New Boat Build

Brad Taylor (NC)

Brad Taylor (NC)

Well-known member
Hey guys...didn't post this here as I went along but thought I would post now that she's done. I built this boat of my own design while being loosely based on the Gator Duckhunter. As for the specs she's 18'3" long, 60" wide on the floor, ~70" wide on the beam, the cockpit is 35" deep and she drafts around 6". I'm not sure of weight yet but plan on running her by some scales tomorrow. I didn't finish it in time for our closing weekend but was able to take it out for our youth day. We carried 3 adults, 2 kids, gear, and 10+ dz decoys at around 25mph at less than 1/3 throttle (still breaking in the new motor).

I'll start the pictures at the beginning.

HT1.jpg


HT2.jpg


HTCockpitKneesandFraming1.jpg


Here's one of where the permanent gas tank would go...
HTFrontCompartmentGasTank.jpg


Where the recessed lights would go...
HTRecessedLightArea.jpg


Cont...
 
HTSideViewFraming.jpg


HTTransomandKnees.jpg


HTCockpitFraming.jpg


HTCockpitFramingandStorageBench.jpg


The console as it was being built (just as a note, this boat will primarily serve as a tender for our layout and some fishing and flounder gigging)
HTConsole.jpg

 
The hull is coated with graphite thickened epoxy...
graphitehull1.jpg


graphitehull2.jpg


lightsmounted.jpg


She comes with all amenities...cd player w/4 speakers, xm radio, vhf, speedo, tach, voltmeter, fuel, compass 2 external auxillary plugs (2 also underneath the console for the xm and gps), gps mount, gps holder, in dash compass, 6 switch rocker panel.
speakerandbox.jpg


Dry storage in the bench seat...
storagebench.jpg

 
The final product...I don't normally post pictures with my shop in a mess (rarely is my shop in a mess...lol) but I had worked my tail off for the past three weeks to try and finish up in time for our closer.

hellcat1.jpg


hellcat2.jpg


You can see the hatch over the tank compartment, it is semipermanent. Its screwed and siliconed in case I ever need to access it to replace the sending unit or replace the lights.
hellcat5.jpg


hellcat3.jpg


hellcat6.jpg


cont...
 
Just to note. I really didn't know what I would call this boat. I finally settled on Hellcat after thinking this thing looks like a tank. I did a little quick research on WWII tanks and found the name Hellcat. The only thing that got laid out on paper was the transom and rear bulkhead, the rest was in my head. She has 18 cubic feet of foam on the sides of each compartment. She's all Okoume 1088 with 6oz glass over the entire outside.

Forgot to add, she rides extremely well and corners just as well. We had some good chop and cut back over our wake several times...she just took it like a champ and kept going.

Hope you guys enjoy.

Brad
 
Last edited:
I'll ditto David Clark in saying; Well thought out and well executed. I for one, am glad you did not rush this project to the point of cutting corners, which you certainly didn't. Congrats on a fine looking boat. The craftsmanship is outstanding. In this day and age of a good share of the population doing only what it takes to "get by", it is extremely refreshing to see someone that obviously takes pride in their work.

I will make one suggestion tho, I didn't see a DHBP decal anywhere???? (just kidding)

I have a question also, What is the little flap near the front of the splashwell for and why is it hinged?
 
I'll ditto David Clark in saying; Well thought out and well executed. I for one, am glad you did not rush this project to the point of cutting corners, which you certainly didn't. Congrats on a fine looking boat. The craftsmanship is outstanding. In this day and age of a good share of the population doing only what it takes to "get by", it is extremely refreshing to see someone that obviously takes pride in their work.

I will make one suggestion tho, I didn't see a DHBP decal anywhere???? (just kidding)

I have a question also, What is the little flap near the front of the splashwell for and why is it hinged?
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the kind words.

Its just a small little storage compartment. I did this mainly because I needed the bulkhead to be at least 1" thick at the top so that it would accept the 1" thick coaming.

Brad
 
Great looking boat Brad!!! I followed your construction on some other sites and she turned out great, congratulations!
 
Beautiful boat Brad and great pics!!

I like your design. Great job on the Console....especially the cup holders. That's one thing I had to add to the Goliath and is very important for early morning coffee and other beverages during fishing season.

Thanks for sharing.

-D
 
Really cool Brad.

The Hellcat that I know was the awesome Navy fighter that was built by Grumman in WW II. It was a super powerful version of the Wildcat.

Great Airplane, great boat.

Thanks for sharing.

Andrew
 
Really cool Brad.

The Hellcat that I know was the awesome Navy fighter that was built by Grumman in WW II. It was a super powerful version of the Wildcat.

Great Airplane, great boat.

Thanks for sharing.

Andrew
Click to expand...


Much appreciated. The hellcat was also a tank, although the plane is more commonly known. It was the M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer by name.

Brad
 
Very nice Brad. It's a very cool design, great workmanship, and attension to the details.

Hitch
 
Interesting side note: GM built the M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer about 5 miles from here in Grand Blanc, MI. We used to hunt pheasants on top of the underground post production storage area. That part of the production facility hadn't been used since the war ended and it held lots of birds back in the 60's and 70's.
 
Great looking boat Podnuh,
She reminds me quite a bit of a chincoteague scow. You ought to be able to get that boat through some pretty serious water and haul a really big load.
Very nice job...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top