Somers Point Garvey going to Dave Clark

John Birmingham

John Birmingham

Active member
As noted below, I bought this garvey a while back and just got off the line with Dave Clark who is going to take on the project. Hope we will see pictures of the work....

Earlier this morning I sold my sneakbox to a fellow member up on Cape Cod.

Needless to say, I had to get another duck boat...

This 15' garvey has a little plaque indicating it was built by Russ Adams, Somers, Point.

Garvey15Bow.jpg

 
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Cool looking boat. I've been thinking about selling my carolina skiff and building something like that. How long is it? Thanks Luke
 
It is 15'. I think I will run it with a tiller rather than the wheel which was added later.

Garvey15Stern.jpg


I've been looking at ways to put a blind.

It will be going green soon.
 
John,
Cool Boat.
Is it ply or is there some solid planking on the sides?
If you can I highly recommend building a motor splash well on the transom to keep any water out of the boat if backing down is required. Makes a very good addition to a winter time boat.
 
It is interesting that you mention that. I agree that would be a good improvement.

The boat construction is plank, I think the addition could be done.
 
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I would strongly recommend keeping it as remote controls. But, that's just me. I much prefer running a boat with remote controls vs. a tiller

Gene
 
Gene,

I was thinking of running it with a tiller because that is what I have. I will look into getting a set of controls.

Thanks for your thoughts.

John
 
I was able to convert my 25 merc from tiller to remote. I went with new contols and it wasn't cheap. Might be able to hit ebay or find something used if your motor is able to be converted.

Gene
 
I think remote steering is VERY convienent... but to me it takes up too much cockpit space... esprcially on a small boat...
 
John, that's a ncie looking rig, alot more room than the sneakbox. Can't wait til you post up some pics of the modifications and camo/blind schemes. Best of luck.
Paul
 
Garveywithtwoseats.jpg


Finally got this old garvey on the water.

After digging up an old story about these boats I dropped an old 9.9hp johnson which I was told has a 15hp carb. It jumps right up on plane.

Hope to get a little more work done this summer and get her out ducking in the fall.
 
Hi Kevin,

Yes we sold our house in early June. Thing will be settling down in another month or so.

I hope to be able to start carving again in the fall. Right now everything is in storage.

Hope to see you at Tuckerton, if not sooner.

John
 
Hey John,
Nice garvey...I do know a bit about Russ Adams. I lived around the corner from his shop on Bay Ave. in Somers Pt.
He made garveys and sneakboxes, as well as decoys and miniature decoys. He was friends with another carver of note,
Jake Barrett. He was alive into the seventies I believe...not sure of his exact dates, but I did donate some of his letter heads and one of those brass plaques ( which he put on all his boats) to the Somers Point Historical Society. He was well know and respected in the area as a great craftsman. I'm sure if you contacted the Historical Soc. you could find out more if you wanted. If I can help, let me know. Russ Allen
 
Nice Garvey John. You did right by removing the steering in my opinion. Looks much more suited for duck hunting now. Open floor layout, a couple of seats. Nice. I would second the splash well. I also find tiller steering much better for picking up decoys/birds etc. when you have a blind on the boat. My buddy has a Garvey that we customized and its out big water/diver boat. I love gunning from it. Throw a few Mr. Buddy heaters in there in January and it is like a duck hunters resort.
 
Nice boat John,
What are your plans for a blind? I'm working on a deep 14' aluminum and can't decide what to put on it.
Don't want a scissor blind just a simple blind for divers.
Good luck with your build, John
 
John,

The plan is to set up some small wood frames with 2'x8' lattice from home depot covered with fast grass on each side, then use camo burlap to cover fore and aft. I've seen more substantial cover, but am concerned about getting too top heavy, wind and traveling over highways to hunt. Everything has to fit in the boat under a snap on cover. Once I get a little further along I will post a picture.

John
 
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