Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
I was busy with my camera when I could find the time this past weekend. I will begin with some of my 79 "keeper" images - boiled down from over 300 - and add more to this thread as I can. The whole weekend was truly memorable. I enjoyed meeting so many people - especially many whom I "knew" from this site but had never met in person. The streak continues: I have yet to meet anyone from this site who was not a pleasure to know and visit with.
And, I learned a lot from many builders, carvers and gunners.
Day 1 for me was Friday. I left the farm at 6:00 AM and made my way to Paul Dobrosky's house about an hour north of Tuckerton. The NYS Thruway and Garden State Parkway happily accepted both my trailer and my EZ Pass - but some adventure ensued thanks to an unforeseen Express Lane - which blew me right past Paul's exit - and then those famous NJ "jug handles". After a fine visit with Paul - seeing his boats, gear and exceptional decoys and carvings - I took my rig down to the Show to drop it off. A weekend-long pleasure of watching, meeting and working with the Parks staff and volunteers began at the gate - with a gracious welcome from the young lady with the all-important clipboard. I soon after met German Georgieff and more staff - all helpful, professional and friendly throughout.
I then drove a half-hour south to an old friend - for company and hospitality. We headed for his docked boat - and a 3-hour tour that shared some elements with Gilligan's famous outing. This 20-footer has a nice Garvey bottom - with a Suzuki 140.
As a Long Island native, saltmarsh is an important part of me. The amazing expanses along the Jersey coast stir the soul.
It has been a while since I had visited with some of the plants: Spartina cynosuroides (Big Cordgrass) is always a favorite.
Spartina alterniflora is Smooth Cordgrass - the common saltmarsh grass in the intertidal zone.
But, too much interest in botany can be bad for your health - when the engine will not re-start and a mosquito-laden night is only a couple of hours away.....
With the boat's batteries unresponsive AND the cell phone's charge almost gone, there was just enough time to leave a couple of brief messages. Happily - after lining the vessel against the wind in knee-deep bank mud for not quite an hour - we were rescued by a colleague with a willing 20-horse.
He lashed his craft to ours and idled us homeward - as night crept inexorably toward us.
Although the batteries could not start the engine, they could power the running lights. We got back just as night enveloped us.
Day 2 was Saturday - the first day of the Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show (aka Tuckerton). We were all greeted by an unanticipated drizzle that lasted into the early afternoon.
Neverthless, there was lots to see and learn - in the Land of the Wawa....
Fareed and his family were among the many smiling faces of duckboats.net members that I met while gathered around RED-LEG. He spun tales of his youth - hunting waterfowl in Pakistan. I now know that "The Punjab" is the "land of five rivers".
Here I m being grilled by the Judges. I think it was German who observed: "You talk more than most of the guys."
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Marty Kristiansen (but do not hold me to the spelling....)
Please correct me with any misspellings or misinformation.
This gunning coffin is made by Ken (?) Barnett. He took my plans from the 1980s and developed some excellent improvements over the years.
That is Bob Fricke standing at the stern of his fine 'box.
Bill Simonsen had several well-restored sneakboxes on hand. This one - built by Van Sant - will be coming up here to Washington County - for my gunning partner Jamie Woods.
This is Dave Clark's Estuary. He gave me some very useful sewing pointers - and also sold me some sweet compartmented decoy bags.
This is one of Tony Homer's / Waterfowl Works new Sneakboxes. I believe this is the rowing model.
And, I think this is the outboard-powered version.
Somehow, Dave Diefenderfer spirited this Long Island Scooter past the Ocean County Customs & Border Patrol....
Dave taught Bill and Willie Simonsen all about Dodge & Krowl Scooters....
This tiny craft is either from the Youth Section of the catalog - or is more appropriately called a "ditch box". I never did learn the history.
I am guessing - but certainly do not know - that this is a Gus Heinrich's 'box - or at least a knock-off. CORRECTION - Thanks to Tony Homer - this is a Higbee by Ray's Plastic - with non-stock cockpit cut into her foredeck.
Stay tuned for the rest - after I get some rest....
* * *
Well, I've got a few hours sleep in me now, so.....
DECOY CONTEST
I did not spend much time here - or enter any birds - but Parks staff explained it to me Sunday morning. Most of the competition is for "indigenous" styles: Barnegat Bay and Delaware River. They also had a Contemporary Gunner class that seems open to "outsider" styles like my birds. Maybe next year......
The featured species this year was Brant - so the 6-bird rigs were floating right on the pond.
A nice belt of Bulrush grew alongside the pond.
In no particular order, here are some birds that caught my eye.....
MORE BOATS
Here are some of the non-Sneakbox factory boats offered for sale.
My host took home a pair of these - for his son and himself.
Best-Behaved Retrieving Dog.....
MORE VENDORS & FRIENDS
I brought home a nice chunk of 4-inch Atlantic White Cedar - to become a pair of Wigeon and a pair of Gadwalls for my own rig - maybe in the dead of winter ????
I enjoyed meeting Russ Allen and George Strunk - set up right next to each other.
I even got George to smile for the camera. I really admire his work.
Jode Hillman had some good leads for me - trying to track down the original builder of RED-LEG.
It seems like NASA landed this right amongst Tony Homer's display.....
