is there any way to tell the age of a AA Broadbill based on the Serial Number? I just picked one up and I know most of the owner history but dont have a timeline. It seems to be in good condition for an old boat (ie have not found any soft spots). Just REALLY dirty and the gelcoat is oxidized and covered in tree sap. Thinking it will get hunted this season then do a "restoration" on it next summer.
AA Broadbill
- Thread starter ScottCK
- Start date
Scott
I'm not aware of any but there may be. Does anything in the S/N seem to make sense as a date? I wonder if that could be my old boat. I sold it to, at the time, the head football coach at Madison County High School. His last name was Frith and was told he passed away. I have no idea what happened to the boat after he bought it.
I'm not aware of any but there may be. Does anything in the S/N seem to make sense as a date? I wonder if that could be my old boat. I sold it to, at the time, the head football coach at Madison County High School. His last name was Frith and was told he passed away. I have no idea what happened to the boat after he bought it.
I bought it from a friend who has had it for a long time. last time it was registered was 1997. He bought it from someone else who i think is the original owner but not sure. the last 4 of the SN are M85D which may work for 1985 timeline estimate but I dont know what years AA was in production.
They were in production in 85, that's for certain. If that was my old boat somebody put a different trailer under it, which I doubt because I put a brand-new trailer under it in 1994. If it was last used in 97 that trailer would still be under it.
yea, the trailer is a bit IFFY. has new tires but was not sure it would make it home based on the overall condition.
I am going to be asking restoration questions once I get into the boat in the spring and have had a chance to check it out during hunting season this year. Have some thoughts on what I would like to do but dont want to mess it up in the process. I guess step one will be to see if it floats!!
I am going to be asking restoration questions once I get into the boat in the spring and have had a chance to check it out during hunting season this year. Have some thoughts on what I would like to do but dont want to mess it up in the process. I guess step one will be to see if it floats!!
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Scott - or Eric~
I have just begun a rehab on an Arthur Armstrong BLACKJACK - my first AA vessel. It sure looks lots like it's close relative the BROADBILL (both in the genus Aythya....) - so I am hoping one of you gentlemen can answer a question or two.
Mostly I have been working on the cockpit cover. It is quite thin and under-framed, in my view. So, I began by removing all of the framing - some of which was foam, some end-grain balsa - and all failed. Not a pleasant job - but I found a "system" that worked. It had been applied haphazardly - ignoring centerlines and right angles - and "triggered" my OCD....
I am in the midst of adding heavier framing and other reinforcements - and adding some much-needed crown. This big cover was designed to be flat - I think - and collected quite a bit of precipitation. I had to fasten a big frame to my shop floor to maintain the flatness of the edges - where they will fit over the coamings. (I will be posting a fuller story once the cover is completely done.)
No trailer with this vessel. That's my duckboat trailer helping with the warm bath earlier today.
Question 1: Where should I look for a serial number and/or HIN?
Question 2: Forward end of deck allows nuisance water - and maybe bilge water - to enter the "hold" under the fore-deck. I have not yet gone spelunking up forward. Should there be a "lip" to prevent water from the cockpit washing forward? Are their plugs in that vicinity (in a floor frame?) to keep water from aft moving into the forward hold?
I will appreciate any information or insights!
All the best,
SJS
Steve
I seem to recall my Broadbill had the s/n in two locations. One was visible on the transom just under the deck. I can't remember if it was port or starboard but it was easy to see. There was a second "hidden" s/n underneath the aluminum motor bracket on the front side of the transom. You had to remove a couple screws yo get the plate off and reveal the s/n.
In mine there was a pvc pipe under the floor that water ftom the front storage area flowed into. It was fairly crude and there were no check valves or anything of that sort.
I seem to recall my Broadbill had the s/n in two locations. One was visible on the transom just under the deck. I can't remember if it was port or starboard but it was easy to see. There was a second "hidden" s/n underneath the aluminum motor bracket on the front side of the transom. You had to remove a couple screws yo get the plate off and reveal the s/n.
In mine there was a pvc pipe under the floor that water ftom the front storage area flowed into. It was fairly crude and there were no check valves or anything of that sort.
roy brewington
Well-known member
My Blackjack was the same as Eric mentioned . A piece of pvc that ran from trough/.strorage area under front deck to rear floor drain bx.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Roy, Eric & Scott~
I found the HIN on the transom - starboard side (nothing beneath motor plate). The HIN ends in a 90 - so maybe built in 1990. Does anyone know where Armstrong boats were made?
