COMPLETED Boat blind build's First hunt. Pic Heavy

Cheech,
I'm curious about the unused switch on the console that you wired the lights to. I thought I had one too. It's labelled "Acc./Int. Lights". I had planned to wire the power to my new VHF radio through this switch. When I pulled the panel off yesterday I saw there were blue and blue/yellow wires hooked up to this switch. I don't think that they power anything. Could they just be dead ended somewhere in the boat?
 
Cheech,
I'm curious about the unused switch on the console that you wired the lights to. I thought I had one too. It's labelled "Acc./Int. Lights". I had planned to wire the power to my new VHF radio through this switch. When I pulled the panel off yesterday I saw there were blue and blue/yellow wires hooked up to this switch. I don't think that they power anything. Could they just be dead ended somewhere in the boat?
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It is hard saying. First, turn on the "main power", Then find a dc tester or light somewhere. Ground one side of the light to the batter or your ground block under the console. Then take the other wire from the light and touch it to the switch (both sides of the switch will be hot when the switch is turned on, only the line is hot when switch is off). If the light lights up, you know you have an active switch to run your positive from your radio to. Then the negative goes to the block. The other thing you can do is if you have a "main power" switch, that you have to turn on in order to have all your other switches work, you can pull power off the load side of that witch and your radio will only have power when the "main Power" switch is on. Make sure there is an in-line fuse there so if something happens, you don't blow up your radio. I am NOT and electrician and this may not be the best solution, but it is what I would do.
 
Thanks Cheech.

Could I just run the radio wires back and hook them directly to the battery? There is an inline fuse already on the POS wire for the radio.
 
Wire radio through a switch and fuse. Good way to have a dead battery on the ramp and ready to launch. Master switch a good idea also. I worked for a towing company and had to jump quit a few.
 
Cheech~

I'm looking forward to that "super secret top".....is it one of those one can only see IF you believe?????

BTW: Will the marshes be iced up by Saturday morning?

All the best,

SJS
 
Cheech~

I'm looking forward to that "super secret top".....is it one of those one can only see IF you believe?????

BTW: Will the marshes be iced up by Saturday morning?

All the best,

SJS
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Steve,

How about that weather forecast! We might get a big push of new birds for Saturday and the marshes with skim ice...oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...and as for the top pics are two days away, but it kinda rocks.
 
Cheech, the paint job on the frame looks great! Looks like you and Bob touched up the paint on the outboard also?

As to your kind words on our collaborations, thanks again.

Steve, I haven't seen the weather for this weekend yet, but if your are hinting it will be cold and ducky.....I'm ready.

The guns are oiled, the waders patched, the ammo belts are loaded and waiting. I'm ready!

John Bourbon
 
I just went back to look at the most updated progress pics and realized that you didn't just secure the blind fabric to the aluminum tubing, you actually secured those plastic cable holding pieces (technical name). Looks there is going to plenty of bungee cord tied around the boat to assist with grassing her up. Nice plan.

Looking forward to continued progress. I have learned so much from others building boats.

Keep up the good work.
 
Here is Sean Hard at work Fitting up the dog door.
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The super Secret top is DuraCover sandwiched between two 1/4" pieces of plywood strips 5" wide. Then Gate hinges are attached (Clamps are my friends). For those of you who haven't ogled Duracover in Magazines, it is made of 28" plastic bristles. The bristles are sewn into a 5" pocket on one end. The pocket is what I sandwich between the 2 pieces of plywood.

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Here is the Duracover as I started to mount it. It's kinda tricky because you have to get the hinges gust right so you can see out, but not so you have a big horizontal hole. As see below the cover is folded back and resting on the outside of the blind.

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When it is folded over, this is the view from the stern.
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This is where we left off for the day.
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And this is what it looks like inside.

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And Somebody is ready for Sunday!
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I am not sure where I left off, But somehow we managed to get the Blind "finished" before the Saturday opener. We had a great opening day. The Blind was comfortable and effective. I honestly believe the first mallard killed never knew we were there until we thunked him. We had two mallards fly within 10 feet of the front of the blind. on us and out before we ever knew they were there. They banked around and now they are in the picture Below. I would like to Thank all my hunting buddies for the help putting the blind together. Without their help, this would be something I wanted to have someday rather than something I will enjoy for many years to come. A special thanks to Jude for the excellent work fabricating the frame.
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We had to eat...Why not mallard and goldeney in teriyaki BBQ with aged cheddar and Jalapeno jelly and grilled apple slices?

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Sunday John and I took My Sons Miles 7 and Brooks 5 out for Brooks' first Duck hunt. Sadly the birds did not cooperate, but we had fun and the kids helped pick up the decoys! Honestly, having the boys in the boat with me sharing this with me was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Here is Brooks helping pick up the blocks.

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Miles posing with Bullwinkle the wonder dog.

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Here are the boys showing Uncle John how to play their hunting games.
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Looks great, lightweight, keeps all that space open for you. I haven't hunted Champlain since 1980 but it doesn't look like it has changed too much.
 
Cheech~

Great job! but I think I like the photos of the boys best of all.

And the super-secret top is great - good hide but easy to get up and through to shoot.

(I did not make it up - we're going up today to close up the camp - but did have a nice float near here yesterday - several Woodies and had a Bobcat within 20 feet!)

All the best,

SJS
 
Blind came out looking great and obviously works quit well from the photos.
 
Puts a whole new slant on roughing it doesn't it? Much better than cold coffee and last years ganola bars in the blind bag. Nice work, great to see a plan come together.
 
Nice job Cheech, that's an awesome blind! Looks like the kids had a great time and that's the important part.
 
I knew this was gonna look awesome!!

Great job! Probably saves you huge setup /pick up time
no fussing with the blind :)

how is it for towing?
 
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