Blackjack vs Broadbill

D

D. Graham

New member
My friend and I are both considering sneak boats for the upcoming season. I have been eyeing the Broadbill for some time but recently came across an early 90s fiber Blackjack that's in good shape and reasonable in price. I've done research on them separately and have found that they are both good hulls. My question is what are the differences between the two. Obviously the broadbill is a little longer and it's HP rating is a little higher but other than that what can the Broadbill do that the Blackjack can't etc. We hunt salt marshes, both hunt with 80 pound labs and neither one of us plans on hunting two people in the boats (be both weigh 250). Thanks in advance for the advice.
 
Last edited:
D., I can't speak for the Blk jack but I absolutely love my late 80's Broadbill. I'm not sure how many persons the Blk jack is rated for but with the B.B. it's rated for 2. The space and extra person rating it gives you plenty of room to pack full of decoys and stuff. If duck hunters are good at anything , It's over load a boat.
Gene R.
 
With small boats, darkness, cold water, winter, submerged objects all waiting for the right moment, I have never been a fan of speed in a duck boat. Neither am I of underpowering a hull. I much prefer idle speed in the darkness or rough areas I hunt than W.O.T.; however you want to be able to keep moving in the right direction when encountering a cross wind. Small and light weight boats like you are mentioning are fine with a 9.9 or 15 hp max. If you have an outboard than that should be your primary consideration in hulls.


Good luck.
 
Last edited:
My friend and I are both considering sneak boats for the upcoming season. I have been eyeing the Broadbill for some time but recently came across an early 90s fiber Blackjack that's in good shape and reasonable in price. I've done research on them separately and have found that they are both good hulls. My question is what are the differences between the two. Obviously the broadbill is a little longer and it's HP rating is a little higher but other than that what can the Broadbill do that the Blackjack can't etc. We hunt salt marshes, both hunt with 80 pound labs and neither one of us plans on hunting two people in the boats (be both weigh 250). Thanks in advance for the advice.
Click to expand...

A tough choice you have to make indeed. Both hulls are fantastic and the boats are remarkable as well. Both are very similar in the aspect of ratings but the Broadbill is longer and has more interior room in the new models we produce. If you want or need room for 2 people and a dog the Broadbill is the way to go. If its 2 people or less no dog the Black Jack will get the job done.

HP they are both rated for a 25 in the earlier models but if your going to power with a 4 stroke I would take away 10hp due to the weight of the newer 4 stroke motors. We Derated the Black Jack HP due to that very reason.

Now a water test of both boats with a 1990 9.9 with 15hp carbs gave us almost identical results. the Black Jack ran 20mph and the Broadbill 19mph with myself.

The big different is room and the waves they will handle and the Broadbill is the clear winner in this department.


If your looking at an older boat MAKE SURE YOU check the wood in the boat for rot. Unless its been redone it will have some I promise. and a total rebuild is costly and time consuming. There are several theads here on just that rebuilding these hulls. So if thats your route there is a wealth of info right here at duckboats to help you.

Good Luck on the decission as its a tough one to make but the boats you are choosing from are both TOP of the line quality boats.
 
I'm totally with you. Going out to my spots I'm usually trolling along. Tidal waters can change overnight and I don't want to find out what got shifted by the tide at 4:30 am with my lower unit. On the way back to the launch I usually let er rip if I'm comfortable enough with the water I'm navigating. Thanks for your response.
 
A tough choice you have to make indeed. Both hulls are fantastic and the boats are remarkable as well. Both are very similar in the aspect of ratings but the Broadbill is longer and has more interior room in the new models we produce. If you want or need room for 2 people and a dog the Broadbill is the way to go. If its 2 people or less no dog the Black Jack will get the job done.

HP they are both rated for a 25 in the earlier models but if your going to power with a 4 stroke I would take away 10hp due to the weight of the newer 4 stroke motors. We Derated the Black Jack HP due to that very reason.

Now a water test of both boats with a 1990 9.9 with 15hp carbs gave us almost identical results. the Black Jack ran 20mph and the Broadbill 19mph with myself.

The big different is room and the waves they will handle and the Broadbill is the clear winner in this department.


If your looking at an older boat MAKE SURE YOU check the wood in the boat for rot. Unless its been redone it will have some I promise. and a total rebuild is costly and time consuming. There are several theads here on just that rebuilding these hulls. So if thats your route there is a wealth of info right here at duckboats to help you.

Good Luck on the decission as its a tough one to make but the boats you are choosing from are both TOP of the line quality boats.
Click to expand...

Tony,
I won't be hunting more than one person out of the boat. I'm basically choosing between an early 90's Blackjack and a late 80's Broadbill, both are all fiberglass construction. From what I can tell the cockpits of the boats are identical, unlike in the newer models. The Blackjack I am looking at is 10" shorter than the Broadbill and 6" narrower, so while it is smaller there isn't a huge difference that I can see. The only noticeable difference I have found is that the Broadbill tends to command a higher price. Like I said, I found an inexpensive Blackjack so that may be the discriminating factor. All in all I think both boats will fit my needs so I may just let the price decide. Thanks a bunch for your response.
 
