MLB ZT Wigeon - just got one

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Paul Tychsen

Active member
Picked up a new boat this morning - I couldn't pass up a good deal on an MLB Wigeon. It's my 7th boat, and tomorrow I pick up an 18' center console to be my 8th boat.....i've caught the bug-

The Wigeon is in good shape, but the prior owner had painted it duckboat brown/green. Factory it came gray - some of the green paint is chipping off. Question - can I easily remove the outer layer of green paint so that the boat is gray again without having to repaint it?

I am guessing a careful hand with some fairly smooth sandpaper might work well - thoughts? By roughing up the outer surface am I forced to repaint?

Also a question on building decoy racks for it (apparently the old ones rotted out). Is this a pretty easy process? Does anyone have pics of their decoy racks off of an MLB Wigeon they could share?

Thanks Gentlemen-the advice is much appreciated.
Paul

View attachment MLB.jpg
 
Paul,
I have one as well and absolutely love it!!

Paint question - the time it will take you to strip off the new paint to get to the grey is not worth the time. Lock Stock and barrell sell MLB grey and you only need a quart.

I will take some pictures of my decoy rails and post them or email them to you. Easy on easy off.

Jim/Fowlfishing
 
Jim - I saw on an old post that they used your dad's boat to make the mold - what an honor! I can't wait to get mine out on the water. Looking forward to the pics of your decoy racks! Thanks-
 
Dear Paul,

Congratulations on your purchase! You are going to love that boat for so many reasons. It is a great go to boat for layout hunting the broad water, or grassing it, and tucking it back in a pocket.

Thanks to Jim Bucko for his awesome generousity in advice and willingness to help. And yes, you are correct. Jim's dad Jack built the first one, and sold it to me back in early 1976. We made some slight modifications to the aft starboard, transom, and aft port sides. Otherwise, it is true to form.

I will email you privately, answering your questions.

God Bless you and yours,

Mark

PS; I attached a pic of one of my favorite ways to hunt my ZTW. Tom Reder is seated in mine, grassed up. We use a trolling motor to get one hunter, 100 GHG decoys in compartmentalized bags...3 bags each on fore and aft decks, with the balance of the deeks in the boat, 3 guns, gear bags, weedless clipper to get native grasses, netting to cover boat, and we tow an MLB Classic along, grassing it for the second hunter. Lots of Drake Mallards agree... they never saw danger coming. All close in shots.

View attachment ztw ten r.jpg
 
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