"bigger boat"

Has anyone else been contacted by Steve at Duck Water about their comments in this thread?

-D
 
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Dave
I have been contacted in the past about giving my opinion about Duck Water boats, seems to me no one can have a opinion about his boats unless their nice things. Buyers be aware of his product!

Jeremy
 
I usually go out of my way to not make any negative comments about Duck Water boats even though I know he has bad mouthed my boats for the past seven years. But today I think I'll strap on a pair of balls. Yes he has his fan's. Though I don't know why. One close up look speaks to all the negative comments above. I can only hope that some day he gets what is coming to him. A law suit that puts him under. I only hope that no one looses there life for that to happen. I should plan on getting legal papers from him in the near future. But before you do that Steve think about what I might have on you. Sincerely, Tom Ayers. Builder of Wrangler hunting boats.
 
I had the pleasure of a message left on my phone from the owner/builder of D.W. I posted my opinion on the Fuge of his boats after getting to crawl through one a friend's friend had bought. What a class act!!!He has quite the vocabulary and it seems he fancies himself a brawler as well judging by the threats of bodily harm he left me.Priceless.
 
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Tom,

One can only wonder what you would do if they were saying those things about you. I passed a comment a while back about your boats and you immediately threaten me with litigation. Of course this had no merrit and I was not even fazed by your threats. Nice of you to jump on the band wagon to drag a fellow boat builder down.

There is a thing called professional courtesy in which you do not "bad mouth" another in your profession. The same way doctors don't bad mouth another doctor.

Thus, in seeing how you treated me and others in your profession, I would never consider purchasing one of your boats.
 
I do NOT and have never gotten that courtesy from Steve Hoover. I know people that have hung up on him after hearing his comments about my boats. I have gone out of my way not to put down his boats. The proof is in the pudding as to the quality of any builders boats. If your product looks like a piece of crap than that must say something about you and the quality of the product. I put the workmen ship of my boats above all else. I don't care if I make a dime on a boat. It has to be right before I'll let any boat leave my shop. In eight years I have had ONE boat come back with a posible problem. It turned out to be nothing. The owner has had no further concern as far as I know. Other then that I have only had to replace a couple bilge pumps two stern light pole bases and a couple bow lights. All of which I didn't even bother going back on the manufacture. If anyone has a problem with any boat built by me all they have to do is give me a call. 330-309-8977 I'll put my boats up against any other manufacturer and I'll come in second to none. That isn't to say that there aren't other good manufacturers out there. I have told I don't know how many people that Banks make a good boat. But not any better then what I build. I don't care what you say as long as you have the facts right. Which in your comment about my dealer you were incorrect. You will never see me post a comment that says I heard. I only post facts. I guess you only want to here good facts as does Steve Hoover. Now maybe you are trying to get me to say something that will enable Hoover to sue me I don't know. Believe me I don't have to worry about him bringing any legal action against me. I have enough on Hoover to just plain shut his business down. But I believe that sooner or later he'll manage to do that on his own. I have played a clean game in the past and will continue to do so. If you don't believe that what ever. Let's face it you were never planning on buying one of my boats and I just as soon not sell you one.
 
Guys...we run a Ocean 23' ..It is out 4-6 days a week for the last two years..It never has leaked...no one has ever cut anything..Yes the paint does came off the rub rails when ya hit BIG rocks or docks.... or off the hull when ya sit in 4" of ice and rock up and down..Just come home and take out a spray can and touch it up.. I am not easy on the boat ...and the boat will take a hell of beating...That is why we bought it.

As far as welds..I was at the Harrisburg show..and saw the 15' boat that was there..It looked good..

and yes Steve can get a little hot when people knock his boat..It is his living..












 
Steve, I want to thank you for the personal phone call. After you told me that you have never put down my boats I saw that I was wrong in putting up the post. After all if you tell me that you have never commented or lied about my boats then I feel I must believe you. Not. I will how ever refrain from ever putting up any other post about you or your business out of respect for the owners of this site. I apologise to the owners of this site for putting up any negative posts in the past. It won't happen again. Steve I'll be in touch about running my new 17 beside yours.
 
Well, we are always looking right?

Several models to choose.

