Author Topic: Duck lay-out boat needs some work... (Read 2263 times)

Heartsblood · « **on:** August 12, 2011, 10:16:16 AM »

I was talking with a hunting buddies' wife a coupla weekends ago and mentioned that I was thinking about making my own lay out boat based on plans/projects that I seen several on the board here doing up. Nice work fellas! I still wanna do that! Anyweys, I think his wife saw an opportunity to clean out some space in their garage and volunteered him to give me this old lay out boat:

It needs some work but, I think it'll be a good beginning for me to get into the water - open up more access to birds rather than just walking in as I've done for the past coupla years. It's got a few holes:

And cracks:

I am thinking that I'll pressure wash it and let it dry inside:

then patch the holes with resin and carbon fiber (free scraps from work), and then I'm still deciding about either:
a) spray painting camo
b) buying a camo cover which I'll likely hafta modify to fit both the boat and my needs.

I need to really get on it if it's going to be anything like ready for waterfowl season. Any tips, advice, insight, thoughts are welcome. Wish me luck!

Special T · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2011, 11:17:40 AM »

Cool Boat and a score for sure!

Do all your prep work sanding asn such as soon as possible and buy your materials... First nice hot day and put that bad boy on some saw horses in the sun and get to patching...

gasman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2011, 03:40:53 PM »

What a good score

( I would have jumped on that if it came across me)

Not to bad of rough spots. Should be able to repair those in a few hours with easy

Having this will also help decide what you wan tto do with the boat you build.

Heartsblood · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2011, 02:03:32 PM »

Quote from: Special T on August 12, 2011, 11:17:40 AM

Cool Boat and a score for sure! Do all your prep work sanding asn such as soon as possible and buy your materials... First nice hot day and put that bad boy on some saw horses in the sun and get to patching...

Gotter washed and drying today. We'll get to patching next week. If it rains, I'll just work inside. But nice weather would be great.

Went down to the corner "Splash n Dash". She's gonna need some heavy duty scrubbing tho'.

So, I found some free stencils on-line. Any recommendations on types of paint - colors, brands, etc.?

Quote from: gasman on August 12, 2011, 03:40:53 PM

Having this will also help decide what you wan tto do with the boat you build.

Good point. I figure this will be my learning boat. I still totally want to build my own at somepoint.

JKEEN33 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2011, 02:12:28 PM »

Looks like a lot of work. I can come by and haul it off for you.

Heartsblood · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2011, 03:42:35 PM »

Hey thanks but.... no.

I'm having a good time with it so far. Plus it's getting/keeping me stoked for the season.

johnsc6 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2011, 08:18:51 AM »

I've got the same boat and if you are gonna bother to do the glass work, cut the opening in the top bigger and reglass edge, so you can lay down, the opening is to small.

Heartsblood · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2011, 08:35:51 AM »

Quote from: johnsc6 on August 23, 2011, 08:18:51 AM

I've got the same boat and if you are gonna bother to do the glass work, cut the opening in the top bigger and reglass edge, so you can lay down, the opening is to small.

That might hafta fall under the, "help decide what you wan tto do with the boat you build" category for this year - I feel like I don't have that much time before I get out and test her out. I definitley will keep that in mind tho'. :)Thanks for the tip!

I gotta question for you though - do use use oars or a paddle (like a kayak paddle or something)? What would you recommend? Also, have you painted yours, or does it have a cover? Or?

Okay, okay so that was a few questions.

Any help is welcome. Thanks.

Heartsblood · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2011, 10:52:54 PM »

Last I left off, I had just washed and hung up the boat. It's been a month or so but, I decided to get crackin - afterall ducks are in nearly 2 weeks!
So - After filling some holes, chips, and cracks with resin:

I learned that I'd probably rather use something thicker like epoxy putty. But whatever. Onward!
Taking a suggestion from Crispy (Thanks man!), I started taping various grasses and such directly onto my sneak boat as stencils: