Herter?s Duck Boat Help

S

Scott Bergsieker

New member
After a few years of observing the expert?s project posts on here, I?ve decided to get my hands dirty. I just came across an old Herters Duck Goose boat. For 50 bucks I just couldn?t walk away from it. It?s definitely in need of some TLC. The seats were removed and not included, and there are a couple small holes on the bottom seam of the transom. Does anyone have any experience replacing the transom in these? The previous owner mentioned that these boats are all glass, can anyone confirm this? I am wondering if I should cut out and replace the entire transom or if I can get away with some 1708 and resin repair. Any previous experience or insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
Scott~


Sounds like a neat project. I've never had a Duck and Goose Boat in my hands, but I did modify a Herter's Cartopper. It had an all-glass transom.


I am guessing you will just need to do a bit or grinding and 'glassing. If you post some close-up photos, I'm sure you can get good advice here.


Got a "vision" for how you want to restore it, hunt it?


I look forward to your project!


SJS

 
Steve,

Here are some pictures of the boat after bringing it home.
It?s had some previous patch work which will probably need to be redone. I notice there is some wood on the inside of the transom. But I am thinking this may have been added at some point by someone judging from the motor height extension. I plan on removing the extension to start and running a trolling a motor or the smallest outboard I can find. My vision was to use this boat at game management areas or small marshes where my blackjack / 20hp setup just isn?t practical for transport. I think I?d like to keep it as a ?throw in the truck bed and go? setup with some grassing covering the decks. It?s looks like some hardware was added to the inside to allow dowels to be inserted for a low blind. I may utilize this at some point. For now though I think I?d like to get it back to a usable state and slap some paint on it - and maybe fab up some bench seats to bolt into the rails.

On another note, I really enjoy your paint and restoration tutorials. I?m currently working on a rig of foam geese modeled after your gunning scheme. How many projects can one tackle at once? There?s never enough!

Here is the boat:


View attachment 4A2BCF55-FDAA-423B-BF22-88F872D5B84D.jpegView attachment 9E0827A5-1C5B-494D-B4B3-6BA0F290BD29.jpegView attachment A68F86CF-D2A6-4E12-AFC6-67AE61EC8117.jpegView attachment B8BD1C00-0C55-48AC-9878-B62A64891CFC.jpegView attachment B0068EBA-3E65-4343-8365-05463D76FD91.jpeg

View attachment DE4A4A0D-C4FE-4C65-B6C7-CD2DBE96C1D7.jpeg
 
Noticed in your pics the boards scabbed on beside transom riser someone had installed. I,ve had one of these boats few years back that we redone for a plug to be made from. We found out when you got up to about a 2 stroke 15 that underway water would ride up transom and over stern with normal stern height. Had to end up doing something similar with aluminum to stop it from coming into cockpit. Little boats will fly right along with an 8 hp 2 stroke on them which is what I run on original. My buddys that was laid up from plug had a 15 2 stroke on it and would hustle. There was actually only 3 lbs. difference in those 2 merc outboards . Boats that were built from plug were all rated when registered for 15. Probably when originally those were rated for about 6 hp. If I recall correctly when we redone transom in original hull we rebuilt it to proper dimensions for a short shaft outboard.
 
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Roy,

Do you have any pics of your boat?
I actually just removed all of the aluminum from mine today. One of the side pieces was missing so if needed later I?ll just cut out some new sheets. I?ve read some past posts that mention these boats sag quite low with one man and the weight of an outboard. My original intent for this boat was to only use it in game management areas and a few other shallow marshes where anything much over idle speed isn?t feasible. I wasn?t planning on putting anything bigger than a 4hp on it. I can only imagine what a 15 would do on one of these... sounds like some good fun! I run a 20 on my AA Blackjack which is twice the weight of the Herters and WOT on that puts a big smile on my face! I would be very curious to see what your old transom looked like if you have any pictures anywhere!
 
No, unfortunately I have no pics of the boat. They do set low in water loaded w/dog ,hunter & decoys but are a pretty stable little hull. With that bow design they aren,t really great in rough water but doesn,t sound like it will be an issue for you. Perfect little hull to layout and marsh hunt in. Just seen one of the hulls built off friends mold being sold used on craigslist about a month ago for $1200. Like you I had a AA Blackjack , bought it new when produced in Kentucky, sold it after oldest sons started hunting with me and got a bigger boat. Bought the same boat back about 10 years ago and hunted it quite a bit with a layout blind and an upright blind. Sold it a couple spring ago to a member on here that's done some very creative changes to it. First time I owned it I run a 25 merc on it. It would fly. Last time around I ran a 15 on it.
 
Forgot to mention old transom was plywood glassed over. When prepping old boat to make mold off it transom was completely replaced as it was rough. I had already removed all aluminum and completely sanded hull ready for his patching/fairing.
 
Just noticed another thing in your pics that I remembered. We removed Bulb aluminum keel and created one glassed onto my original . Transom when replaced was raised to proper height for outboard use and blended down to meet original comb line.
 
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