Finally Got My Boat (close to) Where I Want It

Nice transformation Ben.Are you going to cover/paint the helmsman seat cusion?DO you have a layout to go with it,or do you hunt it in shallows with the flip up blind?
 
Is that a privateer? Saw a 20' like that up here once, impressive rig. I was amazed how shallow he was running - places I had to be careful in a 16' mo-v war eagle...

Charlie
 
Joe -- I am going to paint the box underneath the cushion, but the cushion will remain as is. It is actually darker than it looks in pictures, but easy enough to cover with camo in any event. I still have enough stainless on the boat that I have to cover the console etc. As for the layout, I do not have one. I just hunt out of the boat in deep or shallow water. I need about 10 inches to float the boat, so no super shallow stuff.

Charlie -- Nope, this is an 18ft c-hawk. A similar but heavier boat to the 18 Privateer. The Privateer runs a little shallower.
 
Nice looking rig Ben. It oughta handle anything the Albemarle or Currituck will throw at it.
Best,
Harry

PS I have a bud that has a 22' Sea Hawk with a 175 Johnson on it and he loves it.
 
Thanks Harry, I hope you're right about the Albemarle and Currituck. She's been tough enough so far in some pretty nasty stuff. Agree with the C-hawks being good boats. One of my roughest offshore trips was on a C-Hawk 25 and it handled it well, wet, but well.
 
Ben,

Just saw this from the link in your post about paints.
Nice Rig!
Looks like a nice bare-bones fishing/hunting CC. How do you like it?
Looks like it has a really shallow draft, about 8" or so if I am reading those pics right.
How well did the blind work our for you for divers & puddlers?

The reason I am asking is that I am looking at buying two boats in the near future, a aluminum semi V mainly for duck hunting and a used CC for fishing inshore & nearshore.
But based on your rig, I could use the CC for divers down on MIssissippi Sound and deeper spots on Mobile Bay if I rig it like yours. Hadnt thought of a C-Hawk, but it seems to fit the bill for what I need. Any insight on how it has performed would be great.
Thanks!
 
Nice looking rig Ben !

I couldn't decide which outfit built that hull. I used to have a Privateer (that I should have kept) that yours reminds me of. Looks like that boat is plenty seaworthy for our big eastern NC waters.
Love to get an invite sometime,
Harry
 
Brain fart !
Shoulda read it's a C Hawk.
Great looking rig regardless of manufacturer.

Best deal there is it'll make a great fishing rig too.

I just love those Suzuki 4 strokes. They are super quiet. My bud has a suzy 90 on his Sundance and you can barely hear it running if there is any wind at all.

Apparently Ben, you know your stuff.
Best,
Harry
 
The moment I saw that bow flare, I knew what it was - 18' C-Hawk. I love those boats, and I have my eye on one that I'm hoping to pick up over the winter - (I'm tire kicking until someone is READY TO OFFLOAD after boating season). I like the low handrails you put on the bow. Were they made/powdercoated locally, or did you find them made up somewhere? I'd like to put something like those on whatever I end up with someday. Can't go wrong with those zukes and their warranty. A place in Virginia has great deals on them. Nice job, best of luck with it!

Kev
 
Thanks Kevin. I really like the boat. I've had it in some nasty stuff. It can be pretty wet when the wind's over 20kts and side-to, but I have gotten better over time finding the right trim to keep some of the spray down. Using passengers as trim tabs by getting them to stand on the lee side helps reduce spray too.

The bowrails, console rail and leaning post were all fabricated in Harkers Island, NC. They are powder coated aluminum. I would not have gotten the bowrails, but the wife complained that she would roll off the bow sunbathing if she didn't have something to stop her. I like them and they are useful for dragging and handling the boat. My old console rail and windshield were both broken so I replaced them. The seat was rotten so I replaced it with the leaning post. Wearing all the clothes that are needed during duck season can make it a close fit between the post and the console, but I am a big fan of leaning posts for all around use.

The Suzuki has been a nice motor. It is super quiet and has started on the first turn almost everytime I have tried to start it. It is a 2004 and had about 40 hours on it when I got it in July 2006. I think I have put about 250-300 hours on it since then. It would be nice if it was a 90, but I have been pretty amazed at how well the 70 has pushed the boat even when loaded with 120+ decoys, dog, gear, and 3 people.

Ed, I am still hoping I can get you out for a ride when you are down later this month. Thanks for the compliment on the boat!

EDIT:

Thanks all for the compliments... this is an old post that I linked to in a new post, and I though Harry's post was from last time so I only responded to Kevin and Ed initially. Harry, you're welcome to ride any time. Carl, I would also look at Privateer boats made in Swanquarter, NC and Maycraft boats which I think are made here in NC too. They are very similar and both very huntable.
 
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