Carstens Chesapeke
Bankes Freedom
Duck water boats

The Carsten's is a little over $6,000. The other can cost 2-3 times as much. I know that I am not comparing apples to apples here but for a 17 foot boat, can anyone justify spending twice as much. I don't guide anyone for money. I don't hunt ducks everyday of the season. So, the Carstens boat seems to be ok in terms of value
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i have been in the same boat as you! I contacted carsten's multiple times with limited success. They do not produce very many chessy's annually. I asked if they had one at their factory/showroom and they declined telling me that i had to go over to the beavertail factory to see one in person. I gave up hope long ago about finding a used vessel in that make and model.
 
I do not post frequently on this site so therefore many of you don't know me, and with all the BS that you are saying about Duck Water Boats I never care to meet many of you. Here is my story I currently own a ocean 19'. When I was first looking for a new boat I was originally Going fiberglass. After Speaking with the owners of both Bankes and DW for many hours I made my decision. I know this has been brought up in the past but Bankes just does not have enough customization in their boats. I will never spend $30k on a boat when I ask the builder about seating and he tells me to go buy some buckets. I currently hunt on avg 3 times a week wth about 3-4 hunters and knowone has yet ripped a pair of waders so that should be a dead issue. In regards to all the problems that you people state the Duck Waters have I think you should go to the owners and get the correct info because alot of what you are stating is incorrect. Yes I did have a problem with a weld in the floor seperating from a rib. When I notified Steve about this problem he picked the boat up from Ling Island NY fixed it and returned it within three days. (Yes I know that is horrible customer service). Paint seems to be another issue. I have no problems at all with paint flaking off my boat. If there are any Duck Water owners out there that do have problems I am sure if you contacted Steve he would come up with a solution. He is currently using a different primer and paint. Don't tell me that Bankes has no problems with Gelcoat because I seen some that did. As far as safety is concerned I believe that is in the hands of the operator. You can take any boat and make it as safe or unsafe as you want. IMO being able to motor home after hitting a break wall in a 4' chop like Paul Brown did with his 17' Duck Water is a good sign of these boats being safe and indestructible. Try that with a fiberglass boat. If there is anyone local that has or is GETTING a Bankes and wants to do a little comparison on the water. We will have to do this before I get my 23' because I would not want to hear that it was unfair. Yes you can use your 21' vs my 19'.
Steve
 
Chris,

I wouldn't mind looking at the Chesapeke if I knew where to find one. Their asking price is in the very low 6K range. I like puddle duck hunting the best so I wouldn't use a boat this size a lot during the season but at their price it wouldn't hurt as much as a 20K boat sitting in the driveway. Who knows, we never seem to be satisfied and we always have a reason for another boat.

I really like the TDB 14 and the Bankes Dominator. More than likely, I am going to strongly consider making the Zackbox listed in another thread. That would be ideal as they come for the type of hunting that I do. Then when the timing is right and my son a bit bigger, I will opt for a "bigger boat"
 
I can only speak from experiance.... I own Bankes Freedom hull #1 and have seen it since the first day the plug to make her was being started.

You can not beat the quality....thought...materials...and preformance of this boat in the 17ft class. The fine folks at Bankes also make a 14.5.....a 19....and a 21ft if this boat does not suit your purpose.

Powered correctly and loaded to spec the boat is safe...stable....dry....in almost any conditions that Long Point Bay can throw her way.

As a layout tender I am not sure that it can be beat for a 3 man rig.

I have seen the Duck water product.....My choice for the price would be the Bankes every time.

JMHO

Gar
 
Nothing worse than poser boat manufacturers! If anybody needs a good shell for a project my '79 Check-Mate Fish-n-Ski is an awesome hull if you can find one. There are other years that are very similar. This is the kind of boat you find at the junkyard and the hull is so well built that its salvageable. Other than it's techically a tri-hull with sponsons which irritates me a bit it's a great boat. It handles rough stuff very well and has a huge HP rating....like 120. Gutted, I run my old '93 Mariner 40 Mag on it with a 12 or 13 pitch and it's a freakin' race boat. I won't let anybody drive it expect a good friend that has spent tons of time in it. Mine is a work in progress and the progress took the backseat this year but the hull is built like a brick privvy so it's not going anywhere. I'm sure there are other boats with similar design that would be fantastic shells for a project. Mine has a very TDB look to it.

