Gunning Coffin for Tuckerton - SHOW PHOTOS !

I've made at least one with 1/2 inch cpvc I often thought of making the wooden support from it as well. I heated it up with a heat gun until flexible and I also squash the ends in a vice eliminating the need for battery terminals I just drill a hole in the end.
 
Good morning, Tom ~


Plenty of others have modified the plans - some with wider "floor plans", some with taller sides, et cetera. Easy enough to do. Nevertheless, I have stuck to my single-sheet-of-plywood rule.


I've often thought of making one just for the ice and snow. Other than painting it white, I'd probably alter the canvas to cover more of me - since there would be no thatch.


In any event, I've completed my "Tuckerton" Gunning Coffin - now christened the Model 19 (I'll explain later).


Once the paint on the hull cured, I cut a camping pad to size and shape - about 3-inches in from each chine log.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 30 - pad.JPG



I secured a length of decoy line through a small hole st the foot end to serve as a lashing when I roll it up.



(BTW: I have a pad like this always rolled up right inside my shop. I use for when I need to crawl beneath a vehicle or otherwise lay myself down on a cold or wet ground.)


View attachment sm GCCanvas 31 - tie on pad.JPG



It stows next to the headrest. Sharp eyes will note I tied a plain old square knot - whereas I typically use a slipped square knot on anything I unlash frequently.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 32 - stowed pad.JPG



I fired up my stove so I could brand the inner transom.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 37 - Crooked brand.JPG



I brought her back inside for fitting the canvas.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 36 - On bench for fitting.JPG





The first job, though, was sewing hems on both sides of the fabric - Sunbrella Marine in Tan. I iron any folds - and often tack them in place with SeamStick (2-sided tape) before I sew them.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 33 - Iron.JPG



I also measure and mark carefully.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 34 - Ironed hem.JPG



Here is the sewn hem. I have not yet cut the fabric (except for overall length).


View attachment sm GCCanvas 35 - Sewn hem.JPG



Now I can clamp it on the box. I prefer to use push pins - on Cypress or White Pine rubrails - but the Mahogany rails resisted my mighty strength.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 38 - Fitting canvas.JPG



Continued.....


SJS















 
Canvas continued....


I mark the foot of the canvas but leave it long. I cut it to length (then hem it) only AFTER I have sewn the 3 canvas pieces together and try them for fit.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 39 - Fitting canvas at stern.JPG



Here are 2 of the 3 pieces: I use 2 sides and one head-piece.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 40 - Canvas shapes.JPG





Once the 3 pieces are joined, a drawstring pocket is sewn continuously along the inner hem. I place the drawstring (decoy line) within the hem BEFORE I sew it. Saves what would be a very challenging task if left 'til later.


After sewing the drawstring pocket/hem, I install the brass grommets that will hold the shock cord in place. Note than I work with the "bad side" up - so the "washers" are out of the weather when done.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 41 - Grommets.JPG



I begin fastening the canvas at the forward end - around the cowl. I set it in caulk to both act as a glue and to keep moisture out.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 42 - Fastening forward hem with caulk.JPG



The canvas is secured around all 4 outer edges with Monel staples. Monel lasts in salt much better than s/s.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 44 - Monel staples.JPG



After the canvas is secured across the foot, the drawstring is pulled taut through both the hand hole, then through drilled holes, then tied tight.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 45 - Drawstring drawn taut and tied off.JPG



Here is the grommet pattern.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 43 - Grommet pattern.JPG



The 1/4-inch shock cord runs around the entire box in 2 "circuits" - each beginning and ending at the stern transom. This shows how the shock cord is "above-ground" for most of the circuit.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 47 - Shock cord on cowling.JPG



I cauterize the cut ends of the shock cord with a flat-bladed soldering iron. All 4 ends are secured with figure-8 knots inside the transom.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 48 - Shock cord at foot.JPG



Continued.....


SJS









 
Canvas continued - almost done!


