DW15 floor

Nick Zito

Active member
Been talking to Bob collier about the floor on my DW15. Seems like it rattles up towards the bow when I'm going over wake (noticeable when I'm planing and hitting around 1' waves or so). I'm used to finding soft floors on center consoles, and there is one softer spot in the stern, but not really of a concern I thought. However, the floor rattles pretty good over chop. Doesn't seem to flex when I walk around on it. Also no noise at all from the floor when flying around on chop smaller than that.

Just curious if anyone has any suggestions as to what I could be in store for and how to test if I need a floor replacement? I probably need to strip everything out of the bost to make sure all that rattling isn't all of the extra gear I have in there, but seems to me that It Comes from the floor itself. Almost like the floor is flexing up when the hull hits waves.
 
I should add that I plan to strip all of the gear out of it to give it a trial run to make sure it ISNT all of my junk making the noise. Could likely be that, but curious what folks have to say regardless.
 
Did you get out again to check the floor?
Really paid attention today and really no rattle from floor,although water was pretty smooth today. Birds were absent like the wind.
 
I did take it out on Friday and I really didn't notice the floor making any noise. It was mostly the two anchors I have banging around up in the front. I decided to stop folding the extra folding chair up under the bow to make room for more goose decoys. Was a fairly slow day, but I shot a drake immature eider, first one for me and I've never seen them this far inside LIS. Usually have to go to Rhode Island to get them. He swam right at us from 200 yards to 10 yards. Was hoping I'd get a chance to see how little they care about the newly grassed boat. I stood up and had to scream at him to get him to lift off the water (which really was pointless because he didn't make it far at that range and a full choke). Also was nice to grass up the boat and put it to use. Got "stuck" in the mud flat, which partially was on purpose as it gave us time to pick up a free kayak ditched on the beach side (got a tip from a friend who is the director of environmental conservation in town that it was derelict.

I forgot to mention I had never been to this spot before via a trailer launch. Usually kayaks. I launched, it was dark as all heck and the wind was 30 knots coming right at us with 3' swells. We motored out along the breakwall for a mile directly into the seas and wind. Nice slow motoring, maybe 5 mph max. Waves splashing over the bow but we stayed dry with the blind up. I get around the breakwall, and cut in back towards what I thought was the hunting area. Then it dawned on me. I was in the Sound proper, though I meant not to be. I knew it seemed too long of a drive to get into the Gut, the map looked shorter. Zoomed out on the GPS and yep, idiot. Turned around, motored back the mile and a half and got into the Gut, which is behind a sea wall of shells and beach. Planed immediately passing probably 600 brant in multiple groups of 50-100 and set up still before shooting time (not sure how we pulled that off.

Certainly put it to the test, moreso my nerves than anything. Next time I'll know where to go right off the bag, and maybe with less wind and sea.
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Forgot to mention as we left we saw a heck of a lot of buffies and some widgeon (cool, never seen them in person before). No shots however
 
Wow, I've never seen an eider this far in LIS.
Is your DW15 all aluminum? My buddy got one back in 2006, was called a 15' or 16' but really it is closer to 18'. Its all aluminum except for the floor, which seems to be glass. It's a tank for sure.
I think we were at the same place, except I hunted it this afternoon. I saw the big flock of brant too.


You boat looks great grassed up
 
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It's all glass. This was McKinney, where I think I've run into you in the past. We left at 1 or so, but toyed with the idea of staying Later. How did you do
 
I got my 2 blacks quick, then sat and watched the other black ducks fly. Nice afternoon, but too warm I was wearing a t shirt only.
 
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