A tough choice you have to make indeed. Both hulls are fantastic and the boats are remarkable as well. Both are very similar in the aspect of ratings but the Broadbill is longer and has more interior room in the new models we produce. If you want or need room for 2 people and a dog the Broadbill is the way to go. If its 2 people or less no dog the Black Jack will get the job done.

HP they are both rated for a 25 in the earlier models but if your going to power with a 4 stroke I would take away 10hp due to the weight of the newer 4 stroke motors. We Derated the Black Jack HP due to that very reason.

Now a water test of both boats with a 1990 9.9 with 15hp carbs gave us almost identical results. the Black Jack ran 20mph and the Broadbill 19mph with myself.

The big different is room and the waves they will handle and the Broadbill is the clear winner in this department.


If your looking at an older boat MAKE SURE YOU check the wood in the boat for rot. Unless its been redone it will have some I promise. and a total rebuild is costly and time consuming. There are several theads here on just that rebuilding these hulls. So if thats your route there is a wealth of info right here at duckboats to help you.

Good Luck on the decission as its a tough one to make but the boats you are choosing from are both TOP of the line quality boats.
Click to expand...

Tony,
I won't be hunting more than one person out of the boat. I'm basically choosing between an early 90's Blackjack and a late 80's Broadbill, both are all fiberglass construction. From what I can tell the cockpits of the boats are identical, unlike in the newer models. The Blackjack I am looking at is 10" shorter than the Broadbill and 6" narrower, so while it is smaller there isn't a huge difference that I can see. The only noticeable difference I have found is that the Broadbill tends to command a higher price. Like I said, I found an inexpensive Blackjack so that may be the discriminating factor. All in all I think both boats will fit my needs so I may just let the price decide. Thanks a bunch for your response.
Click to expand...

Excellent its sometimes hard to find one or the other let alone boat at the same time for sale. Look them over good check the wood for rot with a mallet or something trying to hear hollow areas of the transom. And the floor as those all had wood floors and transoms. If all is good there go for it you wont regret either of them I am sure.

Great hulls and riding boats for sure.
 
Our group has two blackjacks of similar vintage, and another friend also has one. Never have had an issue with the transoms on any of them. The front deck's are not real strong, a brace underneath is a good idea if you want to walk on it. I also have a wigeon, which is a great boat too, but the blackjack is much roomier, even though it is about the same length. We use ours in tidal marshes, and the shallow draft is a big deal for getting into skinny water, they will float in about 4"s. These boats cand handle a good chop, but I don't venture onto big water with them(Delaware Bay). I would store decoys loose if you are using plastic or cork(sometimes I do it with my wood ones too), if you put them under the deck there is plenty of room. We have a 15 and a 25 two stroke on each, respectively, both motors are fine and plane the boats out with two guys and a dog. I have no experience with a broadbill and am not that familiar with them. But I can say that I think you would find a blackjack to be a very versatile boat that has a very low profile and is seaworthy.
 
Tony is right and there is wood in the boat's construction. The floor is f.g. over plywood and the transom has a plywood core. Big problem with the transom is how they sealed it up. I would bet on rot in the transom if original. My mid 80s AA Wigeon relied upon the cockpit cover, top half of the boat, to cover the plywood trasom rathter than covering over the top with f.g.. Once the top was installed on the hull they sealed it and once the seal failed as they do with time water pours in and the rotting starts. I had to replace my transom and the boat was only used one season before the owner had a stroke and it sat alongside a barn until early 2012. The seal failed due to expansion and contraction of temperature swings and weathering. Then the small gap allowed water in and the whole center was shot where the motor attaches. When in doubt count on replacing it and if handy with f.g. you can do it for about $300 to $400 provided you have all the tools and only need to buy resin, mat, bondo, koosa board, etc. I was lucky and found a source that sells half and third size sheets of koosa as you will not need a full sheet for just the transom.
Click to expand...

I'll definitely give the boat a thorough inspection and see what I can find for rot. Let's just say I'm not too handy with fiberglass, lol.
 
Our group has two blackjacks of similar vintage, and another friend also has one. Never have had an issue with the transoms on any of them. The front deck's are not real strong, a brace underneath is a good idea if you want to walk on it. I also have a wigeon, which is a great boat too, but the blackjack is much roomier, even though it is about the same length. We use ours in tidal marshes, and the shallow draft is a big deal for getting into skinny water, they will float in about 4"s. These boats cand handle a good chop, but I don't venture onto big water with them(Delaware Bay). I would store decoys loose if you are using plastic or cork(sometimes I do it with my wood ones too), if you put them under the deck there is plenty of room. We have a 15 and a 25 two stroke on each, respectively, both motors are fine and plane the boats out with two guys and a dog. I have no experience with a broadbill and am not that familiar with them. But I can say that I think you would find a blackjack to be a very versatile boat that has a very low profile and is seaworthy.
Click to expand...

