Devlin Snowgoose Desin and Modfication

T

Tom Riegel

Member
Hey Folks! I know it has been awhile since the building of my Kara Hummer layout boat but now I am back looking at building another boat for a lil different use. While the Kara is great for cruising the sloughs and creeks here in the NC coastal areas in search of ducks, it is limited to just that. I have enjoyed the usage of the Kara but I feel like I am missing out on the experience of hunting more open water. So, I have started looking at either buying (whats the fun of that) or building a bigger boat for more open water and something that is more stable and can handle way rougher seas. Like alot of areas on the Eastern shore things can change in a heart beat and I am looking for something that can get up and move if need be. So, after doing tons of research before deciding on the Kara Hummer I was already aware of Devlin Boat Works and their offerings. I am looking at both the Devlin Snowgoose and the Honker and feel that both could fill my needs. The Honker being basically the bigger brother of the Snowgoose at a lil over 18' may be what I need but it does take more HP to push which means more $. That's why I am looking harder at the Snowgoose which is closer to 16' and takes less HP to push and thus less $. But, will this be enough for open water, mainly in the intercoastal water ways and open bays? So, I have been thinking about modifying the Snowgoose and stretching it to 17' which would mean widening the beam and more HP. I plan on calling Sam Devlin this week to see if this would be possible and get his feedback. The other thing I am stumbling over is the cost to build the Honker. I read somewhere that it would cost about $12g to build. Now I have know idea if this also includes the motor but the estimate of $12G seems rather high for just the hull and if thats the case I can buy a completely outfitted boat for that price... of course, that's used. Anyway, I would like to know if you folks feel like the Snowgoose could be modified to 17' and what have folks actually spent on their Honker builds? Thanks!
 
In 2006 I modified the plans and built a big Honker. Mine is 19'3" long and had a 91" beam. I have a 1993 Yamaha 2 stroke 60 tiller on it. It will push the boat 29 mph. I spend $6500 on my build. ($4500 on the boat, and $2000 on the motor). This did not include freight on the wood. I purchased my Meranti BS1088 from Eden Saw. I used epoxy from US Composites.


The Goose certainly can be modified. I personally believe bigger is better in big water. Yes it is true that you need more HP to push a bigger boat.... If it was me, I would find the most appropriate used motor in your boat, then build the largest boat you are looking at. Remember when most people open water/big water....have more decoys with them, and more people, so bigger/more sea worthy vessels are not only safer, but also have a practical benefit.
 
Phil,
Thanks for the reply.. Phil, is your Honker the one with the whale tale? Anyway, so $4500 for 2006 material cost. Even f it would cost an extra $500-$1000 because of increase in costs for the past 9 years, still not bad and I have a feeling I probably won't have as much material in mine that you have in yours. As far as glass what oz did you go with on the bottom? As far as chines, gunnels., etc...what wood did you go with? Any reason why you didn't go with Okuma plywood? I'm also looking at going with a 4 stroke instead of a 2 stroke,,,been there done that. Anyway, I'm sure I'll come up with more questions but for now lunch is on the table...Thanks! Tom
 
Tom, the main thing you may want to consider is the snow goose free board is said to be less than the honker or cackler...I would go honker
 
Phil,

I thought your Honker had more freeboard than what the specs show. Any particular reason why you added another 7" to your boat? The Honker is already 8+ inches... As far as the Snowgoose it is less than both the Honker and the Cackler but if I add more to the length of the Snowgoose I would have to add more to the freeboard and to the beam...
 
My reason was quite simple.... using 5'x10' sheets, that was the maximum the plywood allow for. I got an additional shelf space under the deck.
 
OH....another reason I am looking at the Snowgoose is due to limited build space. I only have a 12' x 21' single car garage but it is filled with a freezer, washer and dryer and cabinets, etc.... Now, I have thought about erecting one of those 10' x 20' canvas garages' which I could pick up for less than $200 but living here at the coast we almost always have winds so I don't know how long it would last. Since I have a family, 2 aging parents who seem to need my help every other day and have a full-time job it is going to take me a while to build this boat. Anyway, I agree that the Honker would be a better boat for my application. Now, I took another look at the Devlin Scaup and I like the look of it but it is 2000 lbs. compared to the 450 Lbs finished weight of the Honker and the Scaup 18 only runs a draft of 9 1/2". Plus, the Scaup looks more adept for speed than for structural integrety. Once again, 2000 lbs will take more to propel meaning more HP, more fuel consumption and more $... I guess I need to take a really hard look at the Honker and try to figure out a way to house it during the build.

