Saved ..... back on the tidal waters

Dave Diefenderfer

Dave Diefenderfer

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Over the past several years, probably coincides with Steve's Spa Treatment posts, I have been on the lookout for a South Bay Duck Boat (SBDB). Brian Garman got one a couple years ago from Sean Kane and did a really nice job of modifying to the Garman version of a Roy South boat. Raised and enlarged cockpit coaming and flap boards. It hunts real nice in the salt marsh at Chincoteague. After not finding a SBDB for myself for some time, I happened upon the Armstrong Blackjack Christmas of 2021 and jumped on it. My intention was to do similar with it and a Blackroy Boat of sorts.

This past season, at Chincoteague, Brian hunted his Roy South, and I was still hunting my Sam Hunt BBSB, displacement hull. Brian was much deeper in the grass, and did not have to move every 30 minutes as I did. Following him both on the water, and on the trailer, I decided that I really wanted the SBDB and decided to sell the Blackjack.

Last weekend at the LIDCA show, I delivered the Blackjack and took final payment.

Over the past couple months, I searched the internet and reached out to any posting that was reasonably priced and had not been sold. I managed to find 2 that were in the ballpark. One in Alexandria Bay, NY (8 hrs from me), and one in Georgetown, SC (7 hours from me). I was working with both of them, trying to decide which way to go.

Then on a whim, I increased my search area on FB Marketplace, and another rig appeared, in Knoxsville, TN (7 hrs from me).

After some trading of pictures, and negotiations, I made a deal for the hull and accessories.

This past Friday, I left work early with an empty trailer in tow...... drove the 7 hrs to Knoxville for the night. Yesterday morning, I picked up a very well maintained 1982 Hull. The young man I bought it from is a recent Tennesse Volunteer graduate. He saw the boat on an auction and bid on it on a whim. He got a very good deal, did a wonderful job cleaning it up and painting it. He preserved every nut, bolt, washer, snap and screw he took off. All the original parts remain, and some nice original add-ons too.


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Today I inventoried and stored everything away and tucked her in.

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Nice boat, but I think you meant "mid-east". [whistle] [ninja]

Mideast = Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest = Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin
 
Nice looking hull Dave. How much water do they draw loaded? Hunted an AA Blackjack for a lot of years and was always impressed in how little water they'd float/pole in.
 
Roy, should draft only 2 or 3 inches. I will do my best to keep the blind as light weight as I can. Steve's build on the Wrangler has given me some thoughts.
 
roy brewington said:
Nice looking hull Dave. How much water do they draw loaded? Hunted an AA Blackjack for a lot of years and was always impressed in how little water they'd float/pole in.
Click to expand...

loaded I can walk or pole my boat in ankle deep water.
 
On my Blk. Jack I built a roll up/ roll down blind w/buckle on front & rear doors, similar design to factory TDB blind. Grassed with rafia boat would disappear. Narrowed shoot slot to 28" to not show Blk. Hole to overhead birds with drape from some added bundles of Switch Grass that I carried bunged across front deck till needed. That saved a lot of weight compared to a hard walled blind and still give complete wind/weather protection. Still got the blind ,just robbed grass for another boat blind. Cordua Nylon w/grass loops . Had also built a Dodger w/lap cloth for same boat but liked the upright blind better as far as comfort.
 
Dave~


Wonderful stuff! First oars I've ever seen in a South Bay! (If I owned one, I would rig oarlock stanchion outboard of the cockpit...)


As I've mentioned previously, the seat and back rest really got my attention. I built a couple of folding seats for South Bays over the last few months. I had never seen one before. As mine is so similar to the one presumable made by Red Magnus, I view the similarities as one more example of convergent evolution.


Mine seems to have a bit more rake to the seat (bottom) itself:


Seat 1.JPG



I took the pertinent angles off a wooden chair in my shop.


Seat 2 - aft view.JPG



It is free-standing - so does not need to lean against the forward coaming for the back angle. Note the shelf with shell holders....



Seat 3 - in place.JPG



Like yours, it is hinged to fold flat for storage.


Seat 4 - folded.JPG



I finally recorded the key measurements when building the second one in early January. On this one, I rounded the upper corners of the seat back - but evidently never documented it with my camera.



Tuffin South Bay - seat dimensions 2.JPG



I will follow your project carefully!


All the best,


SJS


 
Dave

I am thrilled that boat wound up with you. I followed that auction, and many more of the lots in it. It was an epic duck hunter's auction. I was tempted to pull the trigger after seeing that boat done up so well numerous times by Steve Sanford but have more than enough projects in the queue. Now that you have the boat, I know it will get done right. Congratulations.

1982 SOUTH BAY DUCK HUNTING BOAT - 14 FT. | Live and Online Auctions on HiBid.com

Eric
 
Damn, wish I had seen that auction! The other sneakbox was quite a steal too, though I am very happy with the deal. The young man I bought it from did a nice job, made a good profit, and I still got a very good deal. He told me proceeds are going for an engagement ring, and he had another duck boat in the garage. He made a grand for his efforts, and I got better than I had hoped for. Driving 7 hours, to purchase a boat based on pictures is always a crap shoot. The shoving oar and push pole were not in his original post/pictures and all the saved hardware, and paints was a bonus.

I also managed as stop at Smoky Mountain Knife Works, so I got to snoop around an buy a couple more edges.
 
Dave

When the first guy gets it for a song and doesn't try and make a big score with it, that leaves room for everyone to get a good deal and be happy. Not only does this thread show your score, but it sheds light on the folding seats, as Steve noted. I think this is the first time that topic has been covered in any amount of detail. I'm making note for future reference as they look like a really good idea.

Eric
 
Dave, I liked the spray shield Steve made and the shelf. I use the invisilounge for a seat. Moved tank and battery to the bow. Also made a removeable plywood shelf in bow to hold tank, battery and large anchor [ also rolled tarp for emergencies, thanks John Livoti}.. In the stern I have tool box and 3 foldable grapple anchors.What hull number is your boat?
 
Dave beautiful rig! Glad to see her go to a great home. South Bays are a stable safe platform my family owns a few also had a double-wide version. The ownership of them now is in Amityville NY, hopefully they make a comeback soon! Best of luck with her. F244FE9E-B0D3-435A-B396-7C5F987847EE.jpeg51AE1ADC-DE14-4934-A0D6-CAA403BC97E1.jpeg
 
Rich, interesting you should ask about the hull number. What is listed in the auction receipt and what I scribed from the hull don't match. When I entered what I think the number is in the Virginia DB, it lists the mfg as Docktek Marine? If I enter as DCK00007 or DCKC007 both come up as same manufacturer? But finally, after inserting DCH, I get Southbay Duck Boats as the manufacturer.
 
Lay on your back and look under the rear deck. Mine was hull #27 I think. Was glassed in hull with telephone pole numbers. I gave the boat to the grand kid of the original owner.
 
I love mine.
Local CL if anyone is interested:

https://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/d/alexandria-bay-south-bay-duck-boat/7591734432.html

https://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/d/west-babylon-duck-boat/7576769813.html

Not a SBDB but a cool boat. SJS, you know anything about these?

https://capecod.craigslist.org/boa/d/yarmouth-port-12ft-madoc-duck-boat/7587713077.html
 
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