Last years restoration...continued
- Thread starter John L
- Start date
John L
Well-known member
I had some time to work on the boat today.
It's ready for tomorrows hunt and first day back in the water.
Got the boat onto it's new trailer
I installed rubber backed carpeting over the cockpit backrest for a little comfort and abrasion resistance. It is the same carpeting used for big boats cockpit carpets. Tought stuff and non slip with the rubber backing.
Grassed it up with Avery real grass mats, I'm not a big fan of this stuff but it certanly is fast. It took 3 mats to cover the whole boat. I had to give the grass rails another coat of paint today so they have not been installed yet. I also made the decoy racks and have them primmed. They should be painted and ready to install with the grass rails on Monday or Tuesday.
I just want to get this boat in the water tomorrow and give it a go. I'll get some photos of it in action in the morning.
It's ready for tomorrows hunt and first day back in the water.
Got the boat onto it's new trailer
I installed rubber backed carpeting over the cockpit backrest for a little comfort and abrasion resistance. It is the same carpeting used for big boats cockpit carpets. Tought stuff and non slip with the rubber backing.
Grassed it up with Avery real grass mats, I'm not a big fan of this stuff but it certanly is fast. It took 3 mats to cover the whole boat. I had to give the grass rails another coat of paint today so they have not been installed yet. I also made the decoy racks and have them primmed. They should be painted and ready to install with the grass rails on Monday or Tuesday.
I just want to get this boat in the water tomorrow and give it a go. I'll get some photos of it in action in the morning.
Mike Trudel
Well-known member
John, thanks for the photo, I am in the process of designing a large sidewinder dodger.
A friend showed me a trick regarding Fast Grass. Point the loose tips into the wind, I know this seems backward, but the wind makes the grass tips stand up and blow in the breeze quite natural.
A friend showed me a trick regarding Fast Grass. Point the loose tips into the wind, I know this seems backward, but the wind makes the grass tips stand up and blow in the breeze quite natural.
E
Eddie Kershaw
Guest
That boat is looking great John and each picture you post its looking even better and better, did you manage to find out anything more on the History of this boat because with the work you have done on it and the restoration it is going to be around for many more years to come.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
Geo Kaiser
Active member
I'm interested how it ran in the fog this morning...?
I left at 5:45 and was thick as peanut butter, but lifted in a matter of minutes about 7:00am.
Not much moving by me, got 1 Brant and 1 Hooded Hen Merg.
It's a good day to see how that boat runs in a cross chop with the wind out od the West.
I left at 5:45 and was thick as peanut butter, but lifted in a matter of minutes about 7:00am.
Not much moving by me, got 1 Brant and 1 Hooded Hen Merg.
It's a good day to see how that boat runs in a cross chop with the wind out od the West.
John L
Well-known member
Yee haa- it was great!
Eddie - I was not able to get any info on the boat. I am going to do a little more research at a local maritime museum that has a lot of local small boat info. Hopefully I can find something there.
Geo- That fog was thick. Saw a few guys on my way back in that ran hard aground. One boat was way up on the beach. It was quiet over here also. We did manage to get a few birds. I got 2 Brant and my friend got 1Brant. I did not see many Blacks, the ones I did see were way up there and still there were guys shooting at them.
The boat ran great and handled fantastic. I had some concerns about removing the skeg but putting it the Mohogany keelson on seemed to do the trick. It did not slide in the turns at all at full throttle. I ran out in the state channel towards Jones Inlet in 2.5' to 3' sloop and was surfing the waves. It was alot of fun. Bow rides nice and high but best of all, a very dry ride. I am very pleased with the way everything worked. I ran it today with as heavy a load as I would ever put in it. 2 guys, dog and more gear than we needed. I can't wait to get the decoy racks done because I just don't like working out of the sack.
Here is a photo of the boat in the water. I'm waiting for my friend to e-mail me the photos of the boat running. I'll post them up as soon as I get them.
Eddie - I was not able to get any info on the boat. I am going to do a little more research at a local maritime museum that has a lot of local small boat info. Hopefully I can find something there.
