Estuary
- Thread starter Eric Beaumont
- Start date
Dave does make a nice boat, in fact one of the two you probably saw was mine on the assembly line. Last yearI had a chance to gun with dave and another guy who also owned an Estuary. I was interested in the boat as a bigger, safer, albiet slower boat than my current Classic Barnegat 12 ft. Now I know bigger does not mean safer in and of itself, however, I had just survived a close call in my boat and was looking for something I could have a little more confidence in. Side by side the two boats appear very different and essentially are made for different purposes. My boat might prove to be an excellent small water, hideable sneakbox, but with a dog and a bunch of decoys, along with a 10 hp outbaord it is overloaded and unsuitable for any serious water. Not so with Dave's Estaury, sure the boat is slower, a bit larger and thus not as easily hidden but in a sport which depends on serious weather for good gunning, Ill take the bigger, stabiler boat. In fact when loaded as I mentioned above, most often the transom and part of the aft deck are awash, especially when retrieving decoys or helpng the dog back in.
The morning began with a set for puddle ducks way up in a tidal creek, the run there took almost an hour, nobody ran aground despite the tide. The three boats were aptly concealed and the only reason we didnt take any birds is because the three which dave "knocked down dead" got up and flew away again. Fast forward to the afternoon, set up for eider on a big bay, falling tide and foggy as hell. Again the gunning was poor but we had no trouble navigating the various bars and rips in either boat. That said my two year old lab decided to pay a social visit to dave while we were rafted up, the estaurry barely rocked as the 75lb lab bounced in and out of his boat. I was sold there and then because if it had happend the other way around, i would have been fishing my boat out of the drink for the second time in the same season.
The morning began with a set for puddle ducks way up in a tidal creek, the run there took almost an hour, nobody ran aground despite the tide. The three boats were aptly concealed and the only reason we didnt take any birds is because the three which dave "knocked down dead" got up and flew away again. Fast forward to the afternoon, set up for eider on a big bay, falling tide and foggy as hell. Again the gunning was poor but we had no trouble navigating the various bars and rips in either boat. That said my two year old lab decided to pay a social visit to dave while we were rafted up, the estaurry barely rocked as the 75lb lab bounced in and out of his boat. I was sold there and then because if it had happend the other way around, i would have been fishing my boat out of the drink for the second time in the same season.
Eric Beaumont
Member
ABeck, How fast does the orginal12' BBSB move with a 10hp?
Last edited:
ksherbine
Active member
I wouldn't recommend putting a 10 hp on a Classic Barnegat (or any original displacement BBSB).
We got it Coast Guard Rated, and a 3hp is all that it's rated for because of the weight factor.
That said, guys have run 10hp's on Don's boats for years and years, but you have to be careful of how much other weight you put in it, what kind of water you're in, etc.
The Classic Barnegat is a great boat in the right situations where a true Barnegat is needed... but it's not built for huge loads and big motors.
Kirk
We got it Coast Guard Rated, and a 3hp is all that it's rated for because of the weight factor.
That said, guys have run 10hp's on Don's boats for years and years, but you have to be careful of how much other weight you put in it, what kind of water you're in, etc.
The Classic Barnegat is a great boat in the right situations where a true Barnegat is needed... but it's not built for huge loads and big motors.
Kirk
Jerry Priebe
Member
Hello Eric; I had David redesign or alter a Garvey for me with my choices for measurements of inside depth, cockpit and fore, aft, and side decking that would be in concert with a nautical design and with his input, naturally. My boat was the first of the wider-ie. 10" Garvey I believe. Give him a call and discuss the differences between the Estuary and my Garvey.
I have been neglegent in getting my friends with a digital camera to forward pics and I apologize to all in the forum. David was considerate of my wants and needs and patient with my pestering during the building process. As to performance---I have a Mud Buddy 35 Hyper Sport, all weight items ie. gas tank and gel battery and dryboxes up in the forward bulkhead. I weigh about 260 and having carved my own tan corkers for the rough water of Saginaw Bay a bag of 6 is about 30 lbs and I can nine bags with four on the front deck and the rest inside. Drop me a note if you want particulars etc. PS my wife went with me from our home near Traverse City to pick up the boat in early June---she insisted on the grass rails cause they looked "cute" and having been married to me for 45 yrs has seen some of the boats I've gone out in----" finally" she commented---now you will be safe jpriebe@centurytel.net
I have been neglegent in getting my friends with a digital camera to forward pics and I apologize to all in the forum. David was considerate of my wants and needs and patient with my pestering during the building process. As to performance---I have a Mud Buddy 35 Hyper Sport, all weight items ie. gas tank and gel battery and dryboxes up in the forward bulkhead. I weigh about 260 and having carved my own tan corkers for the rough water of Saginaw Bay a bag of 6 is about 30 lbs and I can nine bags with four on the front deck and the rest inside. Drop me a note if you want particulars etc. PS my wife went with me from our home near Traverse City to pick up the boat in early June---she insisted on the grass rails cause they looked "cute" and having been married to me for 45 yrs has seen some of the boats I've gone out in----" finally" she commented---now you will be safe jpriebe@centurytel.net