Woah,woah, woah, you had a Bluebill? Please elaborate. I am considering it for my next build. I'm aware of only a half dozen or so in existence in scouring the web; not one of Devlin's more popular designs. I would like to power it with a mud motor or an outboard depending on how skinny the water is. Please tell what you liked and didn't like about the design. Richard
Yeah, I’ve had one—actually, I’ve had quite a few boats over the years. At one point, I even had a Devlin Mallard. Like most duck hunters who start out boatless but dream of chasing birds on bigger water, my journey into boat ownership began with necessity and curiosity.
It all kicked off with a DIY project. I bought the plans and built a Kara Hummer, but the smaller version called the “Robber.” It served me well for years—a solid one-man boat that got the job done. But eventually, I wanted something more capable, especially for motors.
That’s when I picked up a used Perche Creek Duck Boat directly from the owner of Perche Creek Boats—not the original designers, but the guy who carried it forward. Funny enough, the original brains behind that design were DuckBoat.net legends Ben Gallop and Ira McCauley. I got the chance to meet both, even spent time chatting boats with Ben at his place about 30 miles from me. He’s built some incredible stuff.
The Perche Creek was a game changer. Lightweight and motor-ready, I threw a 2HP Evinrude on it and hit the water. Then another one came up for sale, and I figured—why not? Two boats meant I could bring a buddy. But that meant I needed a trailer to haul them plus gear. I found a set of torsion axles cheap on eBay and had a buddy weld me a custom double-decker trailer. That setup was slick.
Sometime after, I stumbled on a Devlin Mallard for $600 in Kansas City—no motor but included duck gear. The guy was getting out of the sport, so I snagged it. I ran it a couple of seasons but never really hunted from it. I’d picked up a 1968 20HP Johnson for $100, but the Mallard’s displacement hull wasn’t ideal for the kind of waters I hunt in Missouri—not like the bays where that design shines.
Next came the Blue Bill. Found a good deal in Illinois: boat and trailer for $1000, no motor. I sold the Mallard and mounted my 20HP Johnson on the Blue Bill. That thing was a beauty—perfect for one guy and a dog, with room for everything. A little cramped if you added another hunter and more gear, but manageable.
Then a friend offered me a Four Rivers Refuge Runner for $600, and well, you know how it goes—I bought it. But I was collecting too many marsh boats at that point, so I sold off both Perche Creek boats and the trailer to fund the Refuge Runner and even came out a bit ahead.
Then life took a hard turn—divorce. I had to pay legal fees and help my daughter get a vehicle. So in 2010, I sold everything: the Blue Bill, Johnson, Four Rivers, and my trusty 2HP Evinrude. I was boatless again and pretty much stopped hunting for a few years.
Fast forward a bit, my neighbor held an auction, and I snagged a 14x32 jon boat for $50, thinking maybe I could get back into it. Still needed a motor, though. Eventually, I found a 16' jon, trailer, and a 1996 9.9HP Yamaha for $300. The motor and trailer had titles, but the boat didn’t—so registering it in Missouri was a no-go. Ended up selling the boat to a couple of kids for $200. They wanted to bowfish with it. I kept the trailer and motor.
That 14x32 jon was a bit too narrow for stability, so the search continued. I started looking again for a Perche Creek Duck Boat. I always liked those—lightweight, easy to hide, and already set up for a small motor. Found one and bought it. Then started looking for another 2HP Evinrude to pair with it—found one of those too.
Around the same time, I picked up a 14x36 jon someone was selling. So now I’m back in action: two jons (14x32 and 14x36), a Perche Creek Duck Boat, a 9.9 Yamaha, and a 2HP Evinrude. Full circle.
As for the Blue Bill—it’s an excellent one-man rig, especially if you’re on the bigger side. Just a little tight when you throw in a second hunter and a dog. Looking back, I think a Devlin Black Brant III would’ve been the perfect boat for me—plenty of room and better suited to the kind of hunting I do. I could never find one for sale, and I didn’t have the space or tools to build one myself.
I also really liked the Devlin Broadbill for solo hunts. I got to motor around in one once—stable and fast. Great boat.
So, who knows… maybe this journey isn’t over yet. Or maybe, like a few others I know, I’m heading toward the end of my duck hunting chapter and it’s time to move on. We’ll see.
Life is good. I just may redirect energies in the future. I don't know. I go back and forth. When my fleet goes up for sale you'll know I made a decision.
