New to the forum! Heres my higbee!

M

Michael Ford

New member
Whats up guys?! My names Mike Ford I?m located in south jersey and I love duck hunting. Im new to this forum and like most of you have questions about some things! I have a 1978 higbee that has a few soft spots on the top deck. It has to be where previous owners have had different spray shield screwed into it without sealing the holes.My first question is what is the best way to go about fixing this? It drives me crazy! Everywhere else is solid! My second question is on these higbee do they have foam cores? I saw something about drilling holes and filling with epoxy to harden the core. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Here is my boat after being painted. Repowered it this year with a 2010 Yamaha 15hp 2 stroke. Stole this beauty for 450 bucks off craigslist after my old Johnny rude lost compression at the end of last season. Also just built my sprayshield With frame out of conduit and Bimini hardware. Instead of using the canvas to keep the blind in the upright position, I made two braces one on each side to hold it up. The braces can easily be folded down after take a wing but off to allow the sprayshield to fold down.(dont judge the sewing first time I ever sewing a machine lol) I melted wax and brushed it on the canvas then used a heat gun to soak it in to waterproof it. Then painted it to match the one I made last season. Added a switch panel for running and interior lights. Still have to make a battery box. Also a picture of the boat grassed from last season.
View attachment 99B3B93B-7342-41DA-BB42-FBD8F114D24E.jpegView attachment 06AC06E7-06C7-4841-8586-7F1645DAAAB5.jpeg

View attachment 2554403B-13FA-4A73-8354-E888145D6F29.jpeg
View attachment 10916E61-80B5-4BA7-A416-44BFA545A134.jpegView attachment 192D9466-81E9-44F8-9878-1BCF97E0CB08.jpegView attachment 3D32682A-97C3-405D-9BF4-505BF5CB0E96.jpeg
View attachment 0FEABCB6-C2AD-4B4B-8E8F-750772269108.jpeg

View attachment 0FEABCB6-C2AD-4B4B-8E8F-750772269108.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Welcome aboard!
Thats a nice rig and one heck of a steal on that 15hp, looks really clean.

I know nothing about higbee boats, so I will let others jump in on that.
 
Thanks man ! No problem hopefully someone will know! The Yamaha a elderly woman had it when her husband past. I told her that she could get double or triple what she was asking! She was surprised that I was so honest and wouldnt take anything more then what she was asking. I got lucky man Ill never find a deal Like that again !
 
Last edited:
That is the deal of the century on that yamaha. I know a guy who sold one for $3k...

I don't believe higbees were foam cored, usually just had plywood coring on the transom, but they were built by a few different entities over the years so that could vary.
 
It just feels like there is a layer of glass on the top side then a eighth inch of nothing then really hard glass for the bottom layer right under neith? Hmm and yeah man I still can?t believe I got this motor for that. It?s damn near brand new
 
Good morning, Michael~


Great boat - and great improvements!


A friend will be bringing his "Higbee knock-off" here next Spring for a "spa treatment". I look forward to getting to know one intimately.


In the meantime, have a great season with her!


SJS

 
Thanks so much for the private message. Took your advise and ordered the dodger from eBay.
I also have a raffia cover for the boat. It should be easy to attach raffia to the dodger.
Have a great season.
 
No prob! Enjoy your season and best of luck! The eBay shield would be the easiest for what you are looking for hope you are happy with it
 
Absolutely! Im glad Im not the only one that does this! Thats next I always use a dark brown and green when everything is finished. I hunt the first week( which is our first split in south zone of nj) then when duck season goes back out I?ll go back and paint it. Everything is alive right now in the meadows down here so it works for the first split but def add dark color the second split. This is last years.





View attachment BF2924B2-D7DC-40A7-896C-19CD6093B0B8.jpegView attachment 74277694-735D-4A1C-AD11-50AD85F40857.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Good morning, Mike~


Great work all around! I guess it's easy, though, when you have such an industrious Helper....


All the best,


SJS

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top