SSWA 41st Annual Duckboat & Waterfowl Show Event 10/31 PHOTOS

Good morning, Phil~


Yes, I plan to be there. I will not be bringing a boat but will come prepared to work. I'll have a bunch of bits and pieces I'm making for a South Bay for delivery - and I'll be installing a motor board and a transom drain on another South Bay during the show. Let's hope my 3 battery packs will keep my drill turning.....


All the best,


SJS
 
If anyone hears of a rough Southbay that needs work and a new home, keep me in mind! Will be busy with Grandson to be babyshower and Stollen baking this weekend. Spending time with Grandson #1 too!
 
Good morning, Anthony et al~


Great seeing you and everyone else on Sunday! As always, I spent all day talking with friends, old and new. I did try to get some photos of most of the vessels.


I brought this "before" South Bay that I will ge rehabbing in early '22 in my shop. But, I also had on hand a bunch of South Bay parts I just made for a new customer. I have yet to meet him or see his boat. (more on this later....)


View attachment DS 01 - Cullen South Bay and background.JPG



Ben Right next to me was Ben Sohm with his "Bauer Boat" - actually built by Charles Guck but sold by Ronnie Bauer. Ben towed his boat to Cedar Beach, then rolled it across the parking lot so he could demonstrate thatching during the Show.


View attachment DS 02 - Bauer boat - Ben Sohm.JPG



He started the job on the forward end....


View attachment DS 03 - Bauer boat being thatched.JPG



Lots of wares for sale - especially decoys, both gunners and shelf riders.


View attachment DS 04A - Wares for sale.JPG



Boats like this are somewhat unusual for this Show. Over its 41 years, I have seen a big move away from home-built vessels to more factory-made - but most are now a combination.

View attachment DS 05 - Tracker.JPG




There are always some South Bay Duckboats at the Show. South Bays were built by Red Magnus of West Sayville. Exeptional thatch job on this one!


View attachment DS 06 - South Bay with great hay.JPG



This bird clearly inspires confidence....


View attachment DS 07 - Confidence bird.jpg





Floating Blinds were the most common type this year - a nod to the aging population of gunners?


View attachment DS 09 - Floating Blind.JPG



This one sits atop a 13-foot Boston Whaler.


View attachment DS 10 - Floating Blind on Whaler.JPG



Continued....


SJS















 
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Continued....


Here's a floating blind on an ever-scarcer wooden vessel. Fabulous job of thatching!



View attachment DS 11 - Flosating Blind on wooden vessel.JPG



Best-in-Show?


View attachment DS 12 - Best in Show.JPG



It's always heartening to see younger gunners in attendance - and in tow.


View attachment DS 13 - BIS with family.JPG



This Carl Adams Sneakbox adds a touch of Jersey.


View attachment DS 14 - Adams Sneakbox.JPG



There's still about 3 weeks to cut the Salt Hay for this rig.


View attachment DS 15 - Needs thatch.JPG



The owner of this South Bay found it derelict and did a fine job of restoration.


View attachment DS 16 - South Bay restored.JPG



Pretty sure this is a TDB 14 - but would welcome any correction.


View attachment DS 17 - TDB maybe.JPG



I've seen this fine vessel at earlier shows. I spent so much time chatting with the owner that I forgot to ask about the design.


View attachment DS 18 - Plywood grassboat.JPG



This fine gunning boat is a Marsh Hawk.


View attachment DS 19 - Marsh Hawk.JPG



I'm not sure if this is a really big boat - or just a really small buyer....


View attachment DS 20 - Big boat or small buyer.JPG



Continued....


SJS
 
More SSWA Duckboat Show....


Two of my oldest partners - Fred Wertz and Craig Kessler


View attachment DS 21B - Fred Wertz and Craig Kessler.JPG



Another nice Floating Blind.


View attachment DS 22 - Floating Blind.JPG



Door up....


View attachment DS 23 - Floating Blind door up.JPG



Ready-to-hunt.



View attachment DS 24 Floating Blind ready to hunt from astern.JPG



This detail shows how Ben Sohm adjust the flapboard angle on his Guck-Bauer boat. He has didderent length dowels to slip into the sockets.


View attachment DS 25 - Sohm flapboard support.JPG



His thatch job is coming down the home stretch.


View attachment DS 26 - Sohm thatching Bauer.JPG



I had to leave around 2:00 - without any of these old corkers....


View attachment DS 27 - Old Corkers.JPG



But, I arrived home with plenty of "stuff"....


View attachment DS 28 - Cullen South Bay at PBB.JPG



Many thanks to Dick Richardson, Craig Kessler, Joe Daly and Anthony Babich for all of this bounty.


View attachment DS 29 - Bounty from 2021 SSWA Duckboat Show.JPG



Thanks to Craig for these Herters Model 63s - the early ones I l;ike with the flat bottoms and brass hardware. The Wigeon (Herters called them Baldpate) will become Mallards or Blacks and be gunned over someday; the Whistlers (Goldeneyes) will get new Broadbill paint and ride my shelves.


View attachment DS 30 - Herters Model 63 Baldpate and Goldeneyes-Bluebills.JPG



One more installment.....


SJS














 

Joe Daly thought of me when he found this Herters Model Canada. He will get my attention soon.


View attachment DS 31 - Herters Model Canada Drake Mallard - Joe Daly - Oct 2021.JPG



I got this sweet pair of Wildfowler Broadbill from Anthony Babich.


View attachment DS 32 - Wildfowler Broadbill - Quogue pair.JPG



I like Wildfowlers birdsfrom either Old Saybrook or Quogue.


View attachment DS 33 - Wildfowler Brand - Quogue.JPG



This bird belongs to Craig Kessler. I will try to restore it as a Canvasback - which we believe it once was.


View attachment DS 34 - Reg Smith Canvasback - profile.JPG



And, my Secret Customer picked up his South Bay parts from my Mom's house after I departed (middle of the night) - and has already installed most of them - notably the thatch rails, spray shield and flap boards.



View attachment DS 35 - Tyler South Bay - with some parts installed CROPPED.jpg



Now back to work!


SJS















 
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!
One of these years I am going to make a trip up north during duck/small game season to hunt up there again.
 
Great pics Steve,
There are elements of regional styles that can be adapted across state lines. Very relevant for my newest project. I do like the adjustable dowel angle adjustment.
 
What a wonderful pictorial of the show. I really want to make it there one day and see it for myself. That and Tuckerton. We don't have anything like it around here. Too bad. Looks like a great gathering.

Eric
 
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