Devlin mallard

C

clinton bolton

Member
Hi all,I am thinkining I may attempt to build a boat.After looking around the Devlin mallard seems like it may be the boat for me.Was wondering how much of a chop it could handle.Here in southwest kansas we don't have big lakes but I do have to traverse some open water to get where I hunt and the wind can go from 0 to 40 in a matter of minutes.Would a 5 hp outboard be sufficiant for the mallard?I like the small size of the boat as I drive a 1986 cj 7.Also I love to look at the pics that everyone post so I thought would try post afew.My 13 year old son has been saving for a new mossberg over and under and finally got it had to go try it out.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks Clinton

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The Mallard is a displacement hull boat, which means the 5 will move it to hull speed(it won't plane) but given this type of hull it should handle and medium to fair size chop well. I know guys that use them on the delaware bay and other big water in all but the worse conditions.

With what your doing it should be great. (Unless you plan to motor a long ways fast. )
 
It all depends on your experience with tools woodworking etc..........Stitch and glue is more forgiving that other building methods, but you need at least some familiarity with woodworking and glass, as well as a space to build in.
 
Hi all,I am thinkining I may attempt to build a boat.After looking around the Devlin mallard seems like it may be the boat for me.Was wondering how much of a chop it could handle.Here in southwest kansas we don't have big lakes but I do have to traverse some open water to get where I hunt and the wind can go from 0 to 40 in a matter of minutes.Would a 5 hp outboard be sufficiant for the mallard?I like the small size of the boat as I drive a 1986 cj 7.Also I love to look at the pics that everyone post so I thought would try post afew.My 13 year old son has been saving for a new mossberg over and under and finally got it had to go try it out.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks Clinton
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As Jode said, they are not horribly hard to build. Basic tools are needed, like a table saw, skil saw, router, drills and of course a good mix of sanders. The biggest question I'd be asking myself is why? Why do you want to build one? To have the experiance of building? To have a custom boat? Both, I see as good reasons. Saving money is not one of them, to do it right takes a lot of time and a fair amount of money. In the end a home built boat has been a great pleasure for me, both to build and to have.

Before you get too far into it, get Devlin's book adn read it. Read it again after you have the plans. FWIW I feel like the mallard is a small boat - too small for 2 guys.
 
Thanks guys,I have wanted to build a boat for years as my 1968 chrysler aluminum v has patches on patches cracked oar locks and so on. I have a large shop,most of the tools listed on this site,some wood working experience,and lots of glass experience.It looks like getting marine grade plywood and some of the other lumber would be near impossible in my area.It looks as though I would have to drive half way across the country to look at a new duck boat and possibly buy.I will have to think on it for awhile more maybe a couple more years.
 
Thanks guys,I have wanted to build a boat for years as my 1968 chrysler aluminum v has patches on patches cracked oar locks and so on. I have a large shop,most of the tools listed on this site,some wood working experience,and lots of glass experience.It looks like getting marine grade plywood and some of the other lumber would be near impossible in my area.It looks as though I would have to drive half way across the country to look at a new duck boat and possibly buy.I will have to think on it for awhile more maybe a couple more years.
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Freight ship the lumber - no biggie.
 
Clinton, Tod's right, you can freight ship the plywood to your door. Thats how I got good marine plywood here in Vt. I surely wasn't going to find any locally. The cost is less that the cost of driving somewhere and you don't have your time tied up in picking it up.

John Bourbon
 
Hi Clinton. What company did I use to buy my wood? Damned if I can remember. I launched it back on 2001. If I were you, I'd buy a copy of WoodenBoat magazine and look through all their ads in the back. I do remember thats how I picked the company I used.

John
 
Clinton,
Marine ply is definitely the way to go. World Panel http://worldpanel.com/ and Noahs Marine http://www.noahsmarine.com/items.asp?Cc=33 are a couple of sources. As was said, you can order and get it shipped. I found you could save a few bucks by picking up at the truck shipping terminal rather than having delivered to the door. Bought my Broadbill ply from world pannel and believe I picked it up soemehere in Kansas City.

Enjoy the build!

-Bill
 
Clinton,
Marine ply is definitely the way to go. World Panel http://worldpanel.com/ and Noahs Marine http://www.noahsmarine.com/items.asp?Cc=33 are a couple of sources. As was said, you can order and get it shipped. I found you could save a few bucks by picking up at the truck shipping terminal rather than having delivered to the door. Bought my Broadbill ply from world pannel and believe I picked it up soemehere in Kansas City.

Enjoy the build!

-Bill
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That is exactly the info I was gonig to follow up with. The ply comes into the depot bundled and just break the pallet down and load it into the truck sheet, buy sheeet if you need to.

When Devlin wrote his book he was all about Okoume, but ahs switched to using a lot of Meranti recent years (less expensive, stonger, more rot resistant, but heavier.

T
 
Great info,we have duck season from jan 19-27 and the divers are thick.Once we get that out of the way I am going to get serious about building a boat.
 
I have the plans for the Mallard, and it's a sweet-looking little boat. I really want to build it but I don't have much use for a displacement hull boat out here, I might have to build it anyway though...can't have too many boats!
 
I might have to many boats canoes ,kayaks and a wife boat.I have been looking at boats I might build for years but there does not seem to be a do all duck boat.I keep coming back to the mallard.Just going off what I have read on Devlins site and what others have said on this site and a few magazine pieces it might be just what I need.
 
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