I just ordered the sample plans of both the Honker and the Snowgoose from Devlin so I can get a better idea of both builds and materials. From there I will make my determination..
 
I don't think that is the true weight of the Scaup..I have a 16 Scaup which is in the area of 275....but again, my Scaup is a great boat, love it more than my Cackler, but if I built it again I would add 8 inches of free board. For the coast area, you are going to need more free board on windy days for safety if nothing else.
 
If the Scaup is 2000#, the Honker is 3000#


http://store.devlinboat.com/scaup-16.aspx


I will give a little advise from my life... unless you want to do it over.. do it right the first time. I highly doubt the extra size will take more than 3-5 extra hours... You stated that the Honker is the right boat for you.. then don't build something else... if your reason is financial, wait and save your money...otherwise you will regret it every time you get in it.
 
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OK, those weren't finished weights those are the displacement weights... My bus... The Honker's displacement weight is actually 475 lbs. not 450 lbs,

Phil, I hear ya... that's why I am doing my research and askin questions... I'm pretty sure the Honker is going to be my pick.. Like you said, I'll just have to save up more dough..

The freeboard of the Scaup is exactly what I am having a problem with, for what I am looking for.. I just can't see it taking high swells very well. Am I wrong?
 
The Scaup is a very capable boat.. well so I hear. :) and will find out next season... You can add free board... I am going to have a TDB style top deck on mine. That will add over a foot of freeboard.


Atlantic Ocean... I would still go with the Honker. It is bigger in every way. More seaworthy...note the Devlin seaworthiness rating...
 
Using Edensaw and US Composite prices you get the below....


Boat --- Plywood + Epoxy = Total
Scaup $570.80+ $ 887.60= $ 1458.40


Snowgoose $ 872.80+ $887.60 = $1760.40


Honker $1877.90+ $1220.90= $3098.80
 
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Phil did you figure in shipping too?

I just got the plans for the honker and am starting to research wood and epoxy prices too. So far LL Johnson's have had the best price on plywood. They are located in Michigan too which is a lot closer than Washington so I would think there would be some savings there. But haven't really checked into it that thoroughly yet.
 
No freight... that was just sticker price for cabosil, tape, cloth, epoxy, and plywood. There are certainly other costs, but using the BOM that Devlin on on their page for the listed items. Note.. the tape layup was 2 layers of 8.9 oz, not two of 12 oz.

I am not familiar with LL Johnson....
 
The freeboard of the Scaup is exactly what I am having a problem with, for what I am looking for.. I just can't see it taking high swells very well. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

You are getting good advice. As far as the type of water a boat can take.... all these designs are decked, so you can have very low freeboard and a very seaworthy boat. In an undecked boat with more freeboard, greenwater over the bow can quickly swamp the boat. With a decked boat, greenwater over the bow will result in a much smaller percentage of water into the smaller cockpit surrounded by deck. All within reason of course, but if you are talking about making it home safely slogging through stuff a decked boat, even with low sides, is safer than you would expect. Another way is to look at combing height - the height of the top of the combing is the freeboard, not the gunwale like open boats (and the combing is surrounded by deck to lessen the water in too).

There are downsides, a low sided boat decked will be less comfortable than a high sided open boat as far as spray. Also consider driving them you are very high in relation to the boat - feels like speeding along on a surf board. I've run mine long enough that I'm used to it, but early on, it felt weird running a boat at knee height at 30 knots (and I'm short and my combing of my snowgoose is high).

I've seen a lot of concern about price and constraints are real, don't get me wrong, BUT you are considering building a custom and very specialized boat. The price of that isn't comparable to what you can find on the used market. Also consider that if you build the boat and it doesn't suit you - the used market for boats like this is weak and you will likely sell at a serious loss. Watching over the years these boats are slow to sell and are usually bought very cheap used. There are exceptions, but home built boats, even very nice ones, don't sell well. This point is made to reinforce what Phil is saying - build the right boat and keep it!
 
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Just further notes. I would not build a BBII, BBIII or Scaup if I wanted a multipurpose boat. I would only look at the snowgoose or honker.
 
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