"bigger boat"

mike braden

Well-known member
Well, we are always looking right?

Several models to choose.

Carstens Chesapeke
Bankes Freedom
Duck water boats

The Carsten's is a little over $6,000. The other can cost 2-3 times as much. I know that I am not comparing apples to apples here but for a 17 foot boat, can anyone justify spending twice as much. I don't guide anyone for money. I don't hunt ducks everyday of the season. So, the Carstens boat seems to be ok in terms of value
 
If safety and quality are very important to you than I would buy the Bankes. Yes it's more but you get what you pay for. IMO you can't put a price tag on safety. The Bankes will give you the ability to do anything in almost any kind of weather. I couldn't be happier with my Goliath!!
 
Mike,

We've hunted together and I have a good idea where you're coming from and looking for. The real "value" is in a nice used "regular" boat. You haven't seen my 16' starcraft yet... It's a solid deep-v aluminum with a side console and 50hp. I've got about $3000 and lots of time invested. It compliments my TDB14 well. It adds 2 more guns and/or lots more decoys and the possibility of a layout boat.

In your area there will be LOTS of used boats this spring. Look for a multi-purpose (hunting,fishing, pleasure cruising) used boat. Deep-v, whaler type, tri-hull.... I'd stay away from carolina skiffs. They are great summer boats but not one I'd duck hunt from. A little paint and imagination can make a "regular" boat into a great hunting rig for a lot less cash.

That said, if you get a Bankes, save room for me!

Best wishes,
Gene
 
Hey Gene,

After hunting in your TDB a few times, I can honestly say that it is a favorite boat of mine. It has enough room for us and our kids. A little snug but enough room. If I find one in the $3,000 range, I would do my best to pick it up.

The main areas that I hunt, I couldn't use the sneakbox due to the gas engine or a lot of submurged stumps. I was thinking of getting the Otter Final Attack. Delivered price is around the $550 range and it has a transom built in for use with a trolling or 2hp. That type of boat would be very ideal for a bulk of my areas. The other layout boats are nice but they also cost twice as much.

So I then would look for a bigger boat for the type of hunting that you and I have done.

I was just kind of wondering if anyone had a Carsten's Chesapeke. For a little over $6k, it looks pretty reasonable for a 17 footer. I was considering some of these boats because I am trying to stay away from wood for ease of maintenance.

Also like you said, I am strongly considering a whaler type boat to convert for duck hunting. I know that you said stay away from Carolina skiff. I just saw one awhile ago with a 50 for $800 with trailer.

I could do very well converting that type of boat. If I find one cheap again, I am going to buy it for crabbing and fishing in the bay during the summer. The kids will have a blast with that.

I'll talk to you soon and I also have something to send you. Got your PM with your address. Hope you don't have one yet.

__________________________________________________

 
I have some concern as to the honesty and abilities of the builder.

Everything I am listing here is simply my opinion. I'm no expert, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night:

-Every DW I've seen(pictures and in person) needed serious attention in the grinding department.
-The boats have are VERY rough from a finish standpoint.
-I have heard of more then one having issues with paint scratching or FALLING off. I frequently see missing paint in pictures too.
-This year a weld on one of the boats opened up and it took on a great deal of water.
-One of his new hull designs was a near copy of a Bankes hull, to my eye of course.

There are plenty of happy DW owners out there, but there are plenty of angry ones too. Search around the refuge and this site and you should find some info.


-D
 
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In the spirit of full disclosure I own a Bankes (and I own a riveted Polarkraft). So you can take this post for what it is worth. I don't have any business with DW and don't know anything about their business practices or durability.

I looked at several Bankes and DW's when I was shopping. I really like the idea of a aluminum boat. We have lots of first-rate aluminum boats here in the Pacific Northwet. North River, Hewes Craft, Alumiweld are just a few. They are all made from computer cut slabs of thick aluminum and welded by machine. They are top of line boats that put up with very tough conditions and are well designed. When I crawled over the DW boats I just didn't find the same level of fit and finish that I was used to in PNW aluminum boats. I really was skeptical of a glass boat but the fit and finish of the Bankes was unlike anything I have seen before. All of the Bankes owners I talked to spoke highly of their boats performance and construction. Since the purchase price of either boat was high and I expected that this was going to be the last big boat I purchased, I went with the Bankes. I don't regret my decision and respect the decision of anyone who buys a DW.
 
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Well, we are always looking right?

Several models to choose.

Carstens Chesapeke
Bankes Freedom
Duck water boats

The Carsten's is a little over $6,000. The other can cost 2-3 times as much. I know that I am not comparing apples to apples here but for a 17 foot boat, can anyone justify spending twice as much. I don't guide anyone for money. I don't hunt ducks everyday of the season. So, the Carstens boat seems to be ok in terms of value


Only thing to add is that if you haven't seen one close, on a duckwater, you could tear your waders the welds are that rough. Plus lots of sharp corners.
 