For the next task, I place the box on a short piece of 2 x 2 to find its balance point.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 46 - Balancing the box 45 inches from stern.jpg



This tells me where to attach the side "handles" - 2 loops of nylon webbing. They are not strictly necessary - but helpful when man-handling the box, especially in and out of vehicles or vessels.


NOTE: I'm not worried about the bright brass gromments or other hardware. It'll turn a nice dull brown soon enough - and will be covered with Spartina patens in the meantime.





View attachment sm GCCanvas 50 - Webbing handles.JPG



The final appurtenance is the bow painter. Although I have used nylon line in the past, this Manila is so much nicer to splice.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 51 - Bow painter spliced Manila.JPG



On its way outside, it was weighed. At 46 pounds, it MUCH heavier than the 34 pounds of a recent (2013) box that used the same canvas+shock cord arrangement. Although this box may be 6 or so inches longer, I can only attribute the higher weight to 1) the foam headrest padding and 2) the Mahogany rubrails (typically Cypress or White Pine). It's the same scale. I should check it against a known weight. Perhaps I ruined it when we tried to weigh an undressed White-tail last year - that pegged the 225-pound limit....(it dressed at 218).



View attachment sm GCCanvas 52 - Scale 46 pounds.JPG



Her first portrait:


View attachment sm GCCanvas 56 - Portrait 4.JPG



Bow on:




View attachment sm GCCanvas 54 - Portrait 2.JPG



Duck's-eye-view....(without any thatch).


View attachment sm GCCanvas 57A - Portrait 5 square.JPG



Ready for thatch! I will be lashing bundles of Salt Hay onto the shock cord during the Tuckerton Show. Feel free to lend a hand if you stop by.



View attachment sm GCCanvas 59A - Ready for thatching.JPG



I plan to keep one side un-thatched so the judges can the see the box better.


Here is what the ducks will see when it is "ready-to-hunt"....


View attachment Thatched up - salt hay.jpg



The name is explained in the final post.


SJS





 
All~


I built my first box in 1981 - which is when I drew up the plans. It won a prize - and started a new category - at the South Shore Waterfowlers Association Duckboat Show. SSWA published the plans and building instructions in 1984 (and the New Jersey Waterfowlers followed suit shortly thereafter).


I called it various names: Coffin Box, Meadow Box, Gunning Coffin....


But, it occurred to me earlier today to give my revised box a new and different designation. I was tempted to follow the example of automobiles with Series 2, or Mark II, or simply "II". But, I leaned instead toward the example set by Winchester. This new version is now the Model 19 - because it was designed in 2019 - just as my treasured Winchester Model 12 was designed in 1912.


View attachment sm GCCanvas 64 - TITLE SLIDE Model 19.JPG



So, the earlier incarnation must by rights become the Model 81. I especially like this because I still shoot my Dad's Remington Model 81 deer rifle - shoot Brant over Herter's Model 81 decoys.



View attachment sm Coffin Box in SSWA Newsletter 1984.jpg



All the best,


SJS





 
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I know these boxes are meant to be utilitarian, but you actually ended up creating something quite aesthetically pleasing. Superb work my friend.

Eric
 
Steve,
Thank you for sharing the process of building a gunning coffin. As others have stated you do
superb work! I am interested in the graphite powder that you applied on the bottom to make
it slide better across the marsh grass. I have a Ron Bankes marsh sled that can be a bear to
drag across the marsh. I am looking for something to help it slide better . Thanks Chris
 
Chris~


Thanks for the kind words.


The graphite powder certainly helps - and makes final sanding easy, too. However, I have read of other products - from other members of this site - that have used products made expressly for the purpose of making boat bottoms slippery. I seem to recall the product(s) had "Gator" somewhere in the name. I read a bit about them - not sure how much weight they might add because I think they are fairly thick.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve Sanford said:
The graphite powder certainly helps - and makes final sanding easy, too. However, I have read of other products - from other members of this site - that have used products made expressly for the purpose of making boat bottoms slippery. I seem to recall the product(s) had "Gator" somewhere in the name. I read a bit about them - not sure how much weight they might add because I think they are fairly thick.

