boat prices

B

blake

New member
I am looking at building either a bluebill or the black brant II. Could anybody tell me the rough cost of building either of these.
Also i am looking for a boat that could be used at small conservation sloughs and flooded fields,most do have a boat ramp and also go on short trips on the missouri river with one person and a dog! Which would be the best option? I know this subject has probably been asked but thanks for the help
 
I can't help you with the former, as I am still learning, but for the latter I can recommend the Kara Hummer, which although is meant to be poled through flooded fields, it can be modified any number of ways. It is "easy" and "inexpensive" to build if you build it according to the plans.

I built mine with several layers of epoxy, a stronger deck, plenty of floatation (filled up the bow, stern, and under the deck) and built a transom for an electric motor - it is taking me longer to build it in what little free time I have, and making it a bit more expensive; perhaps double the $300 it is supposed to cost to build.

Check out his wesite: http://www.carolnet.com/leonard/duckboat/index.htm

Many on this site have built one and will be able to provide advice, as they have with me (thanks guys :))

Anthony
 
Blake,
The Kara is a great boat for sloughs and protected waters as Anthony suggested. I have a couple of fiberglass boats that I modeled off that design that I have used for several years at Conservation areas. I wouldn't recommend it on the Missouri. Either of the Devlin boats you mentioned would work well on the river. Getting one boat to do both jobs well is difficult.

Scott
 
If this is your first, double the time and costs budgeted in order to come in under budget and ahead of time. Devlin's cost estimates are for econimical contruction materials and methods. Modifications and upgrades will add to the costs. Buying what you don't need and replacing what you ruin will also add to the costs, hence the double budget.

Bluebill class of 2004.
 
I would say that the Devlin O.B.E prices are at least 25% high... at least they were on my build, and when I priced building a BBIII a month ago.
 
That's what I was going to say too but my costs were based on materials 5-6 years ago. It still looked like Sam's prices were high. It may come down to the price of epoxy 9 gallons @ $100+/gal (West Systems) vs $47 at Raka.
 
Kenmack have you ever had your bluebill out on a river like the missouri? About how many decoys can a man carry with a bluebill if he is hunting with a dog and himself?
 
You do not want to use the KARA on water that may have large waves from ship wakes. It is a flat water boat and will work well for the flooded fields and protected sloughs in MO since it was developed on those same fields many years ago. It does not have enough free board to handle much of a chop or wave that you might find on a large river.

The bluebill would be fine on the big MO and will hold a few dozen decoys with only one man. Since it draws about 6 inches of water it won't work too well on flooded fields.

Yeah, you are going to need two boats.
 
What boat did Rick Kyte make? He hunts the Mississippi with it. It would work on the Missouri and if I recall it is a very shallow draft..... Is it the Mallard? or Broadbill.....
 
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