Ducky Weather Daydreaming

S

ScottCK

Active member
Ok, so I am sitting here looking out the office window and a light rain falling and it got me thinking. Next year I will be losing my primary hunting partner to college and will spend most of the weekends outside of Christmas break hunting on my own. Historically, my son and I hunt out a layout with a 19' x 95" tender boat that I just redid this year. Layout hunting is about the only consistent way to get on birds around here unless you want to be on the water at 2am to get a spot. Clearly, layout hunting is not going to work with one person and I have never had much luck setting up in the middle in the big boat, so I am considering options.

I have a 1978 Evinrude 25hp (like new condition) sitting on a stand in my shop.
I LOVE the lines of a classic BBSB
I also have a 24v foot controlled trolling motor that I may could modify so it would work

Looking for build options where I could use the 25hp, keep the lines of a BBSB, hunt with dog, and have it be somewhat effective as a one person ?layout? setup. Just wondering if a BB2 or BB3 painted in a battleship gray would work. Or maybe stretch my abilities and build a BBSB (strip construction) and use the trolling motor to power. Most my favorite spots are a mile to 2 miles from where I launch (a stretch for trolling motor power)

Thoughts?

As I said, this is a daydream of an idea at the moment
 
Last edited:
I mostly hunt solo (or did before I moved to Tampa) and was contemplating a similar change in boat before we made the move. Also, "back in the day" (early 2000s), I had planned to build Bluebill to use with the 18 Nissan I had back then.


So, if I were you, I'd go with either a stretched Bluebill (to get the 25 hp rating) or the larger BB2/3 (which one is the smaller of the two and is a planing hull?).
Add a spray dodger and cockpit cover and hunt her layout style on open water or snugged against the bank when you can.
 
On another note, a 24V TM with two modern high capacity deep cycle batteries might give you a lot more range then you think.
How new is the TM? The new electronic power control ones are even more efficient.
 
Scott

My son is off at Auburn but given the lengthy Christmas break we hunt together frequently. But to answer your question the Bluebill or one of the Brants would go with that motor. Of course they don't have the classic lines that you are after. For that you will probably be looking at cedar strip construction. I have a 12' footer hanging from the rafter waiting to be completed if you want to look it over. It is a hard chine model and not a feather edge that you might have your eye on, but will give you some ideas. You'll need to go bigger than 12' for that 25. A 14' feather edge BBSB would be a neat project. I've seen plans somewhere but can't seem to recall (maybe Mystic seaport), but they are out there.

Eric
 
Eric, I would love to stop by and see the boat. It would be a great way to get an idea what I would be getting myself into. I think it maybe easier to convince the boss to let me build a really cool boat than it would be to convince her on buying a 4th boat. [laugh]

Carl, it is a 2018 MinnKota PowerDrive so it is pretty new. the biggest issue is that it is a 60" shaft (came off my deck boat)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top