Introduction

Scott Kirkman

Scott Kirkman

New member
I've lurked on here off and on for a bit, and I appreciate the atmosphere here. I live and hunt in Central California. I have always been fascinated by wooden boats, particularly those used for waterfowl hunting. That being said, I currently only have an aluminum duck boat...I hope you will accept me into your group. She started out as a Bass Tracker. I stripped out all the decks, console, and other non-essential items, and put in a floor. She has served me well for the past 15 years or so. In the past my boats have always been used solely as transportation, I hunt a lot of backwater ponds and sloughs with walk in access. Over the summer I spent some time doing some upgrades on my old girl, including building a gun box and light bar box out of old street signs, and installing EVA and a blind. I'm looking forward to the new opportunities the blind will open up for me. I hope one day I will have some pictures of a "real" duck boat to share, for now these will have to suffice.
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Scott

Accepted! Wood boats are commonly discussed here more frequently than other duck hunter hangouts, but make no mistake, we are about building, refurbing, customizing, and pretty much coming up with things of our own in our shops regardless of hull material. So with that said I think you wound up in the right place. Your mods look first rate, and I'd would never have guessed you used street signs (I hope folks new to your neighborhood can find their way around :D). Have you got some before and during pictures? The after looks like a well thought out platform.
 
Welcome aboard!
Nice boat. I'm in the aluminum boat club too. Though she hasnt seen a duck blind in 5 years. Sadness....
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Eric Patterson said:
Scott

Accepted! Wood boats are commonly discussed here more frequently than other duck hunter hangouts, but make no mistake, we are about building, refurbing, customizing, and pretty much coming up with things of our own in our shops regardless of hull material. So with that said I think you wound up in the right place. Your mods look first rate, and I'd would never have guessed you used street signs (I hope folks new to your neighborhood can find their way around :D). Have you got some before and during pictures? The after looks like a well thought out platform.
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I might be able to dig up some old pics, the basic layout hasn't changed much, it's always been wide open. As far as the street signs, it would make for a better story if they were stolen, but I got them honestly from the county yard.;)
 
Scott, your boat looks great and that light bar is formidable. Be sure to sling a burlap bag or a decoy bag over the lights when you are hiding out there. (You probably already know that.)

I used to run the Clifton Channel up and down on the edge of the Columbia in a 15 ft version of what you have... Different manufacturer. It had a crappy 40hp 2 stroke Force motor on it that usually ran with some coercion and only about 3 inches of free-board on the back end.

I made some crazy trips in it in the dark that should have killed me on some of the last miles of swollen tribs of the lower Columbia loaded up with 2 Labrador/ shep type mixes and decoys and gear and a friend if i was able to find someone willing to go. I liked the aluminum because it really took a beating (which it got.)

there was no way to raise the motor but by hand and we'd have to shove a block of oak firewood under it to keep it propped up.

Looks like your set up is much better than what I had initially. It should be perfect for backwaters and sloughs.

Are you working things with a dog or all on your own for fetching? If you are running a dog, let us know about that, we are into dogs too.

Welcome aboard. Hunt safer than I did.
 
Todd, thank you. The blind covers the light so no worries on that.

I too have made some slightly uncomfortable trips up and down the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers whilst too and from my hunting spots. I know the limits of my boat and always wear my PFD.

No trim on my motor but I do have an electric jack plate which lets me get in some pretty shallow spots. All in all, I'm pretty happy with what I've put together. Through my years of boat ownership, I've found there's no such thing as a perfect boat for all circumstances, but this comes pretty close.

Of course I have a dog! No way I'd survive some of the mud where I hunt and watching her do her thing is at least half of my enjoyment in hunting. This is JoJo. This will be her 5th season; it's been a blast watching her put it all together.
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Scott Kirkman said:
I've lurked on here off and on for a bit, and I appreciate the atmosphere here. I live and hunt in Central California. I have always been fascinated by wooden boats, particularly those used for waterfowl hunting. That being said, I currently only have an aluminum duck boat...I hope you will accept me into your group. She started out as a Bass Tracker. I stripped out all the decks, console, and other non-essential items, and put in a floor. She has served me well for the past 15 years or so. In the past my boats have always been used solely as transportation, I hunt a lot of backwater ponds and sloughs with walk in access. Over the summer I spent some time doing some upgrades on my old girl, including building a gun box and light bar box out of old street signs, and installing EVA and a blind. I'm looking forward to the new opportunities the blind will open up for me. I hope one day I will have some pictures of a "real" duck boat to share, for now these will have to suffice.
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Good morning, Scott~

Welcome to duckboats! It is clear you know your way around metal - and with a fine eye. As a wood and 'glass guy, I envy your abilities and knowledge. You've made yourself a very nice rig! She's invisible to ducks - and impervious to rot!

Amongst my fleet are 3 "tin" canoes and one leaky jonboat. Most are stashed to provide the occasional vessel on my own ponds. Next year, however, I will be restoring a 1957 Crestliner Viking. It is the boat my wife learned to ski on about 60 years ago - on Lake Champlain.

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I will rely on a local metal worker to replace the 4 or 5 missing rivets on her port gunwale. She (the boat - not my wife) needs a bit of wood work and some paint. And, I will learn how to polish that aluminum to a mirror finish

All the best,

SJS
 
Hey Scott! Awesome to see you here! I’m new to the forum too, and I’m really glad to be part of this community. Your boat looks great, and those mods are super inspiring. Having a dog for hunting is the best; it’s not just help but so much fun too. Can’t wait to see more pics:)!
 
Steve Sanford said:
Good morning, Scott~

Welcome to duckboats! It is clear you know your way around metal - and with a fine eye. As a wood and 'glass guy, I envy your abilities and knowledge. You've made yourself a very nice rig! She's invisible to ducks - and impervious to rot!

Amongst my fleet are 3 "tin" canoes and one leaky jonboat. Most are stashed to provide the occasional vessel on my own ponds. Next year, however, I will be restoring a 1957 Crestliner Viking. It is the boat my wife learned to ski on about 60 years ago - on Lake Champlain.

View attachment 60080

I will rely on a local metal worker to replace the 4 or 5 missing rivets on her port gunwale. She (the boat - not my wife) needs a bit of wood work and some paint. And, I will learn how to polish that aluminum to a mirror finish

All the best,

SJS
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Steve-
That will be a fun, worthwhile project, and you can't put a value on the sentimental aspect. Thank you for clarifying that you will not be woodworking and painting your wife!
 
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