Recognize this Hull?

ChadW

Member
I found this listed locally and do not recognize it. Google has not been any help identifying it based on the description. It looks like it needs a lot of attention and the asking price, IMO, at 4K is too high, but it is an interesting design with pleasing lines. Does anyone recognize the designer/make/model?

This is the only pic in the listing.

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Can you ask for more photos?

I don't immediately recognize the boat as built. I do see a resemblance to a BBIII.

As a point of discussion, I think a 9.9 on that hull is very underpowered.



Over head view of the Black Brant III (BBIII on the left of the two)


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Possibly someone started with that design and made their own modifications. Adding a bench seat, extending and curving the sponsons downward, moving the motor mount further back, eliminating the grassing rails.
Not saying that it is a BBIII, just saying I can see how it could be done. Again, a few more photos, interior, different viewpoints, etc. would be helpful.

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I thought it looked like a Devlin BB too.

Coincidentally, your reference photo shows a Chuck Huff boat. She has what I believe to be a Chuck Huff for sale too. It is pretty rough looking and again, at 3k seems a bit high on asking. I would reach out for more pics as I would be interested in either boat but do not want to insult her with an offer that is much lower than her listing.



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Chad,
I sent you a private message. I am in Shell Rock Iowa and you are welcome to come look at both my BBIII and my Chuck Huff if you would like to see them for reference.
 
They are based off a Higbee design. Not a good idea at all. Even the larger "2-man cockpits" built by other builders are not really suited for that. That boat, if I am not mistaken, is a 1-man cockpit design.

Hunting out of it with 2 people would be next to impossible. Transporting another hunter in an emergency situation is feasible but really shouldn't base your hunting off that idea.
 
UPDATE:

I went and inspected both boats earlier this week. The larger boat is in really poor shape. The gentleman had left it outside, in the weather, for years thinking it was made of fiberglass. Unfortunately, it is ply with a very thin layer of decomposing fiberglass. He was shocked when I pointed out the decay and rot. (He is nearly blind and had no idea the boat was damaged.

After swapping stories and a bit of haggling, a deal was struck and I bought both boats. I primarily bought the larger boat for the motor and trailer. I believe the hull may be a complete loss as the tops decks, bulkhead uppers, coamings, as well as the transom, rear of sponsons, and bow have significant rot. The bow eye pulled fee on the journey home. The majority of the bottom and sides appear to be solid but I?m going to do a much better inspection before deciding on what to do with it. It is a shame because it really is a neat boat.



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The little Huff is also a little rough but it does not need much to be back to work. I am going to clean up both motors, get them running and then start working on the Huff. There are a couple of little spots on the Huff where the outer finish layer (gel coat?) is chipping from being sun scorched and the grass rails are completely rotten as well as the plywood softener that is screwed to the exterior of the transom. So, a bit of epoxy repair, new grass rails, a chunk of plywood and paint ought to have her as good as new. The spray skirt is fairly rough but I think it still has a few years left in it. I was just excited that it was still there. Luckily it was shoved up under the bow and was not in direct exposure.

The best part of the whole deal is that the motors are hardly used, low hour 15hp and 25hp Mercs, vs the 5 and 9.9 he listed in the ad. The boats had been sitting so long that he had forgotten what size motors he had. The trailers need cleaned up, paint, new hardware, tires, etc.. all the normal stuff.

So.. it looks like I have enough to do that I will not be building the Bluebill I was going to start in a couple of weeks. I?m glad I waited to place that plywood order.






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Well that's a shame! But is what happens when little things are not taken care of and the water gets in there and the glass cloth and polyester resin separate from the wood. I have seen where this guy takes a old glassed over cedar BBSB and leaves it filled with water for a couple of months and then just peals the glass off by hand.
Phil
 
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