Dan Kidney & Son duck boat

K

karen

New member
Hey there, we acquired an Antique duck boat made by Dan Kidney & Son. All original. Most of the brass hardware is there. Will need a great deal of restoration...as there is quite a bit of rot on the bottom of the boat. Has engravings of three past owners of the boat...all of which are from the Hamburg/Buffalo area. Really neat piece. I could only imagine that it would cost a lot to restore...would it be worth it? I attached photos. Thanks for your time, Karen
 
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Karen I was doing some research on Kidney boats a while back and got a few pictures of them. I have a couple fiberglass boats that I believe may have come off a mold of a old Kidney boat. They are called a lil ducker. Somebody had post on them not too long ago here. I love my boats, they handle like a dream, are easy to hide and track very well on long trips. If I had a original Kidney I would restore it .View attachment KIDNEY BOAT.pngView attachment Dan%20Kidney%20Skiff%204_zpsn4sczrx2.jpgView attachment Dan%20Kidney%20Skiff%203_zps36uewuyv.jpgView attachment DSCF4702.jpg
 
Good morning, Karen~


Got a photo or two?


I acquired what I think is a Dan Kidney last Fall. Yours looks to me like the famed "Green Bay" model - with its lapstrake hull. My vessel is smooth-skinned (carvel planked) and - sadly - has no builder's pates or other ID.


View attachment DK 21 Oblique stern quarter port 2.JPG



It is sound throughout but needs new deck canvas and fresh paint.


I have no idea about your vessel's value. They seem to be more collectible in the Midwest. Having worked in DEC's Buffalo office about 40 years ago - I know that Hamburg is practically in the Mississippi Flyway! I am now about as far east from you in the Empire State as it is possible to get - about 10 miles from the Green Mountain State. In any event, I am sure that Tom can give you useful insights.



All the best,


SJS

 
Karen can you post some photo's of your boat? I recently purchased a Dan Kidney Green Bay Skiff. Great piece of waterfowling history.

Thanks Tom
 
Karen~


Tom Wilkins has passed your photos along to me - and asked that I post them. I hope this is helpful to you.



She's a sweet little vessel - but surely needs lots of skilled attention.



View attachment boat1.JPG



I envy you the builder's plate!



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I have read that Dan Kidney & Son was at one time the largest builder of small craft on the globe - lots of rowing vessels and even small launches in addition to gunning boats.



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The keel/keelson obviously need replacement. She needs many new frames (the steam-bent Oak or Ash "ribs"), too.


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I cannot quickly find my Dan Kidney catalog(s) - but I believe the rowing stanchions (outrigger) are custom made - and probably much more recent than the boat.


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Any varnished "yacht finish" demands much more time to restore than the flat oil paint "workboat finish" common to most gunning boats.


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I believe most fasteners are rivets and clenched nails.


View attachment boat12.JPG



I am thinking she might make a nice display piece - suspended from some rafters in a great room or restaurant. Getting her sound and seaworthy once again would require hundreds of hours of labor, in my experience.


I also wonder if the various pieces of hardware might be desirable to a collector/restorer.



Her hull sections show a round bottom - sweet for slipping through water under oars but rather tender ("tippy") for a gunning boat, in my opinion.

Your thoughts?



All the best,


SJS





 
Thank you very much Steve for posting this great piece of history. Not only was this boat built by a well known boat builder { Dan Kidney} It has three
brass tags from the previous owners. Karen who started this post tracked down one of the previous owners in Florida. He is 90 years old. I am sure
he could fill us in on some of the history of this boat. There has to be someone on this site Duckboats.net that is willing to save this old girl before
she goes to the burn pile. Karen wants to find a good home for this Dan Kidney boat. I will pay what Karen wants for the boat if someone will give
her a good home. I will also donate $100.00 to Duckboats.net . Thank you Eric for this great site.
 
Tom I have not checked in for a week and to my surprise I start reading this thread about the Kidney boat. What is she trying to do with it? Restore? Sell? How to rebuild? I can do it but I'm not sure of the owners preference. Let me know
 
Bob,
Karen is trying to find a home for this boat. Someone that hopefully will restore the boat. I will e-mail you some pictures of the boat. Can you PM your e-mail address.
I have been talking with Brian Robinson and we both agree this boat should be restored. If you have any questions let me know.
I have Karen's contact number.

Tom
 
Karen,
Regarding your Dan Kidney boat. I would suggest contacting three organizations in
the Green Bay WI area 1)Neville Museum and 2) Hands on Deck 3) De Pere Historical Society
Also Mystic Seaport in Conn as they have a Dan Kidney Hunting boat.




I looked the the photos .... major restoration needed.


The time and money to restore this boat would exceed the time/cost to
create a replica.


So does its historic value exceed its functional value?
What is the historic significance of this boat?
Have you tracked down a year built? I see the builder's plate ... does it have a hull#?
Could this boat be one built in the late 1800s?


Would this boat best be conserved and not restored as its story and age are its real value?


If restored what museum would be best?
What value would this have to a collector?


Rob Sexmith Retired Guy who messes around with old wooden boats
 
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