All the best,
SJS
I was busy with my camera when I could find the time this past weekend. I will begin with some of my 79 "keeper" images - boiled down from over 300 - and add more to this thread as I can. The whole weekend was truly memorable. I enjoyed meeting so many people - especially many whom I "knew" from this site but had never met in person. The streak continues: I have yet to meet anyone from this site who was not a pleasure to know and visit with.
And, I learned a lot from many builders, carvers and gunners.
Day 1 for me was Friday. I left the farm at 6:00 AM and made my way to Paul Dobrosky's house about an hour north of Tuckerton. The NYS Thruway and Garden State Parkway happily accepted both my trailer and my EZ Pass - but some adventure ensued thanks to an unforeseen Express Lane - which blew me right past Paul's exit - and then those famous NJ "jug handles". After a fine visit with Paul - seeing his boats, gear and exceptional decoys and carvings - I took my rig down to the Show to drop it off. A weekend-long pleasure of watching, meeting and working with the Parks staff and volunteers began at the gate - with a gracious welcome from the young lady with the all-important clipboard. I soon after met German Georgieff and more staff - all helpful, professional and friendly throughout.
I then drove a half-hour south to an old friend - for company and hospitality. We headed for his docked boat - and a 3-hour tour that shared some elements with Gilligan's famous outing. This 20-footer has a nice Garvey bottom - with a Suzuki 140.
As a Long Island native, saltmarsh is an important part of me. The amazing expanses along the Jersey coast stir the soul.
It has been a while since I had visited with some of the plants: Spartina cynosuroides (Big Cordgrass) is always a favorite.
Spartina alterniflora is Smooth Cordgrass - the common saltmarsh grass in the intertidal zone.
But, too much interest in botany can be bad for your health - when the engine will not re-start and a mosquito-laden night is only a couple of hours away.....
With the boat's batteries unresponsive AND the cell phone's charge almost gone, there was just enough time to leave a couple of brief messages. Happily - after lining the vessel against the wind in knee-deep bank mud for not quite an hour - we were rescued by a colleague with a willing 20-horse.
He lashed his craft to ours and idled us homeward - as night crept inexorably toward us.
Although the batteries could not start the engine, they could power the running lights. We got back just as night enveloped us.
Day 2 was Saturday - the first day of the Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show (aka Tuckerton). We were all greeted by an unanticipated drizzle that lasted into the early afternoon.
Neverthless, there was lots to see and learn - in the Land of the Wawa....
Fareed and his family were among the many smiling faces of duckboats.net members that I met while gathered around RED-LEG. He spun tales of his youth - hunting waterfowl in Pakistan. I now know that "The Punjab" is the "land of five rivers".
Here I m being grilled by the Judges. I think it was German who observed: "You talk more than most of the guys."
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Marty Kristiansen (but do not hold me to the spelling....)
Please correct me with any misspellings or misinformation.
This gunning coffin is made by Ken (?) Barnett. He took my plans from the 1980s and developed some excellent improvements over the years.
That is Bob Fricke standing at the stern of his fine 'box.
Bill Simonsen had several well-restored sneakboxes on hand. This one - built by Van Sant - will be coming up here to Washington County - for my gunning partner Jamie Woods.
This is Dave Clark's Estuary. He gave me some very useful sewing pointers - and also sold me some sweet compartmented decoy bags.
This is one of Tony Homer's / Waterfowl Works new Sneakboxes. I believe this is the rowing model.
And, I think this is the outboard-powered version.
Somehow, Dave Diefenderfer spirited this Long Island Scooter past the Ocean County Customs & Border Patrol....
Dave taught Bill and Willie Simonsen all about Dodge & Krowl Scooters....
This tiny craft is either from the Youth Section of the catalog - or is more appropriately called a "ditch box". I never did learn the history.
I am guessing - but certainly do not know - that this is a Gus Heinrich's 'box - or at least a knock-off. CORRECTION - Thanks to Tony Homer - this is a Higbee by Ray's Plastic - with non-stock cockpit cut into her foredeck.
Stay tuned for the rest - after I get some rest....
* * *
Well, I've got a few hours sleep in me now, so.....
DECOY CONTEST
I did not spend much time here - or enter any birds - but Parks staff explained it to me Sunday morning. Most of the competition is for "indigenous" styles: Barnegat Bay and Delaware River. They also had a Contemporary Gunner class that seems open to "outsider" styles like my birds. Maybe next year......
The featured species this year was Brant - so the 6-bird rigs were floating right on the pond.
A nice belt of Bulrush grew alongside the pond.
In no particular order, here are some birds that caught my eye.....
MORE BOATS
Here are some of the non-Sneakbox factory boats offered for sale.
My host took home a pair of these - for his son and himself.
Best-Behaved Retrieving Dog.....
MORE VENDORS & FRIENDS
I brought home a nice chunk of 4-inch Atlantic White Cedar - to become a pair of Wigeon and a pair of Gadwalls for my own rig - maybe in the dead of winter ????
I enjoyed meeting Russ Allen and George Strunk - set up right next to each other.
I even got George to smile for the camera. I really admire his work.
Jode Hillman had some good leads for me - trying to track down the original builder of RED-LEG.
It seems like NASA landed this right amongst Tony Homer's display.....
All the best,
SJS
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