John Robinson
Well-known member
It's been a long two years with the boat project put on hold for various reasons, but today I finally got to test drive my modified Cackler / mini-Honker. I was able to find a really nice 1983-84 Merc 50 with power trim a few weeks ago. It was way more work than I could have guessed mating the engine to the boat, making a steering console, modifying my drift boat trailer to work with the duck boat, but it came together.
First thing to report, no porpoising . I was able to get up on a plane easily, even though between an interference between my throttle lever and console, plus the throttle cable preventing me from going past about 85% throttle. Since the boat is designed for 40hp maybe that's not a bad govenor. The boat is very steady and solid just like my buddy's Snow Goose. Those Devlin designs may be overbuilt, but I really appreciate that solid, tank like feel. The boat turns and tracks like a speed train on rails. It was windy today, but very little fetch on the river, going into the wind we were flying over little 6" chop, no noise or pounding, a very comfortable ride. Angled off the wind a little bit I got a little spray in my face.
This wasn't a hunt, just a shakedown test drive, but I pulled into one of our honey holes to see about 100 mallards sitting off the point we usually set up on. Lee Smith will know where I'm talking about. I turned around without flushing them, maybe go back in there tomorrow or the next day.
Here's a few pics...
I'm not finished with my steering console yet, I have to trim it out, epoxy and paint it. I also have a little wiring to do, but the boat is just about hunt ready. I want to thank all of you, particularly Andrew, Dave and most of all Eric Paterson for the inspiration and much needed help along the way. I have to say I am as proud of this project as almost anything I have accomplished in my life.
Now lets go duck hunting,
John
First thing to report, no porpoising . I was able to get up on a plane easily, even though between an interference between my throttle lever and console, plus the throttle cable preventing me from going past about 85% throttle. Since the boat is designed for 40hp maybe that's not a bad govenor. The boat is very steady and solid just like my buddy's Snow Goose. Those Devlin designs may be overbuilt, but I really appreciate that solid, tank like feel. The boat turns and tracks like a speed train on rails. It was windy today, but very little fetch on the river, going into the wind we were flying over little 6" chop, no noise or pounding, a very comfortable ride. Angled off the wind a little bit I got a little spray in my face.
This wasn't a hunt, just a shakedown test drive, but I pulled into one of our honey holes to see about 100 mallards sitting off the point we usually set up on. Lee Smith will know where I'm talking about. I turned around without flushing them, maybe go back in there tomorrow or the next day.
Here's a few pics...
I'm not finished with my steering console yet, I have to trim it out, epoxy and paint it. I also have a little wiring to do, but the boat is just about hunt ready. I want to thank all of you, particularly Andrew, Dave and most of all Eric Paterson for the inspiration and much needed help along the way. I have to say I am as proud of this project as almost anything I have accomplished in my life.
Now lets go duck hunting,
John
