TDB 14 Classic - New Owner with Questions

K

Kim Ross

Active member
I recently was lucky enough to find a 1995 TDB 14' Classic, in mint condition, with blind and dog ladder. TDBs are rare birds this side of the border. The widow of the original owner said they drove to NH to take delivery back in '95- and a 'young man' from TDBCo apparently drove from ME to meet them there part way.

It came with a 1995 9.9HP Johnson O/B, also mint, which unfortunately well under the boat's max rating of 15 HP. Planning to use my 6.5 HP Go-Devil longtail on it when hunting our shallow duck club marsh - just enough oomph for displacement hull speed probably, say 6 mph, which is fine for use there. Wondering about using my 16 HP Go-Devil longtail on it to get more speed on my open but sheltered lake, when using the TDB for fishing or as a tender boat when diver hunting from a layout. Has anybody tried using a 16 HP or larger longtail on a TDB 14'? I have only found one report online, which said a 18HP B&S on a longtail was too heavy for the narrow stern on the Classic. BTW the Johnson is 72 lb, the 6.5 GDLT 109 lb and the 16 GDLT is ~150 lb.

For those who hunt with dogs from your TDB, do you prefer to keep them out steady on the foredeck as per the original designer's concept, or inside the blind with you? My boat's original owner build a bench for inside the front of the cockpit so his dog could jump up to the foredeck when going out to retireve.
 
One of my huinting partners has a 14ft SeaClass. He has a wooden platform at the front of the cockpit which is just high enough (maybe 4 inches high) for the dogs to sit with head out over the gunnel, in the corner of the blind. The dog exits from there, but comes in over the transom. I always hunt from the stern, he hunts from the bow to work the dogs. When the dog is sent, I stand and un-clip the rear of the blind, and aid the dog on-board.
 
I can't help you on the longtail... but I put a 5/8" plywood top on the of the front 2/3 of the cockpit...




 
Last edited:
Yes... This is set up for me... and the BEST hunting buddy ever!!!!! and 7 doz decoys.....

powered by a 25 Yamaha
 
Don't know about a longtail. Lots of guys use a 25 hp tiller.
Once I let Hoss sit on the bow, that's the only place he wanted to hunt from.
I preferred him inside.
 
I forgot to mention my retreiver is a Toller, about 50 lb., so he will have more of a 'vertical challenge' than the Labs, Goldens and Chessies that hunt from these boats. Maybe I will keep the bench and give it a try for the hunts at the club.

For the open water layout boat hunts we will probably use the TDB with a landing net to pick up birds.
 
I think your options with a TDB are no different than any other boat really. I think the most important thing to consider is the dog's "ability" and your concerns. That is, if your dog is steady, you could have him sit on a platform outside the boat. If you're more concerned about concealing the dog, then have him hunt from inside.
 
I have a 95 classic also,I think 150 lb mud motor is a lil to heavy for my liking.The board already flexes some with the 15 Yamaha coming in around 80 lbs.I just put a 25 Yamaha long shaft on the boat as the 15 just wasn't snuff for me.I built a taller motor board and put a brace to the cleat to help w the extra weight and extra hp.I also have a toller for puddle ducks he is inside sometimes I put a cooler.I'm the boat and he sits on that and looks thru the front corner of the blind
We sit up front so he can enter and exit from bow.I have also used a board which I ran from shelf to shelf.Seaducks and divers I put him right on the bow.
 
Yep, much as I would like more speed it sounds like the 16GDLT is too much weight, even if I brace the motor board.
Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions for my Toller.

I have another question from the "One fool can ask more questions than a thousand wise men can answer" department:

For anyone who has mounted an electric trolling motor on their TDB , what did you use for a mounting system, since the motor board is just wide enough for the O/B? Since a GDLT has no neutral or reverse, I would like to use an electric motor when moving among the layout boat and decoys.
 
Just bolt a mounting plate for your trolling motor off to the side of the existing motor board. I've seen pictures of them on here, but have never done it. I've also seen a pic of a boat with two shorttail mud motors on his tab. don't know how he did it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top