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

Will do. I will be glad to post the build of the Higbee style if that's what you guys want to see. These molds were also made by MLB But are in much better shape. It has the big cockpit opening deck but that will be changed to the smaller opening with more back deck area.
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I'd love to see it, its cool to watch and very informative.
 
Tony are there any updates on the predator yet, is the boat available for production yet, I don't see anything updated on the website as of yet for pricing and options
 
Tony are there any updates on the predator yet, is the boat available for production yet, I don't see anything updated on the website as of yet for pricing and options
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Jamie, I can tell you boat number 2 is just about complete. We made a few modifications to it which include 2 shelves that we made from fiberglass sandwiched core one on port and one on starboard side and left them open inside for storage of paddle, oar, push poles etc. This also adds a great level of stiffening of the hull with minimal weight. Another thing we chose to do is change the floatation a bit. We added more foam core in the transom area and in the deck to allow us to cut the suspended foam blocks down to only 1ea port and starboard rear and 1 forward bow area. Boat 2 will bve put together this week. This particular hull is already spoken for to someone who has alot experience in the Huff and has helped us fix alot of these issues. We are at this point ready and waiting on final price from the canvas shop on the spray dodger and once we have that were ready to go. I hope to do some water testing as soon as the Predator returns to us. I have converted my 15hp long shaft to a short shaft and were ready and waiting. Hull number 3 and on will be available






 
Tony, does creating the gap down the middle and splitting the core for the drain area add additional strength to the center of the boat? Also I see a gap in the core on the deck, will that add strength there as well? Those shelves look good and the opening behind is a great idea to keep paddles or push pole secure.
 
Tony, does creating the gap down the middle and splitting the core for the drain area add additional strength to the center of the boat? Also I see a gap in the core on the deck, will that add strength there as well? Those shelves look good and the opening behind is a great idea to keep paddles or push pole secure.
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Of course it adds strength throughout the hull and deck. The gap in the deck is because we have to mount a fule through fitting and needed a thinner laminate for that area. This deck and hull is way over built. Trust me on that. Hull 2 has a few changes and should gain a few extra lbs which will only make it ride the water that much better. The truth is yet to come when we can mount 3 go pros in this boat showing different angles to show how the hull reacts when under power. The cameras area charged and ready, just need the boat back now. May even give hull 2 a test run as well. Im sure its owner would love to see how it performs as well. We will be running a 9.9 upgraded to a 15hp on it when we test it. And im certain the boat will run very very well.
 
Tony,
In this second boat you show three flotation blocks suspended from the deck. The single flotation block in the front would be better suited as two separate thinner and longer flotation blocks fastened near the sides rather than right up the middle under the bow. The way it is placed now, it will make it difficult to change out any front lighting or even stash a bag of decoys up under there. Just my pennies.
Ron
 
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Tony,
In this second boat you show three flotation blocks suspended from the deck. The single flotation block in the front would be better suited as two separate thinner and longer flotation blocks fastened near the sides rather than right up the middle under the bow. The way it is placed now, it will make it difficult to change out any front lighting or even stash a bag of decoys up under there. Just my pennies.
Ron
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Ron very valid observation that we considered with the front foam chamber. If your familiar with this boat it gets very very shallow in the sides of the bow quickly and for us to make best use of the floatation and build process time etc. One chamber in the middle makes more sense. You can and will be able to reach around the chamber to access any hardware. Handle, Bow Eye and possibly a bow light. We will access the situation once this boat is put together and can get a better perspective of the layout. To make to foam chambers and make them specific sizes we will have to make custom foam molds to do that and that means time and money. Right now and this is a good tip for anyone building boats. We are using plastic sterile brand containers bought at walmart. they wont stick to the foam and come in many different general sizes and shapes. Using these is easy and very cost effective for making custom sized foam chambers. :)
 
We are using plastic sterile brand containers bought at walmart. they wont stick to the foam and come in many different general sizes and shapes. Using these is easy and very cost effective for making custom sized foam chambers.
Tony,
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I saw that and could see what you were using for a mold. A saw cut could be made thru the length of the cast foam block once it is removed from the container. This of course would result in two wedge shaped foam blocks. A carpenters hand saw (non electric) would make short work of this.


