More Duck Camp.....

Ed Askew

Ed Askew

Well-known member
deckon.jpg

The deck is on. The guys got to work today in fairly cool temps since it was cloudy. I had to work at the real job and wasn't there this weekend, but was last weekend during the heat wave, where the temperature over the pontoons was measured at 147 degrees with an infared thermometer. Once Hurricane Dean clears the Gulf we'll launch her and can work in even cooler temps on the water. Won't be long we'll have a metal building up and an a/c fired up. Next pics will be some giant crane lifting this sucker. Doesn't look like teal have to worry about us until the big duck season though.

Ed.
 
Dang that thing is a BEAST. Looks like it's coming along. Can't wait to see the pics of her when she's all dressed up for the party.

Ryan
 
Ed, You putting spuds down through the pipe on the end of the beams?

Barge is looking good. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Eric
 
Yeah Eric, spuds on that side only. That'll be the side towards the bank. It's gonna float cockeyed initially, but we'll shift the heavy stuff in the cabin towards the other side to compensate.

Bill, that's the new duck camp my brother and I have been planning for the last 8 years. Hurricane Katrina set us back 2 years. The foundation of it is a 10 foot diameter, 20 foot long steel tank, that was cut in half longways, reinforced on the inside, and steel plate welded over the cut out area of both halves, which are now connected with steel I beams, with a total deck dimension of 40x20'. On top of that a metal building will be erected in the near future, it will be 18x40'. There will be six foot wide porches for and aft (cantilevered over the edges of the pontoons), and 3' walkways port and starboard, for a total footprint topside of 24x52 feet. The camp building will be one great room with a kitchen, living area, sleeping area, and a small bathroom and shower. That's our base of operations for hunting and fishing, which go on way down in the South Louisiana marsh, more than an hour boat ride from the nearest launch.

Ed.
 
As always it looks well thought out.

How are you going to set the spuds?

The thought of being able to sit out on the porch and watch the marsh would keep me day dreaming for weeks!

Thanks,
Eric
 
No Rick the crane we'll be using for this job will be a land crane.

Eric we're building steel towers of as yet undetermined design. This thing isn't my design. I don't know if you ever saw my drawings and models I made a couple of years back, all that got the ax and some of the pipes I was planning to use for this got made into a big deck barge, which is really nice. This camp mostly gets designed by committee on the spot just before what ever it is you're about to build gets built. No diagrams, except maybe with soap stone on a piece of steel plate right before it gets cut. It's a Cajun thing. Used to give me ulcers, but I'm getting used to it. If it were me I'd have a book full of diagrams and lists, and would have spent more time planning it than it will take to build it. I know that a 6 ton 12 volt winch is involved in lifting the spuds.

Ed.
 
Last edited:
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] This camp mostly gets designed by committee on the spot just before what ever it is you're about to build gets built.[/font]
Click to expand...

LOL I don't think Cajuns have a lock on that one. Seems like every meeting of the minds I've seen when everyones skills and [font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]experiences[/font] meets with a finite list of materials at hand. Talking sticks are talking sticks whether they hold graphite, soapstone, ink or paint. All you need is the original concept, the rest is everyones interpretation of how to get there and fuel for debate for many seasons in camp. hehehe.

I did wonder when you posted the picture why it didn't quite look like your drawing. I figured it was just my memory being off a bit. It will be a thing to behold none the less and easier to come back to after a day afloat than a ramp and a drive home.

If you get some pictures of the winch in action please post them. You never know when knowledge like that will come in handy around here.

Thanks,
Eric
 
What an endeavor Ed! Or should we call you Noah? How many species of duck do you think it will hold?? ;^)
 
Well this is really my brother's baby, we were initially going to be 50/50 partners in it, but it's ended up being his thing (he's paying for it and his guys are doing most of the work), so he'll have to decide on a name. I want to name it "Beamish" after one of my favorite stouts and a poem by Lewis Carroll, and since the thing is so wide. I think he's bought into the idea. We'll see. I'm going to bring him a couple of cans of the stout and we'll talk about it again.

Ed.
 
It is astounding the motivation that a man gets from a small wet footed duck while aspiring to achieve great accomplishments in the pursuit of it. The skill and dedication that one puts forth to fulfill the never ending desire of having the ideal surroundings and to achieve his dreams should be applauded. But, I hope onlookers do not say this is just another bunch of crazy duck hunters. I am just poking a little fun at your project and I hope it the Hermitage on the water for you and your friends. Best Wishes!
 
Well, we call it "The Duck Camp". Rural South Louisianians almost all have or have had a duck camp. It's not about ducks anymore though, but it used to be, hence the name. I bet our entire club killed less than 50 ducks last year. It's a place to get away, and a base for fishing, frogging, rabbit hunting and deer hunting (and duck hunting when they're here, which they ain't unless the snow is deep where you are). The ducks definitely aren't worth the trouble anymore.

Ed.
 
When can I move in :)

try mounting 6" pvc long ways on the edge of the decks they will act as a bumper and if you want or need to slide the boat up the pvc makes it easy
 
Any place to getaway for awhile is always good for the soul and is worth more than money can buy. Laugh and enjoy the short time these small getaways provide. Have Fun Ed!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top