1989 Arthur Anderson Blackjack

C

Curtis fortier

New member
New here, looking for some info on the AA Blackjack as there’s one for sale I’m interested in. TDB makes em now out of solid glass but this one is glass over wood. Anyone have experience with these? How they hide and handle on the water? Looking to potentially hunt two and a dog.

Any info is appreciated!
 
Probably AA,s kit boat that they sold plans to. Factory built boats have always been fiberglass thru out hull and cap. They hide good, run good with about 20 to 25 h.p. motor. Draw about 4" loaded. Really the worthiness of the hull in this case depends on the skill of the builder so do a lot of inspection for rot in areas fiberglass wasn,t covering. Been a long, long time since they sold plans for them or Broadbill. Probably early 90,s late 80,s. The hull design does handle a chop real well but isn,t really a rough water boat as say a larger ,seaclass TDB is.
 
Curtis

Glass over wood sounds more like a homebuilt Arthur Armstrong (AA) Broadbill which was the only AA that was offered in plans/kit. The Blackjack was only available as a factory-built fiberglass hull. There may have been a piece of wood in a few places, like the transom or perhaps as deck support, but the deck and hull were fiberglass and gelcoat.

I think you'd be very tight with two hunters and a dog. Seaworthiness was not an AA strongpoint. They are fast and hide well, but the nose rides low under power. Ultimately that caused me to sell mine. If you are hunting flat water that isn't a big deal. In my case I had some white-knuckle rides over angry water.
 
I think Eric is right about it being a Broadbill, I believe the Blackjack is a later model. I have seen and heard discussed kit Broadbills but never a kit Blackjack. I think if you get a picture the model can be identified.
 
The older AA's were glass over plywood and handle ok in chop. Slightly heavier then the new 2025 all-glass designs... Here's a pic of the Black-Jack & Widgeon boats. The Blackjack is going to be tight with 2 + dog. The typical owners we see run a canvas dodger at the bow with a set of custom flaps on sides with a 25hp. As Eric mentioned they were not really made for rough chop the Widgeon handles better in rougher conditions.


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I have had and used both, and Anthony is right, the wigeon handled better in a chop. I have had a blackjack for many years now, but my hunting is done in tidal creeks off Delaware Bay that are somewhat protected, and any choppy waters I'm in are generally for shorter stretches, so it is not an issue for me. But to me the blackjack is not a big water boat, but is very good in smaller waters(not Delaware Bay or a lake of any size). The blackjack is fine for traveling with two people and a dog, but not for hunting out of it. And get a 25 if you can, the 15 is enough but I have never regretted having extra power in any boat I have had if used wisely.
 
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