Geo- That fog was thick. Saw a few guys on my way back in that ran hard aground. One boat was way up on the beach. It was quiet over here also. We did manage to get a few birds. I got 2 Brant and my friend got 1Brant. I did not see many Blacks, the ones I did see were way up there and still there were guys shooting at them.
The boat ran great and handled fantastic. I had some concerns about removing the skeg but putting it the Mohogany keelson on seemed to do the trick. It did not slide in the turns at all at full throttle. I ran out in the state channel towards Jones Inlet in 2.5' to 3' sloop and was surfing the waves. It was alot of fun. Bow rides nice and high but best of all, a very dry ride. I am very pleased with the way everything worked. I ran it today with as heavy a load as I would ever put in it. 2 guys, dog and more gear than we needed. I can't wait to get the decoy racks done because I just don't like working out of the sack.
Here is a photo of the boat in the water. I'm waiting for my friend to e-mail me the photos of the boat running. I'll post them up as soon as I get them.
E
Eddie Kershaw
Guest
She sure is looking nice john' I envy you with that Baby.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
take care and God Bless
Eddie.
Geo Kaiser
Active member
John are you talking about the boat high and dry over here by me on the main channel..?
That's been there for a couple weeks now, he had to go over 2 sand bars to get his ass there...!!
Yeah the blacks were up on oxygen again today,only saw a handfull of buffies today
That's been there for a couple weeks now, he had to go over 2 sand bars to get his ass there...!!
Yeah the blacks were up on oxygen again today,only saw a handfull of buffies today
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John L
Well-known member
Geo,
I launched from Wantagh Park today. I'm sure it's the boat your talking about. He was way up on the beach on the Great Island Channel side of North Line Island. There were also two other boats that were aground this afternoon when I was coming in. One looked like a 40'+ Formula in the same area. Guess they don't know the area, those sand bars have been there as long as I can remember and reaching into the channel more and more each year.
When I got back to the ramp today it looked like a TBD get together. There had to be about six of them lined up next to each other.
When are you going out next?
I launched from Wantagh Park today. I'm sure it's the boat your talking about. He was way up on the beach on the Great Island Channel side of North Line Island. There were also two other boats that were aground this afternoon when I was coming in. One looked like a 40'+ Formula in the same area. Guess they don't know the area, those sand bars have been there as long as I can remember and reaching into the channel more and more each year.
When I got back to the ramp today it looked like a TBD get together. There had to be about six of them lined up next to each other.
When are you going out next?
Geo Kaiser
Active member
I wont get out until next weekend now. If I get home early Friday, I may be out for an afternoon hunt.
John L
Well-known member
George,
I did not have a GPS with me. If I were to guess I would say I got about 22+kts out of it fully loaded. 2 guys , dog and more gear than needed. When I ran out to get a downed bird that was to far for Mocha to get, less Domenic, Mocha and gear, she probably came close to turning up 30 kts. I'll have to take the GPS and real camera out with me on the next run.
Domenic sent me the photos he took with his phone but they did not come out to good.
I did not have a GPS with me. If I were to guess I would say I got about 22+kts out of it fully loaded. 2 guys , dog and more gear than needed. When I ran out to get a downed bird that was to far for Mocha to get, less Domenic, Mocha and gear, she probably came close to turning up 30 kts. I'll have to take the GPS and real camera out with me on the next run.
Domenic sent me the photos he took with his phone but they did not come out to good.
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John L
Well-known member
Thanks, but I'm still not quite done.
I'm having a hard time locating some good quality brass or bronze hardware to attach the decoy racks. I wanted to make them removable. So I'm going to have to go to plan B. I'll use some strap hinges for the sides so they can fold down to the deck and make the aft boards removable to slide in and out of the transom handles. I'm sure it will work fine but it's just not what I had in mind.