I took her for her second warm bath this morning - after reading your thoughts on the underfloor drainage. It seems - via hand mirror and feeling around under the stern-deck - that the underfloor (bilge) is wide open aft. Up forward were 1 round hole (as for a drain tube + plug - neither of which were in evidence), 1 squarish "opening" on the starboard side - and some loose 'glass on the port side. So, the forward storage area will never be a dry site. I will be discussing with the owner tomorrow morning. Were it my vessel, I would tighten up the forward end of the floor - with a low lip and a new frame, but....it is a tough spot to get to without removing the deck, which is otherwise perfectly sound and well-secured to the hull. Thus far I have discovered no other structural problems
I always bring a sawhorse to the car wash so I can fully drain the hull. I'll keep it this way until she comes inside - so nothing new gets lodged below the floor (cockpit sole to us picky fellows....).
There is one bothersome design flaw - in my view. The drain tube in the motor well is about a quarter-inch above the bottom of the well. So water - and ice - can sit there whilst the vessel is in storage. Again, I would relocate it lower were it my vessel....and, had I built it from scratch, I would have shaped the bottom of the well so there was a clear low-point right on the center-line....
BTW: Here are my rough measurements of this Blackjack. Is the Broadbill larger? Smaller?
All the best,
SJS
Steve,
the SN on mine is on the starboard side of the transom. I have not located another one but I have not really looked everywhere.
I did mount my 25hp on it today and noticed that the transom will flex a little when I push on the motor. A little concerned that the transom is not as good as I hoped. Not really sure how to truely check it out without taking the boat apart which I am concerned about doing.
adding a couple photos of the hard top and some of floatation foam on the inside of the boat (foam does not appear to be wet).
How difficult would it be to take the top of the boat off of the hull so i could get to the transom. Note, the fiberglass seems to be ok on the outside of the transom.
the SN on mine is on the starboard side of the transom. I have not located another one but I have not really looked everywhere.
I did mount my 25hp on it today and noticed that the transom will flex a little when I push on the motor. A little concerned that the transom is not as good as I hoped. Not really sure how to truely check it out without taking the boat apart which I am concerned about doing.
adding a couple photos of the hard top and some of floatation foam on the inside of the boat (foam does not appear to be wet).
How difficult would it be to take the top of the boat off of the hull so i could get to the transom. Note, the fiberglass seems to be ok on the outside of the transom.
Attachments
Steve, my sn is in the exact same place.
also, have questions about where to get misc hardware pieces that are missing or at least hard plastic that I can make them from. (ie the little piece of plastic that the front bar of the blind slides into) If i am going to do a refresh on the boat next year, I want to do it right.
I have just never done true fiberglass work so that makes me a little concerned.
also, have questions about where to get misc hardware pieces that are missing or at least hard plastic that I can make them from. (ie the little piece of plastic that the front bar of the blind slides into) If i am going to do a refresh on the boat next year, I want to do it right.
I have just never done true fiberglass work so that makes me a little concerned.
roy brewington
Well-known member
Yes, Broadbill was a bit longer than Blackjack. Steve if flotation foam under floor hasn't gotten wet your lucky. Simply from sweating without leaks. They were prone to leaking at seam between bottom and top cap as underway water rides along that seam. Mine was pop riveted together with the rub rail molding supposedly doing the sealing. No sealant in between that I could find. Also rear handles loosening on transom and water infiltrating flotation bxs in rear corners.
roy brewington
Well-known member
The Blackjacks were built in a few places I believe depending on current owner of the company. The one I had was built in Kentuckey if I recall correctly. I think they are currently being built by new owners of TDB brand.
roy brewington
Well-known member
That was where the Black Jack initially started. Early ads they were targeting flats fisherman as well as hunters. The little flat area at front edge of cockpit surround was there to mount a pedestal seat base on to for sitting with feet on front deck fishing. Can,t remember if Broadbill had that same flat area as Blackjack.
While we are on the topic of Armstrong duckboats this patent may be of interest to you folks. The Arthur Armstrong Wigeon was patented by Thom Lindheimer. I was college sophomore when I got my Broadbill direct from Thom. He was a very honorable businessman who went out of his way to help a broke college student.
Is that the full document? I just find it interesting that it is just a shape with no specific measurements. Being that duck skiffs had been around for over 100 years in various forms, I find it interesting that it could be patented. But I am not a lawyer either, so I just guess I don't understand the law.