Aeromarine sneakboat restoration

Hal Truhn

Hal Truhn

New member
Hello I am new to the forum. I discovered duckboats website during my research on the aeromarine boat I acquired back in December 2019. The boat was owned by a gentleman who was moving to the Carolinas. He hunted out of it in Oceanside long island for over three decades. He was originally from Glen Cove than moved to Greenport and being in his 80's was no longer able to hunt. Although at the time he was still training dogs. He was happy to sell it to me for a really sweet deal. As this long island gem was getting a new home I promised I would restore it and send him the pictures. Spring arrived the following year and I began the restoration. Completely disassembling the sections of the boat. That meant removing all those pop rivets. Not such a great design due to the rivets being hallow. Its an early design that was changed in latter models. Registration says 1965 although i'm not sure if thats correct due to its under home made. During 2020 we were in a pandemic and was still working at the time for PSEG as a Welder by trade going back to the LICO days. So each day after work I couldn't wait to get back to putting her back together. Took me about three months to complete, although I find its never completely finished do to constantly making little tweeks. Such tweeks this year were to change out he grass webbing material and make the thatch rails from cypress and anchor chock. She's a nice little boat and a joy to hunt out of. I am truly very fortunate to own such a boat from the long island duck hunting heritage and wanted to share it with other fellow hunters. I attended the cedar beach duck boat show a few weeks ago and wanted to bring it but chose not to. I am recovering from neck surgery and back issues so didn't want to take the chance always next year. Here are some pictures of the restoration project.
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I always like it when a new member appears with a cool project like yours. Welcome to our duckboat community. Aeromarine sneakboxes have been getting a lot of press lately. If you haven't seen it, look down the board a little and you'll see a future restoration project of Anthony Babich and Steve Sanford.

Eric
 
Good morning, Hal~


Excellent job all around!


Please be sure to keep it thatched up and bring it to the LI Decoy Collectors Ass'n Annual Show in March. Anthony Babich started a new feature last year - with duckboats on display outside. I think we had over 2 dozen vessels. The Show is in Hauppauge (IBEW Hall on Vets Highway) and will be March 2 this year.


All the best,


SJS

 
Good morning Steve, thank you for the heads up I will put it on the calendar. I have been admiring your work lately. I copied your anchor chock and pick up stick that's actually drying in the garage than its trying to tie the Turk. I will be making a push pole from closet rod next since I lost my aluminum pole to the bay luckily I found a herters duckbill on gun brokers recently to replace it.
Thanks again
Hal
 
Hal~


Here is the guidance I've used - from Hervey Gerrit Smith's Marlinspike Sailor - over the years. There are numerous YouTubes on-line.


One important note: To determine how much line you need, wrap the shaft 15 or 16 times. That way you'll have enough to work with and just enough left over to help you handle it.

Also, I typically use tarred nylon. When melting the ends, I work the semi-molten nylon (with a leather glove I keep for this purpose) so it forms a point. This makes it much easier for all the "weaving" you be doing.


All the best,


SJS
 
[quote Steve Sanford]Hal~


Here is the guidance I've used - from Hervey Gerrit Smith's Marlinspike Sailor - over the years. There are numerous YouTubes on-line.


One important note: To determine how much line you need, wrap the shaft 15 or 16 times. That way you'll have enough to work with and just enough left over to help you handle it.

Also, I typically use tarred nylon. When melting the ends, I work the semi-molten nylon (with a leather glove I keep for this purpose) so it forms a point. This makes it much easier for all the "weaving" you be doing.


All the best,


SJS[/quote]

As always, you give great guidance. I have limited experience wrapping handles compared to you, but I'd offer an alternative to melting the line to a point. I've had good luck inserting an escutcheon pin, sized appropriately for the line being worked, directly into the end of the line. Only the rounded head sticks out, the rounded head minimizing snags. A dab of superglue holds it in. I suppose you could heat the pin and line and get a bond that way. What you end up with is the rough equivalent of a needle pulling thread.
 
Hey Hal,

That is an Awesome find! I recently also acquired an Aero-Marine and have been doing some extensive research to share at our March 2024 show this coming year. I was able to dig pretty deep on this and actually spoke with John Pryor Jr yesterday. I plan to visit the marina this coming week and will obtain some documentation, images & more first-hand info on these boats!

My father had the model you purchased. Here's a shot of it. Also here is the original brochure as advertised:

More to follow! You can check out my post thread here if you want to follow along: http://www.duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view;post=353788;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread
level floatation 001.jpegScreen Shot 2023-11-13 at 9.00.14 AM.png
 
Hello Anthony, thank you for sharing I am looking forward to learning more about the Aero Marine boats. I enjoy the videos you produce, my son is a videographer in DC.
Thanks
Hal
 
Hal~


I just noticed my photos of Turk's Head instructions never made it into my post - operator error????


sm Turks Head p28.jpg



Text:


sm Turks Head p29.jpg



All the best,


SJS








 
Hal,

Awesome boat. I have a 1982 Aeromarine that I have restored with the progress in another thread on here.
 
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