What have I been gifted?

[Dave Diefenderfer]

A co-worker saw a small boat on one of his local deer hunting groups that was a freebee. Asked if I wanted it. Dumb question!!!! He delivered it this week while I was on a business trip. Today I got the first in person look.

It is 10ft 6in long, about 38-40 inches wide and about 12 inches deep. It has a very thick foam pad over the entire inside bottom of the floor that is sealed in, but perforated, so I suspect is waterlogged. Because it is way too heavy now. The River Monster decals might be factory? I find no numbers so far, and the VA titles is 1970, unknown mfg.

For now, it will sit, not sure if/how I would use it, but I suspect it will be easier to get in and out in waders and winter wear than the Pokeboat! I already pulled off the seat, but I think a bench across the gunnels would be perfect.

The previous owner used it to fish snakeheads with a trolling motor and had some big lights on the front that did not come with the hull.

I find nothing on-line called a River Monster. Any other ideas?

 

[Carl]

Not sure what it is other than a pretty cool little boat!
By the way its built, looks like it would be pretty heavy but also stable for its size.

 

[David Clites]

The River Monsters decal might be a Facebook or other group that fishes for Snakeheads. Can/did you ask the previous owner/donor about the decal? I am always sheepish about going back to Sellers to ask a question that I should have asked in the first place. But in this case on such a nice boat I would go back if that is at all possible.

Also I have owned 2 boats where the factory Hull ID number was quite hidden--supposedly some Manufacturers did this to prevent casual thiefs from obscuring the number to prevent tracing of stolen goods. That looks like a factory boat not Homemade.

On the other hand, all of the above might not matter because you know what you need to do to get it rigged/ready. This is a nice gift for sure and I am jealous!

 

[roy brewington]

Bottom design looks exactly like a bobcat or hellbender except for that squared off stern. Maybe an earlier design they incorporated as normally both have pointed ends. Top pic of hull resembles both as well except of course stern. Neither of those hulls have flotation in floor though just expanding foam tucked up under noses of ends. My hellbender & previous bobcat paddle reasonably well with a long kayak paddle but are also able to be push poled easily while standing. Even made a little trolling motor mount for the Bobcat that attached across rear of aft deck. You,ve got a transom so trolling motor is an option. I feel the best use for them is transported to or near gunnin location on bigger boat and using the little hull to get into super skinny water as you would with a peirogh. Don,t guess that stern has been modified from a pointy end to squared off by any change?

 

[Todd Duncan Tennyson]

Free is a good price.

Watch your weight being up high across the gunnels unless you ballast it with some gear. Otherwise a baptism could happen.

 

[zane Every]

Dave,

It looks just like a Bobcat boat. I owned one years ago. They are a very stable boat, but not too fun to paddle for any distance. Bobcat boats had several different models, some with electric trolling motors mounted underneath if I remember correctly.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

After loading the Blackjack for delivery to the LIDCA show last weekend, I moved this hull into the shop. My Fein Multitool made quick work of the glass along the hull and out came 6 or 7 5gallon buckets of wet foam and fiberglass. I am guessing I removed 40 to 50 lbs, though as the foam has dried, the buckets seem lighter. I need to dress the cut edges and decide if I lay a finish layer of glass over the rough bottom. But I think it was effort well spent. I found a bonded transducer in the bow, that I will remove yet. It is now obvious that this was a double ended hull at one time. Someone stubbed it for a transom. I will remove the wood and bracket and sand the paint back to see if everything is sound or needs attention.

 

[Kevin B]

Nice little boat, I would recess the seat half way below the gunnels. It will keep your center of gravity lower and make exiting the boat in waders much easier