Cheech Kehoe
Active member
They are! It won't be long until they will be too cool to hang with dad. Until then I am going to enjoy every minute.
COMPLETED Boat blind build's First hunt. Pic Heavy
- Thread starter Cheech Kehoe
- Start date
They are! It won't be long until they will be too cool to hang with dad. Until then I am going to enjoy every minute.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
This is where we picked up today. All the Port side was fit up and waiting for finishing welds. I couldn't take a pic the other night because it was too dark after we fixed the cooling line in the welder.
Today we finished all the Port side welds first thing this morning and moved on to fitting up the Starboard side. The top of the rail on the Port side (the side we hunt over) is 44" off the floor of the boat. The Starboard side is 54" off the floor. This allows us to tuck under the starboard side and stay out of the rain while still being able to look out and keep an eye on the sky.
Here is a shot from the Stern. The shooting alley is 22" wide and runs from the transom to the the triangular support in the bow. I wanted to keep it tight but allow for guys my size (6'3" 240lbs) to be able to get up and swing on a bird.
And as we wrapped up today, Here was the progress. Funny how the second side took about 1/4 as much time to fit up as the first. 4-6 more hours of fabrication and then it is time to put on the Cordura and the super secret top...
Today we finished all the Port side welds first thing this morning and moved on to fitting up the Starboard side. The top of the rail on the Port side (the side we hunt over) is 44" off the floor of the boat. The Starboard side is 54" off the floor. This allows us to tuck under the starboard side and stay out of the rain while still being able to look out and keep an eye on the sky.
Here is a shot from the Stern. The shooting alley is 22" wide and runs from the transom to the the triangular support in the bow. I wanted to keep it tight but allow for guys my size (6'3" 240lbs) to be able to get up and swing on a bird.
And as we wrapped up today, Here was the progress. Funny how the second side took about 1/4 as much time to fit up as the first. 4-6 more hours of fabrication and then it is time to put on the Cordura and the super secret top...
John Fraser
Well-known member
Making some progress Cheech!
I wish I had thought of this sooner, but I think I should let you know nonetheless. In my 1600 Alaskan, if two or three guys all sit on the storage lockers on one side of the boat, it will list enough so that it's hard to see over the blind on the other side. So we sit on 5 gallon buckets closer to the center of the boat. I also made a bench seat that runs across the boat between the storage boxes in front of the console. The bench is 1" x 12" pine cut in a trapezoid shape so that it can flop down and double as a bin board to hold all the decoys up in the bow. The listing may not be an issue with taller guys or with an 18 foot boat, but it's something to consider.
I wish I had thought of this sooner, but I think I should let you know nonetheless. In my 1600 Alaskan, if two or three guys all sit on the storage lockers on one side of the boat, it will list enough so that it's hard to see over the blind on the other side. So we sit on 5 gallon buckets closer to the center of the boat. I also made a bench seat that runs across the boat between the storage boxes in front of the console. The bench is 1" x 12" pine cut in a trapezoid shape so that it can flop down and double as a bin board to hold all the decoys up in the bow. The listing may not be an issue with taller guys or with an 18 foot boat, but it's something to consider.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
We are tig Welding. Wish we had a spool gun, but it was not the case. Jude is an artist with a stick. Once he got the diodes, temps, foot petal and everything dialed in, he was able to weld upside down in the dark. I saw him do it last night.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Here is the view from the front. The welding is done!!
Starboard side
Port side (disregard the scrap piece leaning against the gunnel)
Next step is to double check all the grinding and make sure there are no sharps to destroy waders and get the canvas started.
Starboard side
Port side (disregard the scrap piece leaning against the gunnel)
Next step is to double check all the grinding and make sure there are no sharps to destroy waders and get the canvas started.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Monday?
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Here is Dennis. He brought the sewing machine over and we got right to work at 7am. I wanted to put a hem on the fabric so it couldn't run.
Starboard side fitted up.
Both Sides...
From the outside.
Next I am going to take the fabric in to FedEx and use their grommet machine to put grommets along the bottom edge of the fabric. IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER!
