Darin Clark
Active member
Things got busy this fall and I haven't posted my progress, but I have been busy. It was right down to the wire, but I got it done in time to take it to Virginia with Steve and Tom. It's not 100% done, but close enough. I still want to put grass rails on the bow and have a dodger made. I had a really good time on the trip, even though the ducks didn't cooperate. I was very happy with my ZTW. It is slow, which I expected, but handles waves well and will motor in almost no water.
So here is the final installment
I made shelves in the bow to hold the battery and gas tank. I hated to give up the storage space in the bow, but wanted the weight forward.
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I went looking for a piece of oak for the motor mount and oar locks. I ended up at a little old mill and had a neat talk with an old Marine who survived three beach landings in the South Pacific. After trading military stories he GAVE me a beautiful piece of oak.
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I roughed out the oar locks and decoy racks.
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All decked and ready for fiberglass. I put one layer of 6oz cloth on the deck.
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Floorboards fitted and ready for paint.
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And here is the final result all ready to hit the water.
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I installed a switch panel. The running lights are all hooked up and I put a switch in for lights under the deck which will be installed next summer.
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Due to everything freezing up here, the maiden voyage took place in Virginia. Luckily it floated or it would have been a long drive for nothing.
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Tom hunted the first day with us, but unfortunately he hurt his back and headed home early.
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If you look close at the back of the dodger you will see Steve's bear arm, 74 degrees on the 21st of Dec. just not right.
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My golden Luke was along to handle the retrieving end of things, he didn't get much work, but like us is still happy to be out
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and of course I can't leave out the celebrity of the trip. Jersey Boy is one good looking decoy, even if he didn't coax any of his kind in.
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So here is the final installment
I made shelves in the bow to hold the battery and gas tank. I hated to give up the storage space in the bow, but wanted the weight forward.
I went looking for a piece of oak for the motor mount and oar locks. I ended up at a little old mill and had a neat talk with an old Marine who survived three beach landings in the South Pacific. After trading military stories he GAVE me a beautiful piece of oak.
I roughed out the oar locks and decoy racks.
All decked and ready for fiberglass. I put one layer of 6oz cloth on the deck.
Floorboards fitted and ready for paint.
And here is the final result all ready to hit the water.
I installed a switch panel. The running lights are all hooked up and I put a switch in for lights under the deck which will be installed next summer.
Due to everything freezing up here, the maiden voyage took place in Virginia. Luckily it floated or it would have been a long drive for nothing.
Tom hunted the first day with us, but unfortunately he hurt his back and headed home early.
If you look close at the back of the dodger you will see Steve's bear arm, 74 degrees on the 21st of Dec. just not right.
My golden Luke was along to handle the retrieving end of things, he didn't get much work, but like us is still happy to be out
and of course I can't leave out the celebrity of the trip. Jersey Boy is one good looking decoy, even if he didn't coax any of his kind in.