Tomkat's Boat Build

[Redbeard]

Are there trees around your pond where you'll try and blend in?

I got it covered Red. Why dont you see if The Nighthawk can teach you how to divide fractions?

Olly, I am happy to say that Jehler has been a very good consultant on this project. In fact, several WFF members, but not Redbeard, have lent advice, tools, materials, etc.

There is a lot of hands on know how on this site.

come on man. I was gonna send you some vegetation from Humboldt. I've got some great ideas I picked up on waterfowltalk.com

From up in the hills? Say around Whitethorn perhaps? On slow duck days just rip off a little Humbolt Gold and you won't care if you shoot a duck or not.

negative no where near whitethorn

[Tomkat]

Are there trees around your pond where you'll try and blend in?

I got it covered Red. Why dont you see if The Nighthawk can teach you how to divide fractions?

Olly, I am happy to say that Jehler has been a very good consultant on this project. In fact, several WFF members, but not Redbeard, have lent advice, tools, materials, etc.

There is a lot of hands on know how on this site.

come on man. I was gonna send you some vegetation from Humboldt. I've got some great ideas I picked up on waterfowltalk.com

From up in the hills? Say around Whitethorn perhaps? On slow duck days just rip off a little Humbolt Gold and you won't care if you shoot a duck or not.

negative no where near whitethorn

Wow, thats neat, you got 2 dogs in your avatar

[Willie]

I like the build and idea of the solid walls. I still think the back is too tall. I think you might have difficulty seeing behind you and above when you're sitting down. I like the height to be at eye level give or take a couple inches while seated.

Tom had me sit down and I can see just fine out of it and I won't be bumping my head when sitting there waiting on the birds. Though if you're shorter than around 5ft 10 or taller than 6ft 2, you might have some trouble with it. What I like is that I sit there in comfort...flip down the one side and shoot at ducks without even standing up.

Right on...I know y'all will have a great time and kill a pile out of it.

[RonE]

If we promise not to make any snide comments will you post a picture of the finished project?

[Bufflehead]

For the naysayers,

I modeled this blind after Barney Calefs boat, step by step. Why hasn't he drown? Or sank? Don't you think we would have heard about that? Why would he make a step by step how to build video in Take 'em 7 ?

You think a man like Barney Calef would hunt out of a boat that was unsafe? One that won't kill ducks? He takes his out on the Mississippi River.

The reason more people don't use this design is the cost of materials. Not to mention the effort to construct it. Then there is the fact this will be a dedicated duck boat, there wont be any going backwards.

Here's the thing. I don't give a fuck what any of you think. I am 80% finished and I will be shooting ducks from it on the opener. So say what ever you want. It won't change my mind or my plans one bit. It gets old having people you thought were friends jumping on the dog pile because it feels good. I learned a lot from this thread, and none of it was good.

If you think my post was "jumping on the dog pile", you are mistaken, it was my honest opinion. I spend most every day in a boat and to me, that contraption looks like a disaster waiting to happen. And I don't give a fuck if Barney Fife helps you launch the bitch and it does just fine, it will not change my opinion.



IMO, these are the main problems

1- The person driving can't see out of it.
2- To much height and weight on one side. When I say height, I'm not talking about the profile. You are way above the center of gravity and that causes it to be less stable.
3-Your boat is a lot smaller than the boat that your hero "Captain Barney" had his blind on.

[3legged_lab]

For the record, I would not be afraid to hunt a boat setup like that in the places I have hunted, BUT I prefer a pop up type. Just more versatile TO ME. With that said I could see winds might be a bitch, and docking a hassle.

[Tomkat]

Buff,
1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

2. I looked at the center balance thing closely yesterday. The seat where we sit will be closer to the center than the pictures make it look. As for weight, the conduit and aluminium are fairly light.

3. I will never take more than 2 people with me.
I will pick the days I choose to use it.
Time will tell. It will be tested before its deployed.

"Thanks to everyone for their valuable input"

Love and kisses,
Mr Cuddles.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

[RonE]

Tomkat wrote: "1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

Letting some of my hunting buddies stand in front giving me hand signals is a thought I cannot imagine, especially on the way home.........Euphoric from a mega successful hunt, full of group tighteners and aiming fluid, just wanting to have a little fun. Can you say mud flat or sandbar?

[Goldfish]

Tomkat wrote: "1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

Letting some of my hunting buddies stand in front giving me hand signals is a thought I cannot imagine, especially on the way home.........Euphoric from a mega successful hunt, full of group tighteners and aiming fluid, just wanting to have a little fun. Can you say mud flat or sandbar?

I can say long walk home

sent from a phancy fone

[Flightstopper]

Tomkat wrote: "1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

Letting some of my hunting buddies stand in front giving me hand signals is a thought I cannot imagine, especially on the way home.........Euphoric from a mega successful hunt, full of group tighteners and aiming fluid, just wanting to have a little fun. Can you say mud flat or sandbar?

