2025 Devlin Snow Goose Thread

I'll keep the goal of being done for this season, but it certainly won't be a hard deadline. It will be a "work" boat, not a show boat, so I'm trying to keep in mind that perfection can be defined differently for each case. And it will certainly get scuffed up at first use, so there is limited utility in going overboard. But, for me, that's easier said than done.

Among other things, I'm gaining a huge respect for the guys and gals that do boats professionally and the attention to detail and skills they

When my boat was at the stage yours is at, I was somewhere between 1/8 and maybe 1/4 done as far as hours.
 
Tod and Richard - the timing of your project duration comments is actually a bit funny. My wife was just asking yesterday morning as I headed to the shop, "So, how far along do you estimate you are with this boat?"

I told her I didn't know how to estimate it, not having built one... but that I was hopefully within a couple weeks of finishing the bottom, then needed to do the other side, so, at least physically, approaching halfway.

Anyway, I'm not telling her that now the experts are advising me I'm only 12.5%-25% through the job.
 
Tod and Richard - the timing of your project duration comments is actually a bit funny. My wife was just asking yesterday morning as I headed to the shop, "So, how far along do you estimate you are with this boat?"

I told her I didn't know how to estimate it, not having built one... but that I was hopefully within a couple weeks of finishing the bottom, then needed to do the other side, so, at least physically, approaching halfway.

Anyway, I'm not telling her that now the experts are advising me I'm only 12.5%-25% through the job.
The build will take as long as you let it. Mine is one of the more complicated builds with a lot of modifications and with full integrated electrical, integrated blind, cockpit covers, and all wires and fuel lines hidden in runways. If you were going bare bones you might be 1/4 or 1/3 done.
 
The build will take as long as you let it. Mine is one of the more complicated builds with a lot of modifications and with full integrated electrical, integrated blind, cockpit covers, and all wires and fuel lines hidden in runways. If you were going bare bones you might be 1/4 or 1/3 done.
Oh, I get it, not to worry. Its a bit like a house being built - the exterior goes up and gets covered and it looks like it's nearly done, then it takes forever.
 
@RM Anderson - was reading some older posts in this thread and reminded about our dog ramp discussion - and an experience this week.

I've been taking my pup to a dock near the beach several days a week for some water training/exercise now that it's gotten too hot for field work after 10a. My wife had given me a "Dok" - an inflatable dock we can use for getting up on a high dock or for reloading into our Whaler. Way too big/bulky for a duck boat, though.

But a couple days ago someone had left one of those big water pads you sometimes see people floating on tied to the dock, and Isla quite easily popped up onto to that and from there to the dock. It made me realize that something as simple as one of the foam GI pads is likely all a dog needs to gain the leverage needed to pop into a boat unassisted. Rolls up easily for transport adding no weight and consuming little space, would be easy to rig to tie to stern or thatch rails or cleats. If the right color it would be nearly invisible in the water, or could even tie some grass to it like a mat. Still pondering several ideas, but this may be the simplest.
 
It made me realize that something as simple as one of the foam GI pads is likely all a dog needs to gain the leverage needed to pop into a boat unassisted.
Henry,
Very interesting how people have similar ideas. I came across this a while back in my search for a viable dog ramp when duck hunting. RM

 
Henry,
Very interesting how people have similar ideas. I came across this a while back in my search for a viable dog ramp when duck hunting. RM

Indeed. Those mats they used are heavy, though, so I understand why they needed lots of noodles. I'm going to play with the float mat idea a little this summer - wouldnt be as durable as the one you posted, but wouldnt need as much flotation assistance. Will report back if successful.
 
Not much of an update, but just to say that final seal coats and light sanding are complete, and I've started on securing the aluminum runners. Prep process includes a good acetone wipe, light sanding and follow-up acetone wipe to remove aluminum dust and any remaining contaminants. Rather than going through the chromate conversion processes to prep the aluminum, I'm using PreKote from SoCoMore for pretreatment - specifically their PreKote Wipes. I'm using Sikaflex 291 for bedding.

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