22 ft. Sea Class Simmons Sea Skiff

Steve, I rig all the decoys on main lines that are double anchored. Each decoy has a four foot drop line with swordfishing trot line clips........attached to the main line about 6 to 8 feet apart. The four foot drop lines to each decoy will allow enough of a scope even in a current to allow your dog to swim through without getting tangled....which could be serious! There are places in Rhode Island where I have hunted where the water depths range from 80 feet to nearly 200 feet, so double anchoring is essential to prevent main line/drop line tangles. Yes you are correct, that is a rocking head eider, and that decoy is featured in my book in a complete "how to" demo which shows the complete carving and construction process. The head moves as the bird rides up and down the waves....an original design by Gus Wilson from Maine......it makes and real interesting decoy in your rig! IT gives you something to look at when the morning and tidal flights of eiders drops off!

I have pitures of the "wing up" eider in some folder, I will try and find them and post some images.

Thanks for asking!!

(and thanks for your great image posting instructions).
 
I'll get to see the rocking head bird...neat.....

We rig pretty much the same way out here....tidal ranges and current speeds aree pretty close.....you hunt deepr than I rig in but the rest of the "rigging" set up is preety close.....

Steve
 
The boat looks great. I would like to know about the steering way up front.
How is it in rouph conditions. It looks like you would take a beating way up front.
Please give us more details on the construction of the hull.
And photos of the bottom of the boat.
 
Bobble head decoys? Hold the phone!

Jeff Smith and I have been kicking around the idea of making a spread of bobble head coot decoys to use on our nearby lake. Coots outnumber all other species combined and we often put out more coots than anything else. We've been toying with some ideas to make the head move by wave action but you have obviously already done that. If we could somehow get the chicken head bob movement in a coot decoy that would be the bees knees. I would love to see your design or any info. What sort of motion are you getting? Does the line have cycle between limp and tensioned to acheive it? Would love to hear more. I'm thinking with a coot head if we could somehow achieve that lunge or probing action a large rig of them would have unparalled drawing power.

Eric
 
THanks John!

Bill, we chose the open plan of the inside of the boat to make it more efficient for sea duck hunting. The side console was discussed , but it would have been in the way when it came to the long lined decoys sets. Because of the very deep water, current, wind, ledges, dog and hunters in the boat the long lines always seemed to get tangled on something inside the boat. This way the decoys could be set and pulled in without any problems or unfortunate tangles; especially from a console which would have been in the way. And with controls in the bow, this avoided those unexpected and badly timed problems. With the weight inside the boat distributed properly, the bow doesn't pound as much as you would think. The ride in rough water is quite smooth. As far as the boats construction. As I mentioned in my introduction post, I am not a boat builder, so I don't have all the answers for you, but I believe we have some of the pictures of the boat in the building process, I will see if I can get them from Jimmy and I will post them. I will try and take some bottom photos for you next week and then I will post them.

Keith
 
Hi Eric, I think a "rocking head" Coot would be a fantastic idea. I was watching them the other day, and with that "chicken walk" swimming manner, this design would make a fantastic coot. The design is simplistic, but it requires many steps to make one. I am not trying to plug my book.....but, if you know someone who has one that will let you borrow it, you can see the procedure in the demo. The design originated with Gus Wilso, a classic decoy maker from Maine. IT began with Scoter and Eider decoys for head movement in the waves. His design soon spread to include R B Mergansers, Blackducks and Goldeneye. The "rocker" on the bottom of the head is pinned in place, and the head movement is based on kinetic energy and water movement to start the head "rocking." As it begins to move, the head picks up moimentum on its own weight and reverses when the body returns in the other direction from the reverse wave movement. Just think of a rocking chair, relly simple.

Would love to see pictures of your coot when you make them!

Keith
 
Awesome boat, and decoys! How big can the swells get before you can't safely hunt in a boat like that an the Atlantic?
 
Hi Gary, the boat can handle very big seas....it depends on you and what you can feel comfortable with. The boat rides the swells beautifully.
 
I will post the images of the boat's construction next week. For those of you who asked and are interested, the boat was constucted totally from Mahogany.
 
Keith- i like the rocking head- i never saw an eider by Gus wilson- i have a merganser and a scoter both rocking heads in my collection- great decoys-
 
Charlie.......she is heavy, but she sits proud on the water. Now you've got me curious; I am going to call Bob (the builder) and see if he remembers what it weighed. I will post the answer if I find out.
 
Hi John, you are so fortunate to have those rocking head Wilsons "classics" in your collection; those are two amazing decoys. Congratulations! I had a Wilson black duck and a white wing scoter (Portland period) years ago. I found them both in the old days of Brimfield when you would see large groups of decoys there. I have only seen one rocking head eider; a hen, which was also at Brimfield. It was about twenty five years ago and the bird was painted black (but you could see the brown underpaint wearing through). Other than the black overpaint, (what I can remember) it was in poor condition with a huge split in the body with a worn down bill tip and part of the base of the neck wood missing. Speaking of eiders, watch the forum, I will be posting something I think you will find interesting. Once again, congratulatiions for owning those two amazing and unique classics!

Keith
 
Keith-

they are amazing decoys- I have always found Wilson work to be amazing-i have many of his decoys- the early ones are my favorites--but the rocking heads- The scoter i bought from george starr in the late 1970s- and the merganser i bought from bud ward 30 plus years ago- that decoy has a thin strip of leather in its bill- they said to look like food- i love the action- the form- the paint-and i have had them both out in he water- You decoys capture the feel of the classic birds of the past- but you add alot to the form and paint- the large Scoter you made lives beside the rocking heads in my collection- so they are in good company-

all the best-- John
 
Thank you John. Because Mr. Wilson is one of my great inspirations, I am honored and proud to have one of my old late 70's cork Scoters sitting beside his awe-inspiring work! THank you!!
 

My gawd what a craft and what craftsman ship ,my goodness such beauty in and out of the boat..is there a pic of the rear of the boat from inside looking at the transom .this is truely a very cool idea to hide the motor...and as everyone can see the wing up dekes ,rocking heads and the list goes on..

im an amature just a plinker compared to you guys...... inspiring ,,,,,,this should go into the archives for sure..

shermie...

check your pms here...
 
Quite the history on these type of boats. I did some reading last night about them. Thanks for sharing and please share more info and pictures as you get it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top