Zack taylor widgeon new to me

A

Allan Johnson

New member
I recently purchased a homemade fiberglass zack taylor widgeon. I've been looking for this style of boat for a while now, hard to find in the upper Midwest. Excited to make it my own. Thought I would post some pictures now and as I go along. Planning to add grassing rails and a spray dodger. Thinking a dodger similar to pictures I have seen from the dave clark boats. The boat is currently grey as it was being used to hunt open water. I'll be painting a more fitting color for the marsh. Will be hunting the boat with a small outboard sometimes as well as rowing it in locations that do not allow motors. Crossing my fingers it rows well enough until I can actually get it in the water. Any comments or advice from more experienced members would be greatly appreciated.
 
Welcome!!
Please post lots of pics
Is a trolling motor an option on those lakes?
 
I saw one of these hulls a few years ago and was impressed! Seems light enough to row just fine and stable, I believe the one I saw had a 9.9 and owner used in the jersey marshes. Best of luck & post some pics!
 
Allan Johnson said:
I recently purchased a homemade fiberglass zack taylor widgeon. I've been looking for this style of boat for a while now, hard to find in the upper Midwest. Excited to make it my own. Thought I would post some pictures now and as I go along. Planning to add grassing rails and a spray dodger. Thinking a dodger similar to pictures I have seen from the dave clark boats. The boat is currently grey as it was being used to hunt open water. I'll be painting a more fitting color for the marsh. Will be hunting the boat with a small outboard sometimes as well as rowing it in locations that do not allow motors. Crossing my fingers it rows well enough until I can actually get it in the water. Any comments or advice from more experienced members would be greatly appreciated.
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Very nice boat. I notice the boat has a WI registration. Isn't WI the state where you can't hunt out of a boat unless you 50% covered by natural vegetation? In other words, no layout boats?
 
Both MN and WI have some confusion regulations on this topic. There are locations where it is legal to use layout boats and others you cannot. As you may guess the regulations are clear as mud.
 
Alan,
Where do you live in Minnesota? It would be fun to meet a fellow member at a Ducks Unlimited banquet!
 
greg setter said:
I saw those and thought of the wooden ones on old BBSB's except they are made of metal
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All~

Yes - sweet little rig! I also noticed the generous lifting handles on the transom and on the foredeck. Along with the folding oarlock stanchions, I'm guessing the owner/builder knew his way around a metal shop.

All the best,

SJS
 
I’m pretty sure that’s a Mighty Layout Boys Zack Taylor Wigeon, for whatever it’s worth. I owned one for a while. Very effective and very seaworthy. Did a little bit of open water layout hunting with it but mostly marshes.
 
Based on pictures I have seen its very similar to a mighty layout boys boat. However this is homemade by the previous owner. Thanks everyone for the compliments. The metal work on the boat is very well done. Folding oarlocks that flip up and pin into place. The transom is also adjustable and pins into place. Got the boat registered this week and put it on the water today. No leaks and ran great with a 6 hp motor.
 
I am going back and forth between using grassing rails or grassing straps. I have seen both. I definitely like the classic look of rails but straps may be easier to install. Any input from other members would be greatly appreciated.
 
Allan

I think the type of camo you intend to use should impact your decision. Grass rails can be jam packed with less rigid camo. Straps, made of flexible material like rubber, bungee, cord, etc., doesn't hold quite as secure but offers speed and the flexibility to use limbs and thicker materials. So it really depends on what you use to camo your boat.
 
Allan Johnson said:
I am going back and forth between using grassing rails or grassing straps. I have seen both. I definitely like the classic look of rails but straps may be easier to install. Any input from other members would be greatly appreciated.
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Allan & Eric~

Some of my customers have opted for heavy duty 1-inch wide webbing (polypropylene, not nylon) instead of traditional thatch rails. They are applied very taut to the decks - with s/s fender washers every 12 inches or so. Owners speak of needing a fid (or screwdriver or the like) to lift the webbing and force the Salt Hay in. The webbing requires less Hay than conventional wooden rails - even with the minimum 3/16-inch gap.

If not using Salt Hay (Spartina patens), such webbing could serve as an attachment "rail" to which bundles of any plant material could be lashed at intervals.

I agree that nothing looks as fine as traditional wooden thatch rails - but I accept the practicality of lower cost, long no-maintenance durability and "close enough" aesthetics of the webbing.

This is the first vessel on which I installed the polypropylene webbing. Owner Scott Amberman applied lots of Salt Hay - but significantly less than he would have needed for thatch rails.

Scott Amberman Duck Invader - cropped.jpg

One thought: You could begin with webbing (low materials and labor costs) and upgrade to wooden thatch rails down the road.

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve

I knew I was forgetting one of the better strapping materials. Yes, you can stuff camo TIGHT under nylon straps. That is a good all-round solution.
 
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