New Member

Cody Boots

New member
Hello everyone,

I'm Cody Butkiewicz.. Boots for short. Im stationed out of Ft. Bragg but originally from Northern WI. I found this forum a few weeks ago after I found out that the gatorboats site shut down. I sat on the duck hunter plans for a year but work, our first child being born, and cramming in as much hunting as possible before I deployed. I'm currently hanging out out in the mountains on a very small base and rotate out for a week every so often. I'll update my profile more once I get back to my laptop and real wifi.

Besides nearly a year worth of projects to finish once I get home (damn honey do list... pinterest is the devil) I'm going to build a couple boats. I need a small boat for some areas that I can throw into the truck and go - or toss into my bigger mud hull and pull over a levee to hunt certain WMA's. I'm planning on no more than 12' long, oars, and hang a small longtail off the back when I want power. Fyi, Backwater is coming out with an ultralite model similar to the PPF.

I still have not made up my mind up whether to go wood/glass or aluminum but I still have some time.

I'm a tinkerer at heart so I'm sure the plan will evolve more and more.

Either way, this website is a great resource. I couldn't believe the amount of information and actual builds I found while scrolling around.

Thanks,

Cody
 
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Welcome Boots and myself and my family thank you for your service! There is a wealth of knowledge from the members on this site, soak it up!
 
Cody

Thanks for reaching out to me and joining. I know it's a bit of a pain now that bots are swamping the registration system so your perseverance is appreciated. Take a look at Devlin's website for some of his smaller boats, like the mudpeep. Minus the sails it has been used similarly to what you described. The Bella series might meet your needs to.

https://devlinboat.com

Eric
 
Eric,

I'm glad it worked out. I can finally see all the pictures, haha. A friend has a devlin boat which I didnt know until I found this site. I'll definitely look into the Bella series. I wanted a pirogue at first but after thinking about all the various types of small water/WMA's, I wanted something that could be powered as well. After seeing the bankes intruder, duck boss 13 w/ flappers, I have quite a bit of thinking to do especially with all the tidbits taken from other designs. I need to start designing it on paper.
 
OWelcome aboard Cody!

What's your MOS?
I was an 11Bravo (Mech) many, many years ago, in the AL-ANG. Never got deployed but that was before 9/11.

Keep your head down, come home safe!
 
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Welcome Cody

New members keep things going, and add new material & experiences into the mix.

I look forward to your posts.


Best regards
Vince
 
Thanks Carl,

I'm a medic. I sat in the world's most deployed division for 3.5 years and never deployed (101st). I didnt mind mech as much but the maintenance is a killer plus the duck hunting at hood is a hidden gem. Theres a light at the end of the tunnel. Less than 3 months to go - looking forward to the 3rd split in NC and late season upland once they let me sign out on leave. And then all the projects start!
 
I enjoyed mech, we had M113s, as an Lt, I had lots of room in the command track, just me, driver, TC, FC and the medic. Right after I got out they converted to Bradleys. Glad I missed those much more maintenance.

101st: as we used to say: aint nothin light about Light!
 
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Cody, thanks for you service for a former AF guy. You have joined a great forum with a ton of talent.
I started with a wood duck boat that i restored and hunted for years. Finally got a fiberglass Southbay and refurbished it and love less maintance. Iove to see all the older boats that our members have restored and hunt. There are some really talented people here that do boats and decoys...
Welcome...
 
Capt Rich Geminski said:
Cody, thanks for you service for a former AF guy. You have joined a great forum with a ton of talent.
I started with a wood duck boat that i restored and hunted for years. Finally got a fiberglass Southbay and refurbished it and love less maintance. Iove to see all the older boats that our members have restored and hunt. There are some really talented people here that do boats and decoys...
Welcome...

Thanks! I'd love to find an old sneak box to refurb. I've been checking craigslist but no luck. I keep gravitating towards the bankes intruder. I may build a flat back canoe and deck it do get something close.
 
Just a little update I think many would appreciate. I ordered a copy of Zack Taylor's Successful Waterfowling book as well as a set of plans for his whistler from DN goodchild.

And another note... we (my wife amd some friends) were drawn for swan tags again in NC. The picture attached is my swan from last with our new born and wife.
View attachment 20190607_094133.jpg
 
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Welcome, Cody. This is a great site. Hope you have some time to hunt but with the schedule you have now, do the best you can. I think you are pretty lucky to have a wife who likes wearing camo! Very cool.
Al
 
I'm very lucky indeed. Itll be even better when William's old enough to tag along on easy hunts. Jordan doesnt mind going - she likes shooting her camera more so than the plethora of shotguns in the safe. I usually have to bribe her with Dunkin but it's always a good time.
 
Welcome, Cody!


Please be sure to post another photo when your "newborn" is taller than that Swan.


All the best,


SJS

 
Congrats on drawing a tag for a swan. I drew a tag a few years back but haven't put in for one since, guess when you live among them your whole life shooting one is not as high on the list than other things.

Where do you plan to hunt them? Using a guide? I'm in Northeast NC and see thousands of swan each year.
 
Back home, all my buddies apply for and go to ND for swans.. sports during HS and now the service (for the past 7 years) kept me from taking a swan. Bagged mine with a guide last year. This year well give it a few tries on public water before calling my buddy's guide friend in Washington county.

NC has been a trip. Every Saturday during the season I'm on the road by 1:30am. If I stay at Bragg for another year... I'll have to sell my mud boat set up for something more suitable for open water.
 
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