New Predator BBSB Sneak boat (formerly the Chuck Huff BBSB) info

Tony~

Looks great! And TEAK thatch rails would really dress it up!

All the best,

SJS
Click to expand...

I think one of these that looks like a Black duck on the bow would be the Icing on the cake.

 
Impressive boat and I like the idea of suspending the flotation to keep it out of the way of draining water. Smart!

Where might one purchase one of those carved bow handles? I'd LOVE one for my barn-find, wooden BBSB I'm refurbishing.
 
Since Fred McIntire currently owns one of the original MLB Chuck Huffs, and the fact that Fred and Tony are practically neighbors (Indiana/Ohio), I think Fred should be part of the inaugural test pilot program..... :D
 
Since Fred McIntire currently owns one of the original MLB Chuck Huffs, and the fact that Fred and Tony are practically neighbors (Indiana/Ohio), I think Fred should be part of the inaugural test pilot program..... :D
Click to expand...
Fred that is a wonderful idea if you up for a short trip. I have water access just 6 blocks from the shop and we can give a side by side comparison and what better way to see how the Predator has improved than from an owner of the original huff opinion and testing. The weather report looks perfect this weekend for such testing.
 
It is exactly what I need for hunting open water down here.
BUT convincing my wife of that need is another story!
 
I'm waiting to see where the final numbers fall on it. It may be time to downsize. Of course it will be hard to give up all the room I currently have.

A smaller boat does have some big advantages.
 
I'm waiting to see where the final numbers fall on it. It may be time to downsize. Of course it will be hard to give up all the room I currently have.

A smaller boat does have some big advantages.
Click to expand...

My numbers are spot on. Here is a few more pics. Walking on the deck with no supports under it is just fine. No issues. boat weight is 224.5lbs so when its finished up im guessing 245-250 which is right on pare with our figures. here are the specs.
13.6ft long
57in widest beam
15hp rating (2" transom thickness)
2 persons290lbs
450 persons motor and gear.

We will be offering an introductory price which will include the boat and all hardware, including 2 grab handles on transom, brass drain plug, handle, bow eye and cleat on bow. brass fuel fitting on rear deck for a thru deck fuel line, 16ft of Nylon grass rails, Hatch cover canvas spray dodger that is being redesigned slightly to attach to the duck boards on the side and will not be installed using snaps we will use the same fitment system as we use on the TDB. A sealed fitment system to prevent large amounts of water passing through.

All Hardware and fittings will be brass or stainless steel. No drywall screws will be used.
Lights and trailer are not included.

As soon as I can get a price from the canvas shop we will start offering boats for sale. Act quick especially if you want us to delivery to Tuckerton. We will only have space for maybe 3 without trailers and 1 is already spoken for. I may be able to deliver 1 or 2 in May to Johns boat show gig possibly if we have pricing back in time.

This hull and deck is NOT going to flex like the old style Huff boats did. Once I round up a short shaft motor I will run the boat with go pro cameras placed inside and on the deck to show how the boat performs.

Mocking up 2 shelves port and starboard.

A look into the transom area inside.


Transom top and rear view showing thickness and how we are doing the handles and drain plug.


 
And another look, We have test fir the spray dodger which will be headed to the canvas shop to be properly fit and snugged up. As you can see the transom has some meat now You could hang a 50 on the back of this baby and not worry about the transom. I got notice that the grass rails shipped today so that means it wont be long until we finish her up and get to the water for some testing. I may be stuck running a long shaft on it but as long as we stay in deep water i think we will be okay for what I want to do. Anyway a few more photos. And the first Predator has been sold and is heading to NJ later this spring. Now those photos.





 
I want to touch on the floatation foam, Anyone that knows me knows how I feel about floatation. I bought The Duck Boat Company because they knew how to install foam right. And as you can see in this boat all the foam is lifted off the floor but the floor coring. This will give you the most possible safety available in case of an emergency and you have to try that foam out. The boat will float upright and level with the foam lifted in the design. We strive for the highest quality and safest boats we can build and filling the floor of a boat with foam inside a interior liner doesn't get it for me. It may meet USCG standards but the craft is surely to roll over if its ever swamped.
 
Didn't the TDB 14 Classic have a bunch of floor foam? I never ripped in to the one I owned but I though there was a considerable amount of foam in the floor.

I'd be interested to see just how many guys it would take standing on the side edge of a swamped Predator / Chuck Huff to get it to actually roll over. The hull design in itself is one stable platform and my bet would be that it would be very difficult to roll over even swamped.
 
Ron thats a negative on the classic, it didnt have a false floor. the floor was cored directly with balsa core. It had foam chambers in the rear corners and bow and under the shelves. No foam under the floor at all that I am aware of.
 
Not to get off track of the thread but here is the structure system of the 17SC you can see the fiberglass stringers and foam chambers here. 3 point floatation. The fiberglass stringers are full of foam and the 3 big chambers in the 3 points are full of foam. The rest of the floor area is open.

in this photo the Liner is in place and the underside of the shelves on both port and starboard side also have big foam chambers that provide level upright floatation. Note' look closely lower right you can see the end of that floatation chamber on bottom side of shelf.


Now the 14 classic. you will see the same style only its all built by hand using foam structural core. the rear bulkhead is full of foam shown here.


the floor is high density core(use to be Balsa core) glassed directly to the hull of the boat. no false space inbetween. as shown i n raw glass here. with a forward foam chamber in the bow and a storage area as well.

And lastly the shelves both port and starboard with 2 triangle shaped foam chambers under them for support and level upright floatation.


Lastly the completed interior of the 14 classic.


We started building this boat (14 classic) just last year and I have to say its a great fun boat to build. Although dated without the molded liners etc etc the design just doesn't permit such molds so we build it all by hand using sandwiched foam core for the interior panels and bulkheads which adds even more floatation.

Okay back to the Predator. If more info is required on the TDB boats thats another whole thread.
 
Went thru some very hard times this past season and did not even get a chance to duck hunt. When i left i was in the process of buying a used Chuck Huff BBSB at the time from a very nice gentlemen on this forum. Now that i am back on my feet in the duck hunting world i am looking for this style boat again. Can you tell me about what these will be going for. Looked on your website but did not find anything.
 
Gary, the boat isnt on the website yet and we have not finalized pricing as of yet. We have to wait on the canvas dodger pricing from our canvas shop before we will know the actual price.

We use all stainless hardware and NO WOOD in our boats.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top