Found a nice duck boat

J

Joe Daly

Active member
I found out about this boat last week. Bought it and plan on hunting with it when the Long Island season opens later this month. Does anyone know who made it? NY Registration indicates "Homebuilt" year 1961. 14' long by 5' beam. All fiberglass with no grass rails. 15 HP 1998 Evinrude. Almost flat bottom with a 4' skeg. Has been on Long Island for some years. Was told that it owned by Fred Wertz but cannot confirm.

Joe
View attachment DB1.jpg
 
Good morning, Joe~


I'd know that vessel anywhere! That's the same boat that I re-built as RED~LEG. Here it is just before I began my project - after I removed the dodger and thatch rails I had made and gunned with for several years. Note the forward end of the molded cockpit coaming.


View attachment 24 Bow on.jpg




You may recall that I had found mine next to a Dumpster at a body shop in Lindenhurst ~ 1990. It became mine for just a phone call to "Uncle Joe".



Two or 3 years ago at the Cedar Beach show Fred Graham donated one to SSWA as a raffle prize. That may be the "Fred" involved. I am virtually certain Fred Wertz never had such a craft. If yours came from Fred Graham, I recall that it had a very nice, raked motor board.


When I took RED~LEG to Tuckerton (2016?), I spoke with many Jersey builders and gunners - and posted a sign "Do you know who built this boat? No luck. The best guess is that they were manufactured somewhere in northern Jersey, probably in the early 60s.


I love the hull - a very seaworthy and comfortable ride - and its poles and rows beautifully. My v-e-r-y long Sneakbox Restoration post (~ 350 photos) begins as:


http://www.duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=280953;do=post_view;search_string=renovation#p280953


With a dodger and some thatch rails, I predict you will be very happy!


All the best,


SJS





 
Steve,

Your are the "MAN" when it comes to duckboats. You nailed it. Research reveals that this is the Fred Graham boat you mentioned. It was a raffle prize from the South Shore Waterfowlers Duckboat Show. Owner had the wrong Fred. The Fred Wertz boat was a shortened Sunfish.

Well made and obviously sitting for a number of years. Overall strong boat. Doesn't appear to have had thatch rails. I did get an old canvas dodger with it. I am planning on adding thatch rails and some hardware just to get it in use for the end of the month.

Joe
 
Registration reveals boat was last registered as 1972. Has a 15 hp Evinrude on it Supposed to run good. Will find out soon enough.

Joe
 
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