The "007" (Duck Boat)

[PSJ]

I became aware of TinBoats.net on youtube and have gotten hooked. I follow duckhuntingchat.com as well. On both forums I've learned so much. So, I've been motivated to bring an old boat back to life. I've hunted out of my Gheeno for the last 15 years and have never really been happy with the tight quarters. My job offers a lot of "riding and smiling" time in my community and about a month ago I came across this 1980 1442 Alumacraft upside down on it's trailer. The owner was located and I bought the boat and trailer. It had been sitting for the last 10 years unused. While reading and seeing many of your projects, I learned what "Frog Spit" is as well as how to prime and paint an aluminum boat. I also learned how to rebuild a boat trailer, which I've done on this as well.

I've finished (or mostly finished) this boat for it's mission which is duck hunting first, then river fishing second.
I'll post the photos mainly because I'm very proud of her and also for any feedback on how I can do better next time. (If there is a next time) Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy the 007.

 

[PSJ]

More photos

 

[PSJ]

I'll try to do better on the order of photos.

 

[PSJ]

Parker's Duck Paint and the new mud motor that I built from a kit. This is a 6.5 Honda clone that I'm getting around 9 hp out of with a few mods.

 

[PSJ]

Camo work

 

[PSJ]

007

 

[PSJ]

Kill switch

 

[PSJ]

Blind Work

 

[PSJ]

Hope you've enjoyed the 007 build.

 

[c-ramey]

Nice job! How's the motor run and where do you plan on running it? Lake, river, pond?

 

[PSJ]

All of the above. Mainly lakes though. Motor pushes the boat about 12 mph.

 

[Loggerhead Mike]

Looks good man but where's the pics of some dead ducks???

=D>

 

[JeffChastain]

The mount for that motor looks awful small, man. That'd make me real nervous. Really nice build bro. How much did the motor kit cost you?

 

[PSJ]

Season opens Saturday. We finished yesterday so, i hope to have some photos next week. I have a 12 and a 9 year old that would like to see some ducks too.

Jeff, the mount has made me nervous too. I've got it on ther pretty well now. I've ran some angle aluminum along the top of the transom to help hold the motor on. You can get this kit shipped for around $500.00. The long shaft kit (11-18 hp) for around $600.00. These are solid rigs.

Thanks for the posts.

 

[PSJ]

c-ramey - I ran the boat a few days ago and it ran well. With two of us in the boat i was getting around 12 mph.

 

[fool4fish1226]

Nice build =D> good luck with the ducks

 

[technohillbilly]

Isn't the "Interweb" a wonderful thing, you live half a world away from me (I live and hunt in Australia) and your efforts have still inspired me. Due to a lack of finance my boat will have to evolve over some time. My boat is a little 10' Seacraft (early 80's vintage) powered by a '87 suzuki 8hp outboard the whole rig cost me just $730 (as seperate purchases). I've been using it like a layout blind. I have a plank of timber running from the stern to the bow which I lie on and I use painted burlap draped over me and the boat as a blind, with a little natural vegetation thrown over everything, it works a treat.

My rebuild progress so far is a new paint job, including a new painted engine cowling (bought from a wreckers for $5). Rebuild cost so far less than $80. I didn't paint the original engine cowling to hopefully preserve the resale value of the engine. Anyway, heres the progress so far. More to follow (hopefully), as cash and the handbrake (wife) allow.

 

[vahunter]

Sweet duck boat! Great job. Love the blind and the camo paint job. Where did you get the stencils?

 

[Ride_Klein]

Great project. Hope your season has been a good one.

 

[technohillbilly]

The paint was done freehand. I first used 3 cans of spray on etching primer to paint the boat inside and out (to the chines/waterline). When that was dry I then used 6 spray cans of flat finish paint (4 cans of 3 shades of green (2 cans of darkest olive green), a can pale yellow and a can of black). I started with the darkest green and I just gave a quick squirt of the can as I swept the can in an angled top to bottom motion and then I repeated the process for each of the other greens. I did a color at a time and built up the layers of color, then finished off with some highlights of pale yellow and black both used sparingly. I hope this makes sense.

Our duck season (March to June - southern hemisphere autumn (fall) to early winter) has been very quite due to a lack of a job (the G.F.C. has resulted in me losing my job but I think there might be some light at the end of the this tunnel). I have however been out a few times (I have a very understanding wife) and I've managed to put enough birds in the freezer to see out our needs until next season.