Wooden Barnegat

[jim h]

The other day I came across the brass plaque that was on my sneakbox when I had bought it many years ago. It had been removed and put in a safe place- and then I moved!

Anyway, my boat was built for my dear friend and decoy mentor, Charles F Murphy, and I bought it from his widow when he passed away many years ago. The plaque reads:

Barnegat Bay Sneak Box
Built for Charles F Murphy
The Sneak Box Studio
by Alan Chadwick
Barnegat, NJ
1964

Some of you may have known "Charlie" who was a master decoy maker from the Concord, Mass area and who wrote the book series, "Working Plans for Working Decoys". He hunted the mouth of the Parker River from this boat back in the '60-70's using cork decoys that he had made.

When I first met Charlie in the '80's, he had moved to Dover, NH where I served a decoy making apprenticeship- I carved, he painted (like Leonardo!). At that time, due to the weather and neglect, the boat was a wreck but Charlie had it restored and fiberglassed shortly before he passed away.

I am including pictures of the boat taken last fall shortly after I had painted it.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Jim

That's a nice little piece of duck hunting heritage you've got. I'm glad you came on board and posted that. Welcome.

 

[Nate Grace]

Wow, that is cool! I've hunted over near the Parker and Rowley Rivers. Probably not the same amount of ducks there now that were there 40 years ago. There are still a number of camps along the Rowley. That is a neat piece of marsh with a lot of history. Have any pics of the decoys?

Regards,
Nathan

 

[Wispete]

Neat boat, Thanks for posting

 

[Joe O]

Neat BBSB.Nice piece of history from your friend,and I like the high spray shield.A bigger wind catcher,OOPS,I mean water diverter.

 

[Josh Ward]

Very neat history!!!

Thanks for sharing

 

[ksherbine]

Jim-

That's awesome. It's really a neat piece of waterfowling history.

Thanks for posting.

Kirk Sherbine

 

[perry]

Jim< good looking boat thanks for posting. William

 

[Hank H Garvey]

Boy the Parker River is close only about 1 mile from the house. I have hunted it a lot. Cool to hear about gunning history from this area. Great boat I hope you have a ton of fun with it. HHG

 

[perry]

Jim: have you ever guned deal island myayland with your barnegat,show us sooome of your decoys. William

 

[jim h]

Bill, I gunned Deal Island with you and stayed with Gilbert Abbot. The good ol' days- but I never took that heavy, old boat up in the marsh.

 

[jim h]

It only uploaded two pictures. Here is a third.

 

[Steve Sutton]

the decoy pictures.....I have a handful of Mallard decoys that if memory serves, I got from WINGSET, that I've always truly enjoyed having in my rig.....recognized the featherr patterns and the keels from the pictures....like those Pintails as much as my Mallards....

Are you still selling your birds.....


Seve

 

[jim h]

Steve, Yes I am still making decoys. You can find me on the web at sneakboxdecoy.com I haven't made a decoy for Wingset in years! Glad that you enjoy them.

Jim