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We are using plastic sterile brand containers bought at walmart. they wont stick to the foam and come in many different general sizes and shapes. Using these is easy and very cost effective for making custom sized foam chambers.
Tony,
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Thats a possibilty. But it may very well hinder getting to the bow even more putting one on each side. Once we get this one put together we will take a look at this possibility.



I saw that and could see what you were using for a mold. A saw cut could be made thru the length of the cast foam block once it is removed from the container. This of course would result in two wedge shaped foam blocks. A carpenters hand saw (non electric) would make short work of this.
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Or you could stand the boat on it's bow insert a contractor grade garbage bag work it into the bow a fill with foam. When it cures trim the bag and tie it off making it water proof.
 
Or you could stand the boat on it's bow insert a contractor grade garbage bag work it into the bow a fill with foam. When it cures trim the bag and tie it off making it water proof.
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Bill that's a bad idea that would hide all the hardware from access in thr bow. We have a handle bow eye and potential bow light all going on thr bow. The foam is going on the deck for positive floatation to keep the vessel upright if it were ever swamped.
 
So dumb question, or make that it should be a dumb question. If the foam is removable in some manner and someone does remove it and no replace it - does this make you liable Tony should something bad happen? I know I shouldn't have to ask this question because if a person is dumb enough to knowingly remove flotation foam and has trouble, you shouldn't be liable. I also know this isn't the society we live in.


Mark W
 
So dumb question, or make that it should be a dumb question. If the foam is removable in some manner and someone does remove it and no replace it - does this make you liable Tony should something bad happen? I know I shouldn't have to ask this question because if a person is dumb enough to knowingly remove flotation foam and has trouble, you shouldn't be liable. I also know this isn't the society we live in.


Mark W
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Guys remove the blocks of foam from the bench seats of john boats since aluminium john boats started being made. Where are the lawsuits?
 
So dumb question, or make that it should be a dumb question. If the foam is removable in some manner and someone does remove it and no replace it - does this make you liable Tony should something bad happen? I know I shouldn't have to ask this question because if a person is dumb enough to knowingly remove flotation foam and has trouble, you shouldn't be liable. I also know this isn't the society we live in.


Mark W
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I would not be liable. But here in lies the problem. Someone buys a boat removes the foam. Then sells the boat to someone who isn't aware the boat has been modified. Sinks said boat killing his child. He sues manufacturer only to find his boat has been modified and has no claim. Did the boat manufacture win? No it cost them thousands for attorneys lots of time away from work and a innocent child still is taken all because someone needed room for 6 more decoys in a boat. Sorry I'm not interested in the risk and potential outcome and anyone who would remove foam from a boat is insane and here is why. If this child's family proved the orignal owner removed it the previous owner could then be liable for the death for failing to mention it was removed prior to the sale and getting a signed affidavitt. Will this happen? Who knows. But I'm not interested in finding out. All of our boats ate built to uscg standards and your not modifying them easily to remove the foam.
 
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Okay Hull 2 is about complete. we made a few changes and are happy with the results. we added more core to the deck, changed the foam chambers as well. added shelves both port and starboard and put a drain down the center of the hull. I think this is the final draft so to speak with possibly one more change to the front bow foam chamber. I will know more once this boats put together and we see how the room is up in the bow area. This boat we beefed up the deck a little and added im guessing 20lbs to the boat so a slight adjustment in capacity rating may be coming. We have factored in 5% so we may still make the cut as is.

We will have this on our website soon. We are still waiting on the canvas shop to get the dodgers done to complete the package.



 
Tony, have you figured out the capacity rating on the current boat, will it be a two man boat? How many of these boats will you be able to bring to the tuckerton decoy show?
 
Tony, have you figured out the capacity rating on the current boat, will it be a two man boat? How many of these boats will you be able to bring to the tuckerton decoy show?
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Jamie Capacity will stay as posted previously. I am not sure yet, I am actually considering building a trailer just to haul Predators on and thinking 4 total possible. Also looking at delivering some earlier than the show. Were on hold waiting for the canvas shop to get us some dodgers.
 
Guys here is some final shots of the Predator, This ones done and waiting on a dodger. I believe the foam chambers worked our perfectly. Plenty of room in the bow to work around the foam to access the bow and ample room in the stern as well. The shelves turned out exactly as we had expected and plenty of room for 2 guys. Very very happy with the final results. I love the lines of this boat and the teak grass rails are a very nice addition. Once the tan499 dodger is installed it should look extremely well. Next step water testing.











 
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