Click to expand...

Steve, first off it was great to meet you today at tuckerton I enjoyed our brief talk. And the product you?re referring to is ?gator glide?. It?s a 2 part epoxy type coating that is very slick when wet and very durable. Usually used on fan boats and mud boats. I have it on my mud boat and plan to put it on my jet sled.
 
We need a roll call on who built this design and what part of the country its used . just wondering how many are out there.
I built mine and use it in Illinois
 
Steve,
Was nice to meet you at Tuckerton this past weekend as well as have the opportunity to see your gunning coffin first hand. You did a superb job and imagine you will be mighty comfortable.
I look forward to see you again sometime.

Zane
 
Zane~


Yes - thoroughly enjoyed visiting with you and your partner - and dozens of others from duckboats.net and the other places on the interwebs. Old friends were plentiful, too.



And thanks very much for the lumber tip. I'll be headed Ghent-ward probably next week. They have just what I need!


Here is a batch of photos from the Show. As you saw, it's tough for me to stray too far from my "spot" - so photo sessions were mostly on stolen time.


I'm pretty sure we were invaded by the Rhose Island Navy - with lots of Clark vessels on display. Here's an Estuary...



View attachment sm Tu 01 Clark Estuary.JPG




...and from the starboard quarter.



View attachment sm Tu 03 Clark Estuary.JPG



Here's gunning garvey:


View attachment sm Tu 02 Clark Gunning Garvey.JPG





'nother perspective (an arc bottom on a garvey is great combination for skinny waters - in my opinion).



View attachment sm Tu 04 Clark Gunning Garvey.JPG



Here is the 15-foot garvey.


View attachment sm Tu 05 Clark Garvey 15.JPG



Not sure whose Sneakbox this is. Photo was taken on Friday afternoon (Show opens Saturday AM) - so not signage or builders in sight.


View attachment sm Tu 06 Sneakbox.JPG



Pretty sure this was Marty Kristiansen's 'box - but it could be Bob Fricke. I had nice conversations with both gents - but over by my rig. Perhaps one of the Jersey Boys here can set me straight.




View attachment sm TU 08 Sneakbox - Marty Kristiansen.JPG



We Long Islanders would call this vessel a Whaleback Scooter.



View attachment sm Tu 07 Whaleback Scooter.JPG



A brand new layout rig:


View attachment sm Tu 09 Point Blank Layout.JPG



...continued.....


SJS









 
Tuckerton continued.....


This 'box was fully restored - replete with its sailing rig.



View attachment sm Tu 10 Sailing Sneakbox.JPG



One last peek at an Estuary - broadside this time - with a duckboats member watching surreptitiously.


View attachment sm Tu 11 Clark Sneakbox with Zamp.JPG



Tip Seaman Park is on the shores of Pohatcong Lake - NOT to be confused with Lake Hopatcong further north in the Garden State.


View attachment sm Tu 12 Pohatcong Lake.JPG



Gunning rigs - Shovelers this year - were just on Pohatcong.


View attachment sm Tu 19 Shoveller Rigs.JPG



Each rig had 6 birds.


View attachment sm Tu 18A Shoveller Rig.JPG



Just ashore were the (appropriately enough) the Shorebirds. The Endangered Piping Plover was featured this year (?)....


View attachment sm Tu 20 Piping Plover rig.JPG



Here's a sweet Contemporary.


View attachment sm Tu 21 Hen Pintail.JPG



I had hoped to enter a Black Duck - but ran out of time.


View attachment sm TU 22 Black Duck.JPG



I bought this pair for a gunning partner. They were made by Larry Udell - an old LI carver, now passed on. I have already re-glued (thickened epoxy) the Drake's tail - and I have tarted up the Hen a bit, too.


....continued....


SJS



View attachment sm Tu 23 Larry Udell Pintail Pair.JPG









 
It was great chatting with you Saturday morning Steve.

Those two boxes are both by Marty Kristiansen, one is his traditional model and the other is the planing highlands box.
 
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