Starboard side fitted up.
Both Sides...
From the outside.
Next I am going to take the fabric in to FedEx and use their grommet machine to put grommets along the bottom edge of the fabric. IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER!
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Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Life got in the way of my build! What the Hell? Life... and the weather. If I ever want to get the boat into my garage again, I am going to have to modify the trailer. The top of the blind is about an inch too high to fit into my garage... so that is why the weather has been slowing me down. John Bourbon came over on Tuesday to help me get some work done on the her in the driveway. We mounted the driver hatch and the (pictures to follow) and we mounted the boarding ladder. That ladder was a long time coming. I have wanted it, but I couldn't figure out port or starboard. Transducer is on the Starboard side, so Port is is. John and I have worked on more than a few projects together and it is very pleasant to have a friend who finishes your thought and has the tool in hand before you know you needed it. After we were done with the projects, we busted out the grill. This is a traditional "Man Day" practice of grilling wild game while working on manly endeavors (Guns, boats, dogs, decoys and so on). Tuesday's "Man Day" feast was Fresh caught Salmon and fresh killed Teal. YUM. The lucky man with the 24" Salmon is Sean (Jude the Fabricator's cousin) who was nice enough to bring me fishing Monday. Friday and Saturday are Blind building days!
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
I store the boat in the garage all season and the inch may have been an understatement, but thanks for the thought. Letting the air out might be enough to get it in the Garage to work on it.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
This morning at 8 I was at FedEx gratefully using their grommet machine. So much easier than the kit I have! Thanks unnamed friend who let me use the FedEx tools.
At 9:30 John Bourbon met me at the house so we could do a little more work on the Blind. But first we had to get a shot of bourbon standing up through the drivers hatch that we installed last week.
Today's project was to install the interior lights in the blind. John and I installed 3 on the port and 3 on the starboard and pulled power from under the dash. There was an unused switch that is now the for the interior lights. We mounted them on the underside of the horizontal stock that runs in line 16" above the gunnels. I am hopeful that the lights won't ruin my night vission, so we kept them low, and if they are too bright, we will tape them off to control the cone of light. I'm bringing the boat to my friend Bob's salt shed to paint the blind and start hanging the Cordura in the morning.
At 9:30 John Bourbon met me at the house so we could do a little more work on the Blind. But first we had to get a shot of bourbon standing up through the drivers hatch that we installed last week.
Today's project was to install the interior lights in the blind. John and I installed 3 on the port and 3 on the starboard and pulled power from under the dash. There was an unused switch that is now the for the interior lights. We mounted them on the underside of the horizontal stock that runs in line 16" above the gunnels. I am hopeful that the lights won't ruin my night vission, so we kept them low, and if they are too bright, we will tape them off to control the cone of light. I'm bringing the boat to my friend Bob's salt shed to paint the blind and start hanging the Cordura in the morning.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Today the boat went to Bobby's house. Bobby was my first friend when I moved Vermont. He had his own HVAC business and I was building a restaurant. At some point several years later he went duck hunting with me and was bitten by the Waterfowl bug as bad as any man I have ever seen. The boat went to Bobby's to be painted in the salt shed, but it was so nice out we worked in the yard.
Here is the "after". Even though most of the frame will be covered with the Cordura, Camo Paint is cool. Check out the new boarding step. A much needed addition to the rig.
She gets skinned in the Morning..Cordura at Dawn. I've got to be scouting on Thursday and Friday for the Saturday opener.
Here is the "after". Even though most of the frame will be covered with the Cordura, Camo Paint is cool. Check out the new boarding step. A much needed addition to the rig.
She gets skinned in the Morning..Cordura at Dawn. I've got to be scouting on Thursday and Friday for the Saturday opener.
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
300 zip screws and 50 rivets later She is skinned. A special thank you to Sean and Rob who spent the better part of their Sunday working on her.
Wesley Bouchelle
Active member
Thats an awesome looking blind cant wait to see it completely finished !!
Cheech Kehoe
Active member
Thanks. I can't wait either. Season re-opens Saturday!