You can see the bow in this photo...I really don't have any good photos of the boat.
stanleyandswan-2.jpg

General shape...its a very stealthy boat that lifts way out of the water when on step but it drops down and drafts quite a bit. Not a great boat for super shallow stuff...lots of pushing. Also, the sponsons tend to have water slap noise if you don't angle the boat properly in the wind or current.
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We run a 23 DW and if anyone of you want to take a ride in her while your in ohio let me know. I have a 14 that is all glass that I love to death sexy little thing it is. I had a 19 DW that I sold and since have moved up to a 23 DW just last year. I have owned a few different boats hunting and fishing boats and I have felt very good in all my DWs the 23 is just plain sick the damn thing will float in 4.5 inches of water will run a easy 35 mph in 2-3 ft chop on Erie, Ches and lake Michigan it is by far the finest all around well built duck boat I have every been in. We can gun 7 guys and never touch shoulders the boat is very stable as it should be its 101 at the water. I was cought in a nasty little storm on Erie this year while out playing and it kicked nice 6-7s and the girl stayed dry and I felt very comfy doing so not saying it wasnt nice to stand on solid ground now. I have broke 3-5 inches of ice with both the 19 and the new 23 and it means nothing to them. As a certified 6g welder I can say after testing a bunch of the welds on this boat and others they are strong and solid. If your looking for the finish of a glass boat buy glass if you want a custom duck boat that can be passed down to your grandchildren you may want to buy a DW. I have read all the posts in this thread some of you may not like Steve Hoover and thats fine some may not like his boats or the look of the quality. But I can say if any of his customers have ever had any trouble he will go out of his way to make it right thats more than lund,triton or others can say. We have had no paint issues and have no places that anyone has ever torn waders or anything like that. Again if anyone would like to go out on a 23 DW in Ohio give me a call 419-908-0815. With all this said I still love old Star Crafts and Crestliners gotta love um.
 
A warning.....keep this civil or I'll shut it down.....

I'm not saying not to ask questions, and not to relate what you know, or think, but keep it civil.....

That means leave out all the little comments about the person to whom you're responding to and just keep your comments to the core question which in this case is the boat.......

I don't have a horse in this race and appreciate hearing FACTS, not I heard from another website that a guy said that a friend knew someone that said...........leave that out and report "FACTS" so that people can make good informed decision about where they are going to spend their money....

Thanks in advance and I hope not to have to post to his topic again....

Steve
 
We run a 23 DW and if anyone of you want to take a ride in her while your in ohio let me know. I have a 14 that is all glass that I love to death sexy little thing it is. I had a 19 DW that I sold and since have moved up to a 23 DW just last year. I have owned a few different boats hunting and fishing boats and I have felt very good in all my DWs the 23 is just plain sick the damn thing will float in 4.5 inches of water will run a easy 35 mph in 2-3 ft chop on Erie, Ches and lake Michigan it is by far the finest all around well built duck boat I have every been in. We can gun 7 guys and never touch shoulders the boat is very stable as it should be its 101 at the water. I was cought in a nasty little storm on Erie this year while out playing and it kicked nice 6-7s and the girl stayed dry and I felt very comfy doing so not saying it wasnt nice to stand on solid ground now. I have broke 3-5 inches of ice with both the 19 and the new 23 and it means nothing to them. As a certified 6g welder I can say after testing a bunch of the welds on this boat and others they are strong and solid. If your looking for the finish of a glass boat buy glass if you want a custom duck boat that can be passed down to your grandchildren you may want to buy a DW. I have read all the posts in this thread some of you may not like Steve Hoover and thats fine some may not like his boats or the look of the quality. But I can say if any of his customers have ever had any trouble he will go out of his way to make it right thats more than lund,triton or others can say. We have had no paint issues and have no places that anyone has ever torn waders or anything like that. Again if anyone would like to go out on a 23 DW in Ohio give me a call 419-908-0815. With all this said I still love old Star Crafts and Crestliners gotta love um.
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Shannon, did you say "We can gun 7 guys and never touch shoulders" ? Just want to clarify. How long is the cockpit in the 23' boat?
 
I would have to go out and take a tape to her to tell you for sure. Why dont you just stop and look at it or give me a call? Our boat is different than the specs on the DW site with DW we where able to change a few thing to open her up a bit. We had 7 in her when we had her at at the ches for a few days. The boat has 6 pedastal seats and then 1 guy can sit on the bench that runs across the back of the boat. Dewayne if your really intrested you can see her maybe take a ride in her you have my # 419-908-0815
 
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