copied off the original) I had made in 2021. Added a hydraulic jack plate last year. Has a console that I built. Small and mostly out of the way. Located in New Haven, CT
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Nick the SeaClass is based off the same exact hull with a different topside design. SeaClass has the open transom thus reducing cockpit size just a bit.. TDB rides phenomenal. I have been in many, many many duck boats lol and I never really had a reason to purchase a 17 TDB but after riding in some relatives, friends etc.. I had to have it. One of the best riding boats out there still today. It breaks chop with ease doesn't slam or pound like others (that I won't name) lol and the layout is just really nice. I made the choice to invest in the 17' Classic hull and will be sending her up to MA for refurbishment, a console, new power etc.. all because of this. Bill & Dean made one hell of a boat. Video below is pretty neat
If you ever want to check one out, ride in one, whatever let me know I see you're in CT not a far ride. We'll take her out to the ocean etc.. I have full confidence in the boat love it
1990 TDB 17 Promotional Hunt Eiders
Nick Zito
Active member
Agreed you are just across the pond. Would love to take you up on that offer. Will keep in touch as the weather warms it.. Seems I already have your cell in my contacts.
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
There are people that build their own boats. You might want to consider that option.
Nick Zito
Active member
Time is money. I have neither of those lately seems
Anytime, let me know the fleet usually heads south come April for storage in Maryland. Check this video out:
Jay K
Active member
Nick, you're blessed to have that hunting crew. One thing I'll say, there's a fine line between big enough, and too big. I know with puddle ducks, here in NJ, 17' is pushing it for the skinny water.
One really nasty problem you may have is also getting in and out of areas to get into spots. For example, one spot I hunt you can't draw more than a foot at some tides to get into the tidal ponds. Otherwise, you're likely transiting the bay and/or actually hunting bay front. Now, with a bigger boat, open water transits are not as dangerous. So that is a good thing. You may not be able to pursue what you want being limited to bayfront, though.
Also, I run a DI13 and with a buddy and I can get it off the mud/sand to the water...if the water is not too far away. As you know, it can also be done with a 15' if you have enough people and once again, the water isn't too far. 17' it starts to get real iffy. 19' yeah that's not happening. I know of someone who hunts a 17' for puddle ducks and he just commits himself to sitting on the dry till the water comes back and has a good dog to retrieve birds. Which, also, is another consideration. Seems like in that spot you're hunting, you can walk out. However, if it gets to deep and/or the mud is enough to swallow you alive...you could lose the bird.
Either way, that's a great problem to have. Me, personally, I would find the smallest possible rig to safely and comfortable hold the crew. I think a 17' is the max I'd consider. I might be in the same boat as you (no pun intended). I have 2 little ones and if they take to it, I might find myself in a 15' in the future.
One really nasty problem you may have is also getting in and out of areas to get into spots. For example, one spot I hunt you can't draw more than a foot at some tides to get into the tidal ponds. Otherwise, you're likely transiting the bay and/or actually hunting bay front. Now, with a bigger boat, open water transits are not as dangerous. So that is a good thing. You may not be able to pursue what you want being limited to bayfront, though.
Also, I run a DI13 and with a buddy and I can get it off the mud/sand to the water...if the water is not too far away. As you know, it can also be done with a 15' if you have enough people and once again, the water isn't too far. 17' it starts to get real iffy. 19' yeah that's not happening. I know of someone who hunts a 17' for puddle ducks and he just commits himself to sitting on the dry till the water comes back and has a good dog to retrieve birds. Which, also, is another consideration. Seems like in that spot you're hunting, you can walk out. However, if it gets to deep and/or the mud is enough to swallow you alive...you could lose the bird.
Either way, that's a great problem to have. Me, personally, I would find the smallest possible rig to safely and comfortable hold the crew. I think a 17' is the max I'd consider. I might be in the same boat as you (no pun intended). I have 2 little ones and if they take to it, I might find myself in a 15' in the future.
Nick Zito
Active member
I will say the DW15 I have, once you're beached, you're f'ed. There's no moving that tank with all the weight it is. Length is less of an issue unless it's too big, but in terms of getting beached or not, I'm not concerned because if it gets below 5" of water I'm already waiting 6 hours for the tide 
I will say the DW15 I have, once you're beached, you're f'ed. There's no moving that tank with all the weight it is. Length is less of an issue unless it's too big, but in terms of getting beached or not, I'm not concerned because if it gets below 5" of water I'm already waiting 6 hours for the tide
Here is a mood crushing thought, followed with a suggestion.
Odds are exceptionally low that both kids will make it through their preteen and teen years gunning. Sucks, but it is what it is. The need for a 4 man boat is very limited given that statistic.
A true 4 man boat is way too hard to hide.
Also there is never an argument that 4 guns are needed, especially here in CT. 4 can sit in the DW 15, really only 2 need to shoot.
Can you keep the DW 15 and supplement with a small sneakbox that Andrea or one of the kids drives? There are oodles of benefits to this plan. First is 100% mechanical backup, you can never get stranded. Second is the ability to use the sneakbox as a layout at times. You could also anchor the DW offshore and ferry people to hunt shore positions.
What about a sneakbox with a longtail? that would give you more versatility than you currently have and increase your reach when hunting alone.
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Jay K
Active member
I will say the DW15 I have, once you're beached, you're f'ed. There's no moving that tank with all the weight it is. Length is less of an issue unless it's too big, but in terms of getting beached or not, I'm not concerned because if it gets below 5" of water I'm already waiting 6 hours for the tide
Nick, to add on to what @tod osier , its God awfully hard to hide a big boat. I started on divers, but then quickly went to puddle ducks. I'm sure as you know, hiding for wary puddle ducks here is rough. Big boats with higher blinds have a hard time. Even then, it's not easy being a solely a puddle duck hunter in the northeast/midatlantic.
What often comes to mind for me is: Will one day I need to make the switch back to divers, having a bigger rig, to keep the kid's happy? I started on divers (bufflehead, mostly) and then switched to puddle ducks. I have 2 little ones myself, a boy and a girl. They are young and I know my DI13 can't hunt 3 full grown people. Maybe it's just myself and my son? Or maybe my daughter and I? If it's both, when they grow...I too will need a bigger rig. I am going to need a 15' of some sort, which is still hide-able. It's a bit far off for me but it's worth thinking about. At that point, it might be bufflehead, broadbill, etc for me.
Your situation is a little different because with 4 people in a 15', yeah that's kind of tight.
Nick Zito
Active member
Something to consider for sure Tod. I also have a set of the broadbill plans. Of course we have a two man layout but it's a tank to tow. 4 can sit in the DW15 but it's shoulder to shoulder. The cockpit is only 100 with the blind down, so it's hard to shoot at all! Building a bigger boat would give us some more space clamming and crabbing as well.
That being said, we've talked at length about building a set of sneakboxes. The DW15 blind is arguably too high as it is, so adding vessels to the fleet may be of help.
My father has signed on to doing a building project of some kind now that he is "fully" retired, I figure all of this is something to mull over while finishing out the trapping season and waiting for it to warm up
MIKE-SID
Active member
I can help when a 3rd person is necessary. I plan on sneaking a peek of the boat building process too