bridge boat build

rob_g said:
Canvas is 95% done. It came out awesome. The fit is unreal. I still cant believe he made the pattern with a piece of plastic and a sharpie. All thats left is to cut the dog door in.

Its actually kind of weird how similar the shape of the blind basically matches the hull.

Thanks for looking
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Good morning, Rob~

Gorgeous! Fabulous fit and look - congratulations!

QUESTION: Did your canvas guy use Lift-the-Dot (or other brand) fasteners around the perimeter? Any discussion about bedding them in anything to avoid inter-metal corrosion?

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve Sanford said:
Good morning, Rob~

Gorgeous! Fabulous fit and look - congratulations!

QUESTION: Did your canvas guy use Lift-the-Dot (or other brand) fasteners around the perimeter? Any discussion about bedding them in anything to avoid inter-metal corrosion?

All the best,

SJS
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No, we did a ykk zipper on the inside around the blind frame. I can take more pictures of it when I put it back in so you can see how I did it. We did #5 grommets on the bottom. I didnt want anything that could fail or rip out. Im pretty rough on equipment so I wanted it as fool proof as I could get it
 
rob_g said:
No, we did a ykk zipper on the inside around the blind frame. I can take more pictures of it when I put it back in so you can see how I did it. We did #5 grommets on the bottom. I didnt want anything that could fail or rip out. Im pretty rough on equipment so I wanted it as fool proof as I could get it
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Rob~

Yes, I always like "tough as snails" technology! Looks like the grommets help you lash to a rail below the gunwale? Send detail photos when you get the chance.

All the best,

SJS
 
Some blind details for those that asked.

Welded some guessets onto the frame and it kind of shifted the canvas. Had to chop some off to get it work right. Having the canvas guy take a look soon to figure out the door for the dog.

Got the hull scuffed to paint. Couple more things to weld and then its ready.
 

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Motor is on. Need longer bolts though. Im lucky my hunting buddy is an electrician. We got some of the wiring done too. Im completely ignorant to how any of that is supposed to work. Navigation lights and a bilge pump is all im doing.

Thanks for looking!
 

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rob_g said:
Motor is on. Need longer bolts though. Im lucky my hunting buddy is an electrician. We got some of the wiring done too. Im completely ignorant to how any of that is supposed to work. Navigation lights and a bilge pump is all im doing.

Thanks for looking!
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I would suggest one minor change. Run bolts from inside of transom to outside. May save a pair of waders or bibs catching on them. The build is coming along nicely!
 
chris patterson said:
I would suggest one minor change. Run bolts from inside of transom to outside. May save a pair of waders or bibs catching on them. The build is coming along nicely!
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Chris and Rob~

On vessels where the gas tank is loose and near the transom, I add softwood "bumpers" that are proud of the bolts to prevent chafe. (Paint came later.....)

sm Bumper.jpg

A bit more finished - on a South Bay Duckboat....

sm 1 Tuffin South Bay - aft Beckson, motor board backer, drain, cleat backer.jpg

Keep up the fine work!

SJS
 
Thinking of running the gas tank in the bow. Any opinions or experience on that?

Might have to play around with it once I put a full hunt load in the boat I guess
 
rob_g said:
Thinking of running the gas tank in the bow. Any opinions or experience on that?

Might have to play around with it once I put a full hunt load in the boat I guess
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Rob,
No experience, just my opinion. As long as the elevation difference is not to extreme I think that you would be ok.
I think the bigger issue is keeping that much shift able weight in one place so it doesn't become a projectile in rough seas. A tank with internal baffles would help put my mind at ease.
RM
 
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Im pretty dangerous with the welder at this point. I can come up with something when I figure out where it needs to stay put. Im going to get a 12 gallon tank
 
Are you going to grass your blind walls ? When you go back for dog door install that would be time to install grassing loops on walls . Have you figured out a boarding ladder for dog ? Old aluminum hang on tree stands can be modified pretty easily. On my 16' I build mine to fold up and collapse on front deck. Easily folds out and has standoffs that contact hull to give proper angle.
 
Im not sure about grassing it yet. My other boat is a grass blind. Kinda thinking of just keeping this one for open water but having the option to do it would be nice too.

I have an idea for the dog ladder. It will be something different. I want to get the door cut in before I build it.

Im not crazy about using tree stands. There's too many pinch points that make me nervous with a turbo labrador. My last dog had an accident with one and it ended her hunting career so im pretty cautious about them now.
 
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