Otter Decoys Question

[Worth Mathewson]

The following might be elementarily, and my question might be considered a "duh". But I recently got a dozen Otter canvasbacks. I have a canvasback location in Sask. which requires about a two mile hike to reach. I can no longer pack my cork cans that far.
I wanted Herter's 72s but they are no longer available. Thirty-five years ago I has some Otter scaup, which I liked. I found that Otter Decoys are still available. But I was surprised that when the decoys came they didn't have keels. On the many windy days in Sask. they would stay upright only a matter of seconds.
However, the decoys have a hole drilled under the tail, up into the body. There is a plastic plug for the hole. I have called the Otter Company several times, as well as sent emails. No answer. My question is: Am I suppose to fill this hole with something to put weight toward the bottom? If so, what? Any help will will be appreciated. And if I have a "duh" coming, thats ok. I seem to deal with that sort of thing on an increasing level. Worth Mathewson

 

[Tim Caplinger]

Fill the hole with sand, shot, lead strip weights, etc........ I filled mine with a 6 ounce lead strap weight and then packed sand in and epoxied the plastic cap in. No issues and the decoys ride great.

 

[R T Brinn]

Worth, the Otters are shipped empty with an orange "butt plug" to seal the open tube in the body. I have filled some bigger birds with a permanent concrete/sand mix for sea duck duty, and put only enough sand to provide ballast in some puddle ducks. You could haul them in empty, then fill them with sand/mud/pebbles when you get where you are going. The trick would be to have some way to put tension on that plastic plug where it meets the foam body...maybe a small velcro patch? If you just fill them with water, on a reasonably calm day, they move quite well. Word of warning, though, the heads will crack without care. Good luck!