I'm having a hard time locating some good quality brass or bronze hardware to attach the decoy racks. I wanted to make them removable. So I'm going to have to go to plan B. I'll use some strap hinges for the sides so they can fold down to the deck and make the aft boards removable to slide in and out of the transom handles. I'm sure it will work fine but it's just not what I had in mind.
Gary March
Well-known member
John, This has been a great post watching you progress. I want to thank you for all the time and all the pictures you posted. It was also great to see the boat getting used as it is suppose to. Great job.
I wish I had half your wood working skills.
Gary March
I wish I had half your wood working skills.
Gary March
John L
Well-known member
Gary,
Thanks for the kind words. I can't tell you how much time I have spent searching threads on this site to come up with some ideas. Half of the fun with this project has been posting it here for all to see and hopefully get some ideas for their projects.
This site is by far the most informative duck boat site on the net and I am happy to contribute. I have been hooked since I first was turned on to it and check daily to see what is going on.
I also enjoy seeing your photos. They are outstanding. I have a sweet spot for photography. My previous career was as a professional underwater photographer / filmmaker and GM of a major player in the photo industry.
Have fun and be safe out there
Regards,
John
Thanks for the kind words. I can't tell you how much time I have spent searching threads on this site to come up with some ideas. Half of the fun with this project has been posting it here for all to see and hopefully get some ideas for their projects.
This site is by far the most informative duck boat site on the net and I am happy to contribute. I have been hooked since I first was turned on to it and check daily to see what is going on.
I also enjoy seeing your photos. They are outstanding. I have a sweet spot for photography. My previous career was as a professional underwater photographer / filmmaker and GM of a major player in the photo industry.
Have fun and be safe out there
Regards,
John
Bob B
Well-known member
John,
check out ABI
http://www.sailboatstuff.com/cb_galley.html#removtabbrac
they have a lot of cast hardware.
check out ABI
http://www.sailboatstuff.com/cb_galley.html#removtabbrac
they have a lot of cast hardware.
Dave Diefenderfer
Well-known member
Hamilton Marine has the best price.... I added an "improvement" to the hardware. As they are sold, the wing nuts are not captive. I cut a groove in the shaft just below where they clear the L bracket and installed an E-clip. Just used a cheap clip I found at the hardware store, but will change them to SS on my next order to McMaster-Carr.
Dave
Dave
John L
Well-known member
I had abandoned my original idea and made new racks.
I could not find the hardware I planned on using so here is what I did instead. This was plan "B"
I installed two brass handles on the transom and made the aft decoy rack transom pieces with a post on it to slide into the handles. These are made out of Cedar and through bolted together using #6 pan heads with lock nuts. The post were fitted to the inside of the handles to have a snug fit. When I cut and sanded them down I also left a lip as a stop so the rack will not chafe the top of the aft deck to much.
I started with a cardboard template so I could get the curve of the deck right. Both boards have routered edges and large drain holes so the deck will not collect water when it conditions get rough
The sides of the aft racks will be on hinges and fold inward to lay on the deck instead of being removable and will also have grass rails for added for consealment. The benifit here is the side racks will not have to be stowed and only the transom sections will be stowed allowing for less clutter in the boat.
I ran out of Cedar so I will need to make another trip to the lumber yard tomorrow to finish the side pieces
I could not find the hardware I planned on using so here is what I did instead. This was plan "B"
I installed two brass handles on the transom and made the aft decoy rack transom pieces with a post on it to slide into the handles. These are made out of Cedar and through bolted together using #6 pan heads with lock nuts. The post were fitted to the inside of the handles to have a snug fit. When I cut and sanded them down I also left a lip as a stop so the rack will not chafe the top of the aft deck to much.
I started with a cardboard template so I could get the curve of the deck right. Both boards have routered edges and large drain holes so the deck will not collect water when it conditions get rough
The sides of the aft racks will be on hinges and fold inward to lay on the deck instead of being removable and will also have grass rails for added for consealment. The benifit here is the side racks will not have to be stowed and only the transom sections will be stowed allowing for less clutter in the boat.
I ran out of Cedar so I will need to make another trip to the lumber yard tomorrow to finish the side pieces