Hess Robertson
New member
For the last several months, I have been helping a friend build a drift boat for fly fishing using the stitch and glue method and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The other night while I was on call, I decided that I needed a project of my own. I began searching the internet for different boat designs that could be made by the stitch and glue method. I am from the Mississippi Gulf Coast pretty much grew up on the Pascagoula River and the Mississippi Sound. I was able to hunt and fish out of numerous boats growing up and have found that I really enjoyed the ride and stability of the Stauter Built boats out of Mobile, AL. While I was searching the internet, stumbled across the Devlin Cackler. The cackler immediately reminded me of the Stauter Builts I grew up fishing and hunting out of. The cackler design appears to be a step up from the wooden Stauter boats in that fiberglass is incorporated into the design. This should provide for some decreased maintenance over the Stauter and some increased strength. So I set off to find out more about the cackler and eventually found this website. I believe there is a wealth of knowledge and experience contained within the members of this forum. After reading all the posts about the cackler here (and reading many other post on other stuff too), I decided to order the plans for the cackler and Mr. Devlin boat building book. Well, my plans and book came in today and have had a chance look over the plans. I now have a couple of questions:
1.) I want to remove the motor well and go with a motor mounted off of a traditional transom. On the plans, it appears that there is some type of step up from the bottom of the boat to the area where the rear storage and rear flotation compartments are located (i.e. the bottom of the boat does not look like 1 continuous piece of plywood). Am I seeing this correctly or am I reading the plans wrong. I figured there had to be somebody on the forum that has made this modification to the cackler plans. I sure would appreciate some advice on what I need to do.
2.) I've called around to different lumber yards here in Arkansas. I can't find anybody that sells quality marine plywood. My pops lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and he said he would get it for me down there if I could find it. I know Stauter Built Boats in Mobile, AL carries marine fir and apparently some type of mahogany, but they are really expensive. Does anybody have any experience with any sources in Mobile (AL), New Orleans, Little Rock, or any where in Mississippi.
I appreciate all the help. I am sure I will be asking many questions on this forum as my project rolls along. I will also take pics and document my progress (I always enjoy seeing the work of others).
Thanks again,
Hess Robertson
1.) I want to remove the motor well and go with a motor mounted off of a traditional transom. On the plans, it appears that there is some type of step up from the bottom of the boat to the area where the rear storage and rear flotation compartments are located (i.e. the bottom of the boat does not look like 1 continuous piece of plywood). Am I seeing this correctly or am I reading the plans wrong. I figured there had to be somebody on the forum that has made this modification to the cackler plans. I sure would appreciate some advice on what I need to do.
2.) I've called around to different lumber yards here in Arkansas. I can't find anybody that sells quality marine plywood. My pops lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and he said he would get it for me down there if I could find it. I know Stauter Built Boats in Mobile, AL carries marine fir and apparently some type of mahogany, but they are really expensive. Does anybody have any experience with any sources in Mobile (AL), New Orleans, Little Rock, or any where in Mississippi.
I appreciate all the help. I am sure I will be asking many questions on this forum as my project rolls along. I will also take pics and document my progress (I always enjoy seeing the work of others).
Thanks again,
Hess Robertson