Thanks Greg, good info. I only hunt the smaller bays on the shore, I don't venture into DelBay. Gets a little nasty for my liking. Someone in Moorestown has a beautiful Broadbill for sale on Craigslist. Unfortunately until I sell my Jon boat it's out of my price range.
 
Tony is right and there is wood in the boat's construction. The floor is f.g. over plywood and the transom has a plywood core. Big problem with the transom is how they sealed it up. I would bet on rot in the transom if original. My mid 80s AA Wigeon relied upon the cockpit cover, top half of the boat, to cover the plywood trasom rathter than covering over the top with f.g.. Once the top was installed on the hull they sealed it and once the seal failed as they do with time water pours in and the rotting starts. I had to replace my transom and the boat was only used one season before the owner had a stroke and it sat alongside a barn until early 2012. The seal failed due to expansion and contraction of temperature swings and weathering. Then the small gap allowed water in and the whole center was shot where the motor attaches. When in doubt count on replacing it and if handy with f.g. you can do it for about $300 to $400 provided you have all the tools and only need to buy resin, mat, bondo, koosa board, etc. I was lucky and found a source that sells half and third size sheets of koosa as you will not need a full sheet for just the transom.
Click to expand...

Just an update. I went to look at the Blackjack in question yesterday and it was in decent shape. The cover had some fine cracks on the edges which I believe that I could fix fairly easily. What concerns me is the transom. It has been skinned with 1/8 inch aluminum diamond plate with the edges siliconed, which leads me to believe that the PO had a problem with the stability of the motor and slapped a quick fix on it. Also, do any of you know if the Blackjack had a drain opening on the front side of the transom to allow water to flow out of the low spot created by the transom connecting to the cockpit area? it seems as though theres a hole in the Fiber with wood directly under it and silicone over the hole. If there is a hole for a drain in the fiber and not in the wood than I would assume that someone already replaced the transom once. The boat is only $800 so there is some wiggle room for repairs but Im not sure that I want to take on a project.
 
yes there is a drain hole in the little well where the motor mounts. It sounds like the typical older Black jack. For that kind of jingle I would grab it up remove the deck during the off season and fix it up right and never have to worry about it again.
 
Sounds like you are referring to the splash well in the cockpit cover. If so, than yes, there is a hole that should have a plastic through hull conection if original. However, the connection was plastic and given the age and materials probably suffered a similar fate to mine. If we are talking about the splash well drain and it lost its seal outside than you can assume that water entered the transom core and replacement is needed. Once water enters the transom core void it builds heat in the summer and with the added water you have perfect conditions to start the process of rot. My 1985 AA had a treated plywood core that had rot in the center but beyond the raised area port and starboard the graining was still intact but delaminating.

The nice looking stern handles AA put on have screws that barely tap through the fiberglass and the fglass is not that thick to feel safe for tie downs.

For the price and if you really like the hull I would jump on it only if your are capable of performing the work yourself. If you will pay somebody to do the work you are going to dump more into the hull than you can pick up a sound hull for.

Some of the cracks when you pull the cover off my show signs of impact fractures that need some deeper work. It is a factory hull and despite how nice and light it is, I would prefer more thickness.

Shoot me a message if your want to know what I needed for materials and costs to restore my AA Wigeon this past spring.
 
If your looking for what you will be into with transom replacement. Just pull up my user posts and look for "AA broad bill transom rebuild". It's not a tough job if you some skills with hand tools.




Gene R.
 
Sounds like you are referring to the splash well in the cockpit cover. If so, than yes, there is a hole that should have a plastic through hull conection if original. However, the connection was plastic and given the age and materials probably suffered a similar fate to mine. If we are talking about the splash well drain and it lost its seal outside than you can assume that water entered the transom core and replacement is needed. Once water enters the transom core void it builds heat in the summer and with the added water you have perfect conditions to start the process of rot. My 1985 AA had a treated plywood core that had rot in the center but beyond the raised area port and starboard the graining was still intact but delaminating.

The nice looking stern handles AA put on have screws that barely tap through the fiberglass and the fglass is not that thick to feel safe for tie downs.

For the price and if you really like the hull I would jump on it only if your are capable of performing the work yourself. If you will pay somebody to do the work you are going to dump more into the hull than you can pick up a sound hull for.

Some of the cracks when you pull the cover off my show signs of impact fractures that need some deeper work. It is a factory hull and despite how nice and light it is, I would prefer more thickness.

Shoot me a message if your want to know what I needed for materials and costs to restore my AA Wigeon this past spring.
Click to expand...

That's the thing, the drain on the splash well is not in tact. The hole on the inside of the fiberglass is present, underneath the hole is a solid piece of wood covered with silicone. I'm assuming that someone replaced the transom and didn't bother with the drain hole and sealed it over. Only problem is silicone isn't nearly enough so it has failed and now water has gotten into the transom wood once again. I appreciate all you guys helping me out but I don't think I'm up for the repair. I replaced the transom on my jon boat on the off season and Im just not looking for that big of a project. If anybody is interested in a Blackjack project boat let me know ill steer you in the right direction!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top