I can say long walk home

sent from a phancy fone

No walking out, but plenty of rocking, shoving, pushing and hernias for all!

[Feelin' Fowl]

Tomkat wrote: "1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

Letting some of my hunting buddies stand in front giving me hand signals is a thought I cannot imagine, especially on the way home.........Euphoric from a mega successful hunt, full of group tighteners and aiming fluid, just wanting to have a little fun. Can you say mud flat or sandbar?

If it was between pushing off of a sandbar/mud flat or paying attention for the ride home, I would pay attention. My money is on TK's buddies doing the same.

Celebrating killing a duck is not worth the trouble that could come from not paying attention.

[jehler]

Tomkat wrote: "1. standing with a tiller extension you can see better than you might think. I will always have someone in front guiding me with hand signals. We are not going through open seas or flooded timber.

Letting some of my hunting buddies stand in front giving me hand signals is a thought I cannot imagine, especially on the way home.........Euphoric from a mega successful hunt, full of group tighteners and aiming fluid, just wanting to have a little fun. Can you say mud flat or sandbar?

If it was between pushing off of a sandbar/mud flat or paying attention for the ride home, I would pay attention. My money is on TK's buddies doing the same.

Celebrating killing a duck is not worth the trouble that could come from not paying attention.

if I left navigation up to the guns i'd hit a tree

[jarbo03]

I've spent many days on the front of a duckboat running navigation.
TK, remember plugs for the spotlight in both the front and back.

[Tomkat]

I've spent many days on the front of a duckboat running navigation.
TK, remember plugs for the spotlight in both the front and back.

You wont need much of a spot light in front....my LED airplane landing lights will make it look like high noon in front.

[jarbo03]

I've spent many days on the front of a duckboat running navigation.
TK, remember plugs for the spotlight in both the front and back.

You wont need much of a spot light in front....my LED airplane landing lights will make it look like high noon in front.

They may be bright, but they are fixed lights and at water level. You want the option of versatility and 360º lighting

[Goldfish]

Wanting to see what's around that bend, or up on the shore is reason enough for a spot light. And it seems to never fail that battery powered ones die right as you want to use them

sent from a phancy fone

[assateague]

I use my catlike night vision only. Lights are a dead giveaway to any lurking DNR agents.

[flight control]

I use my catlike night vision only. Lights are a dead giveaway to any lurking DNR agents.

Exactly. Except for when there is a fishing net in your path that wasn't there during daylight. Those may rip the motor clean off the transom.

[Tomkat]

I've spent many days on the front of a duckboat running navigation.
TK, remember plugs for the spotlight in both the front and back.

You wont need much of a spot light in front....my LED airplane landing lights will make it look like high noon in front.

They may be bright, but they are fixed lights and at water level. You want the option of versatility and 360º lighting

I got it all covered.

[jmitch]

Any updates TK? Would like to see a finished picture if you go one

[Tomkat]

Hoping to paint this weekend.

[jmitch]

Hoping to paint this weekend.

Cool. Son of a gun looks like it will be comfortable as hell to hunt out of. Hope it works out for ya

[one2many]

had a guy pass me the other day with a boat very much like yours in tow. it was windy out(shocking for iowa i know) and it seemed to track well up the highway for the 10 miles i followed him

[Tomkat]

Yes time is getting short, and I still have some work to do.

The next 2 weeks will be critical.

Looking forward to duck season.

Jeff, Barney Calef, the man who inspired this prokect, is actually from Iowa. These type of boats are not uncommon in colder climates. Its true his boat is 2' longer than mine, which was described in this thread as "much bigger". But I will, as I have said, pick my days to use it.

[RonE]

Yes time is getting short, and I still have some work to do.

The next 2 weeks will be critical.

Looking forward to duck season.

Jeff, Barney Calef, the man who inspired this prokect, is actually from Iowa. These type of boats are not uncommon in colder climates. Its true his boat is 2' longer than mine, which was described in this thread as "much bigger". But I will, as I have said, pick my days to use it.

How about picking a day to post a picture......I'm on the edge of my seat, holding my breath in anticipation.

[Tomkat]

[jabberjaws]

I joined this forum to see your boat project and hope to see some pics of it finished thanks for sharing. Its too bad some felt the need to post lots of crap. If all the posts here are like that sorry to say I won't spend much time here. I hope your boat brings you lots of ducks. Jabberjaws

[Olly]

You here that TK.... Now post pictures for us to see!

Sent from my phone.

[The Duck Hammer]

You here that TK.... Now post pictures for us to see!

Sent from my phone.

He means hear that....


Sent from my Vox Mortem

[Olly]

Yea stupid phone.

Sent from my phone.