Arthur Armstrong boat owners

S

steven maza

Member
I recently contacted the Arthur Armstrong duck boat company. I requested some information on the widgeon and the blackjack. They told me that they sold the molds to Nickels boat works, so I contacted them. They told me that they are in the process of of getting everything in line to start building the boats after the new year. I have an older blackjack and suggested a few changes to the boat. Hugh at Nickels Boat Works was very receptive to my suggestions. If anyone out there owns a widgeon or a black and would like to see some things changed let me know. I like the design of the hull, it performs great, I can pull it across 4 inches of water with all my gear and dog in the boat. My suggestions to Hugh had to do with the motor mount and the cockpit area. If anybody has any suggestions or ideas feel free to contact Hugh, or you can tell me and I will forward it to him. Any suggestions will be taken, thanks for your time, steve.
 
hey steven, i too have a blackjack. i have hunted this boat since 98. i run an 18 hp johnson on it and it does really well. only thing i could recomend changing in the design of the boat would be a higher riding nose. the boat i have now has a flat wedge nose and if your not careful in big water it is easy to spear a wave. i can hunt 2 guys comfortably or hunt it as a sneakbox by myself. i would like to know your thoughts on blinds for the boat. i would like to come up with something different.
 
I too own a Blackjack, but have not hunted out of it yet. I am still in the process of "customizing" it to my needs. Would the guys who own post of pics of their setups of their boats. There are not many owners out there and trying to get ideas or recommendations. Thanks.
 
I agree, but when builders start cutting corners to lower costs you get an inferior boat. The chuck huff can be purchased for about half the cost of a blackjack. You will also be getting a hull that flexes when it goes on plane and in rough water. The blackjack is built like a tank. No flex what so ever. The black jack can also hold two hunters and a dog easily. I did mention to Hugh that cost was important though.
 
I really don't take my blackjack out in rough water. Unfortunatley every duck boat has it's pro's and con's. I also have an Estuary built by David Clark that I use in the bay and big open water. The pro's of the estuary is that it will handle really rough water with no problem. The dodger dave built on my bought keeps water out of the cockpit. The displacement hull on the estuary together with daves dodger design makes it a really sea worthy boat that will get you home safely in the roughest weather. Now when I hunt shallow waters the estuary's hull will drag on the bottom making it impossibly to drag it. The blackjack with the motor up will slide across 3 or 4 inches of water. The estuary fully loaded with a 15hp will do about 11mph(gps tested) and the black jack loaded up and with the same motor will do 21mph but with two men in the boat. Duck hunting is like everything else, you need the right tools for the right job. For example, a multi tool will do the job but a tool chest full of tools will be easier to work with and have a better end result.
I really like both boats. The Estuary is an awsome boat that I will never sell. Dave really thought this one out when he designed and built it, but it's slower, heavy, and drafts more than twice the amount of water when it's loaded up. I wouldn't change anything about the Estuary, it's perfect for big open water. The Blackjack is fast, lighter, and only drafts about 4 inches of water loaded up. The only thing I would change about the Blackjack is the cockpit area. I would run shelving on both sides the run the length of the cockpit. I would also put a hatch on the bow to the space underneath. It's a waste of space. Right now I put my decoys on the bow wehn I'm running the boat. My oars, push pole, mojo poles and other gear lay on the deck. I step on it all the time and would like to see shelving on the new boats.
As far as blinds go. I just cover the boat with fast grass camo netting underneath. I run a 2x4 the length of the cock pit to keep the netting and grass from falling through and my dog sits on the bow.
Jeff if you consistantly hunt rough open water I would look into an Estuary. If you look in marylands craigslist there is one for sale, Boat motor and trailer for 5,000 or contact Dave. Keep the blackjack for calmer waters
 
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hey steven, i understand what u are sying about the rough water in the blackjack.. i have had only one bad experience in the boat. i really dont know how fast my boat runs, i would like to know. as i said before i run an older johnson 18 on her and she will scoot. you are right about the boat being built like a tank. i store easily 16 mallard decoys under the front deck to and from hunting spotswith no problem. they are kind of a pain to drag out though.do any of you guys have any pics of the blind/dodger set ups? i would love to see some because i hunt solo and am interested in hunting under the dodger. the dodger that came on the boat is pretty flimsy and i feel with some good ideas it could b greatly improved. any ideas would b appreciated.
 
I am also considering a blackjack. I currently hunt out of a schellinger low box as well and am looking for a boat I can hunt 2 people out of. If anyone has this boat with a blind set up for 2, I would greatly appreciate taking a look at it to assist in my decision.. Thanks..
 
This is great news for me! Nickels is only 15 minutes from me. Sounds like he's going to be building TDB's as well.

Thanks for the news,

Todd
 
Just got my broadbill this summer. It is stable and can run the shallows. I plan on strapping my dekes on the top of the bow on the boat. When I get it setup I will take pics. Hopefully I can use it . The ice is forming to quick. John
 
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