I agree! It's clear even from the pictures that a DW's fit and finish is not even marginal....it's sloppy! As Brad said, the Northwest is the capitol of heavy welded custom aluminum recreation boats (whoa, thats a mouth full). If you wanted aluminum, and your going to pay the price anyways, I would seriously think of taking your own ideas/design to one of the northwest builders (north river, fish-rite, custom weld, riddle, rogue, etc....) and both the quality and fit/finish would be far and above what I see from DW. Or, go with a Bankes! As everyone else has already said, their quality seems to be first class!
 
I have also heard of some issues with rib welds seperating on the DWs,They like to keep those low key,but it is a small world.I have been in and around the new DW Look at the lines of the interior shots of the boats.Laughable!!! I own a 2005 DW19' Last one made all glass. It took me about 30hrs of my own time to get it to where it should have been on delivery. My complaints were answered as such.....Bring it back I will fix it. Well that means a trip to OHIO and back. No thanks. I fixed it myself and did a better job. My boat is in great shape now,but if I were to buy another, it would definitely be a Bankes. JMO
 
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A good name for a DW might be SS Pan-Pan.

Doesn't aluminum grind like butter, why would you send it out without hitting the major snags? Some one once told me 'you are either good with a welder or you get good with a grinder.'
 
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Go with the Banks.

I have a DW and I like the boat but what you see above is true. The paint falls off like a new production decoy. The welds are ugly (but holding) and there is weld splatter that was not cleaned up so I know the boat was not prepped / sanded before painting. I also had wiring problems and found household splices in the wiring. I will not deal with DW again for a lot of reasons beyond what I said above.
 
They had a couple of DW boats on display at the Pennsylvania sportsman show last week. I checked out both boats on display and I have to agree they look like they were welded by a novice. The welds were sloppy and in serious need of some grinding. Dont think I would trust my life on big water to those welds. I am just giving my opinion on their appearance, I've never seen one on the water.....
 
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[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]"I'd stay away from carolina skiffs. They are great summer boats but not one I'd duck hunt from."

I'm wondering why you claim this.?? Myself, and a large number of Commercial Bayman, use these boats hard year round, in fact I'm putting a self made boat blind on my 19' CS, for next hunting season after I get through my crab potting season. I've been through weather that would cause a Viking to dirty his fur underwear and I'm still here able to type this.

They're cheap, versatile, and have low HP requirements.

But there not made by a guy that calls them a "duck boat"
Hey, I don't care how you spend your money, or what you like,... just curious about your reasons for your statement.
[/font]
 
Carolina Skiffs are great utility boats and under the right conditions they can be perfectly suitable duck boats.

There are a number of different hull styles now that I haven't ridden in, but the ones I have been in have been WET!

The older skiffs tend to get water in the foam below the floor and become much heavier.

They are tough and will get it done.

I have heard of a few instances when folks have turned them over in nasty stuff, but that can be done in any boat with the wrong captain in the wrong conditions.

-D
 
There are a few reasons I said this. But, Dave hit it on the head. The J14/16's so common on the Jersey shore are VERY wet boats to ride in if there is any kind of chop. CS makes some great boats but these are the ones Mike will likely find for sale cheap in his area. My father in law has one with a center console and 20hp with PTT. It is a great little boat and we use it heavily fishing and playing in the summer. He also has a 17' deep-V aluminum center console. If there is any kind of weather we take the aluminum boat because it is much drier and more comfortable.

Similiar sized whalers (14-16') seem to do much better in the rough stuff. But they are a much more expensive boat. I'm not knocking CS at all. They have a great product and a great price. If I only had a J-boat, sure I'd hunt out of it. I would not buy one for a hunting boat. My experience is limited to the J-series, so take it for what it's worth.

I know Mike will want to take son along hunting and I would not feel right not making him aware of how wet and uncomfortable these boats would be under hunting conditions. I should have qualified that in the original post.

There are lots of "regular" boats out there that can be great duck boats. I love my 16' deep-v starcraft. It is every bit as usefull as my TDB14 as a duck boat and on big water/rough conditions it is the better boat hands down. We all just have to match the boat to the conditions. That's why we should all have atleast 5 boats, haha!

Best wishes,
Gene
 
It sure was, and I am and expert!

-D

Dave Sikorski,
Wasn't it once said in Maryland " Give a guy a Banks boat and he thinks he's an...."???

Nevermind.[/QUOTE]
 
I knew what Gene was referring to when he recommended boats to me. I hunted with Gene a few times and he probably knows what the right boat for me is better than I could describe it myself.

During the summer months, I am sure that the kids would get a laugh driving in 1-2 foot chop and getting slapped in the face with water. However, that will surely change when the time of year is mid December and the water is 40 degrees.

Gene knows what angle I am looking at and he is making sure that my bases are covered. He has previously mentioned that you can find the CS pretty cheap in my area and you can but, it wouldn't make a good dual purpose boat for hunting as well. Point well taken Gene.....thanks. For under a grand with motor and trailer they are fun summer boats.
 
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