Keel description for Decoys Unlimited balsa diver decoys resto

roy brewington

Well-known member
These 2 Decoy Unlimited balsa decoys were the last 2 remaining from my fathers diver rig. Rest of wood decoys he sold off in the 60,s when he switched to field gunning canadas. He had repainted these and had then setting on top of his gun cabinet. Guess he removed keels so they would set better. Think I,m going to put them into my diver rig and gun over them for nostalga sake. I probably killed my first duck over these at about 12yo. I do remember it was a bluebill. Would anyone have a pic or dimensions of what original keel looked like? View attachment IMG_20170919_083447828.jpg
 
Is that a magnum can?

If so. I have a nice original paint one with its keel still on it

I can get you pics and measurements
 
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Body on both are 14" x 7". I Can,t find much info on these decoys online so not sure if that was their magnum or standard size. Head on can seems a little large for body size but then I haven,t seen others of that type to compare it with. I am sure they are factory heads. Decoys unlimited w address is stamped on bottom of bodys.
 
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Many had cedar or pine keels, pegged in the back and a eye screw with washer, that held the head and keel in place up front. On some divers the head moved with the anchor attached to the eye screw.

Almost all heads on Decoy Unlimited decoys were oversize (make good handles). Some Bluebills have much smaller and stylish heads, that move while at anchor.

Very serviceable decoys with many still in use.

Keel em up and put them back where they belong in the water.

I wish you well.
 
Checked ebay pics and I think my questions may be answered. 1" wide by length of bird. See lead straping on keel on decoy for sale so I,ll assume they needed a little bottom weight to self right. Thanks for the help.
 
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From that measurement I see your can is a magnum. Keel must have been wider on them. Take off marks on bottom of my decoys delineates an 1" wide keel. I guess they used the narrower keel on standard size. I,m going to run with the height you gave though as that was something I hadn,t determined. Thanks for the pics.
 
Height of the keel, on the preening Decoys Unlimited Black Duck I have is 3/4". The decoy was gunned over, but never weighted

Most keels I've seen on Decoys Unlimited blocks have been shallow.
 
http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=262388;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;guest=85769842

This was an earlier thread about Jack Sweet and Decoys Unlimited.

I have a lot of his Canvasback decoys if you still need dimensions.

Joe
 
Thank you for the info. What would be the depth on a standard size diver keel? Any idea how much weight attached to keel was used on the standard size to make them self right?
 
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