introduction/advice re: Devlin Cackler please

R Winkel

R Winkel

New member
Hello all,
My name is Randy Winkel. While I grew up chasing ducks in the marshes of the great Salt Lake. I have spent a good deal of the last few years chasing pheasants and quail in Eastern Washington but with fuel prices, lease prices for access and old worn out knees I was thinking of building either a Devlin Scaup or Cackler and staying closer to home. I would appreciate input/advice on a few points. I have 2 80# labs and am 6'5" and 3 bills myself so the boat needs to handle a pretty good load. I am interested in learning about hunting sea ducks (though I never have done it) and wonder if either - or both of these boats are appropriate for doing so in Puget sound or if I would need to use a lay out style of boat. Also, I have found a used boat I believe to be a Cackler but I am not positive. It has a "kicker" built into the bottom of the boat at the transom to knock the bow down quickly and I do not know if this is a characteristic of the Cackler or if it is possibly another design. The floor is not attached so i have been able to inspect it closely and it seems very solid. I have not used epoxy with fiberglass before so I need to know if it would be practical to sand off the paint and do a couple of modifications like glass the floor in for strength - add an a$$ shelf at the transom, decoy shelf? I would definitely plan on sanding the exterior down to inspect and re-paint at the least.

You folks have a wonderful site here. The Devlin folks directed me to you when I visited their factory to speak with Joel. I wanted to see a Snow Goose under construction.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
 
OOPS! forgot the most important question. are there any places I need to inspect especially carefully in a Cackler desinn that will expose poor construction or abuse? I can almost steal this boat compared to buying materials to construct one but do not like swimming because your boat has just sunk (guess how I know that)!
 
since nobody else said it welcome from a fellow washington hunter wish i could help but i hunt out of a tin can. As far as the boat goes if ya like it buy it these guys on this site can help ya fix anything good luck too ya
 
Welcome to the site Randy. Wish I could actually help you with more info but there are others here which can be more Cackler specific.

Only thing I can say as far as used boat inspection goes, would be to look closely at any area which might collect debris during usage. Especially areas that might not get regularly cleaned well. If the wood is not sufficiently sealed, these areas will be prone to water intrusion and rot.

Trailer inspections items would include; Wiring- lights working? Splices- twisted together with black tape or was a proper sealed crimp connector used? Wheels and tires- jack the trailer up and spin the wheels to listen for noisy or rough bearings, check tread depth and sidewalls for checking. If the trailer is an older model check weld joints for soundness (look for cracking).

Good luck.
 
Hello Randy, welcome to the forum.

I'm in the middle of a cackler project myself and will be posting pictures pretty soon. I didn't foow that link, and it might be the same one, but look a little further down the page for another Cackler thread. It has some pretty good pics posted by Dave and Erik. I think with your load of dogs and big&tall guy, the Cackler or Snow Goose would be perfect. I don't know about sea duck hunting, but I know these Devlin boats are plenty seaworthy.
 
RESPONSE IN CAPS:

HI RANDY, MY HUNTING PARTNER DAVE HAS A CACKLER, I HAVE A SNOW GOOSE. WE HUNT TOGETHER, BUT WE BRING BOTH BOATS SO I'VE SEEN THE CACKLER IN ACTION FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW... I HAVE BEEN HUNTING IN THE SCAUP AS WELL, A FRIEND HAS ONE SO I'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU THE ADVICE YOU ARE SEEKING...

My name is Randy Winkel. While I grew up chasing ducks in the marshes of the great Salt Lake. I have spent a good deal of the last few years chasing pheasants and quail in Eastern Washington but with fuel prices, lease prices for access and old worn out knees I was thinking of building either a Devlin Scaup or Cackler and staying closer to home. I would appreciate input/advice on a few points. I have 2 80# labs and am 6'5" and 3 bills myself so the boat needs to handle a pretty good load.

DAVE TAKES HIMSELF, HIS LAB AND ALL THE GEAR. HE HAS A 30 HP HONDA. IT GETS UP ON PLANE EASILY AND THE BOAT IS EXTREMELY SEAWORTHY. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN GO SEA DUCK HUNTING IN IT. WE'VE HUNTED TOGETHER IN THE CACKLER AND WHEN THERE ARE 2 FOLKS + DOG(S), IT'S A LITTLE CRAMPED. GETTING UP ON PLANE TAKES LONGER BUT IT GETS THERE. POUND FOR POUND, I THINK THE CACKLER IS THE BEST ALL AROUND DUCK BOAT IN DEVLIN'S DESIGN LIBRARY.

THE SNOW GOOSE HAS A 40 HONDA (HONDA'S AREN'T KNOWN FOR THIER HOLESHOT) AND THE HULL DESIGN IS UNIQUE AND IT POPS RIGHT UP ON PLANE. SCAUP'S HULL IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE SNOW GOOSE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU THROW IN THIS BOAT, IT GETS RIGHT UP ON PLANE EVERY TIME. I FIND THE HANDLEABILITY OF BOTH THE SNOW GOOSE AND SCAUP TO BE SIMILAR. THE ONLY REAL DIFF IN MY OPINION BETWEEN THE SNOW GOOSE AND SCAUP IS SEAWORTHYNESS. THE SNOW GOOSE HAS A MORE BULBOUS BOW AND THE FREEBOARD IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER. THE SCAUP HAS GREATER CANCELABILITY. WHERE I HUNT, THE SNOW GOOSE WORKS FINE. I'M ACTUALLY USING THE BOAT MORE AND MORE FOR TRANSPORTATION AS OPPOSED AS A HUNTING PLATFORM. ANYWAY....

I am interested in learning about hunting sea ducks (though I never have done it) and wonder if either - or both of these boats are appropriate for doing so in Puget sound or if I would need to use a lay out style of boat. Also, I have found a used boat I believe to be a Cackler but I am not positive. It has a "kicker" built into the bottom of the boat at the transom to knock the bow down quickly and I do not know if this is a characteristic of the Cackler or if it is possibly another design.

A LOT OF SAM'S DESIGNS "PORPOISE", I.E. THE BOAT JUMPS UP AND DOWN WHILST UNDERWAY. WHAT I BELIEVE YOU ARE SPEAKING OF IS THE INFAMOUS "WEDGES" AT THE TRANSOM. I HAVE 'EM, DAVE HAS 'EM... NEITHER OF OUR BOATS PORPOISE. THEY WORK AT HIGH(ER) SPEED, AT SLOW, SAFE, BOW UP SPEEDS, THE WEDGES AREN'T WORKING, WHICH IS GOOD.

The floor is not attached so i have been able to inspect it closely and it seems very solid. I have not used epoxy with fiberglass before so I need to know if it would be practical to sand off the paint and do a couple of modifications like glass the floor in for strength -

YES, NO PROBLEM RE SANDING AND PAINTING.

add an a$$ shelf at the transom, decoy shelf? I would definitely plan on sanding the exterior down to inspect and re-paint at the least.

MY AXX SHELF IS ABOUT 8" WIDE, IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THE LONG TRIPS WHEN I GET TIRED OF STANDING.

GOOD LUCK.
 
Randy

Welcome to the site. I would listen to Andrew if I were you. He spent about a half hour of his own time on the phone with me and is very helpful and knowledgeable. He is PASSIONATE about this stuff (as most of us are)

Sab
 
Randy welcome , mt name is Dave and i am Andrews partner , all that Andrew has posted is absolutely true , the cakler is a great boat for 2 guys max with a 30 horse it will get up and go anymore than two guys i would look at the Snow Goose , Andrew's Goose is a great boat for rough water as well i would say the Snow goose . Andrew and i have been out in some big water with both boats and both handle great ,We hainted the Snow Goose a few years back for seas ducks and the boat was just an beleivable paltform to shoot from alot of room and VERY SEAWORTY right Andrew ?? Please do not hesitate to conatct me for any other information i love to help fellow builders / hunters . John Robinson may have some more info that would be great to get since he is in the middle of a cackler build now . Good luck with your choice .



Dave M
 
Welcome aboard Randy. With all the accumulated knowledge here you'll be able to find an answer to most any boat question, and then some for other topics as well.
 
haha, Sab - even a broken clock is right twice a day...

Glad to see some boat projects under way on this esteemed forum.
 
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