Post by bsutravis on Sept 21, 2006 22:30:31 GMT -5
Here's my buddy Tony's boat that he and I have been working on over the past month. This boat is a classic.....started out as an aluminum, unpainted boat. This craft is over 40 years old, the title says it's a '63!!! Pretty cool to bring new life into this boat.
We started out by adding some compartments under the rear seat....before it was just hollow space, but now there are 3 lift-top hatches to gain access. After that we put on the paint-job. The base coat is a "reed" color since it seems like last season we always were hiding it in cattails. He then went to the craft store and found stencils on mylar of grasses....these were cheaper than the "Reelfoot" stencils that are sold at Cabela's or BPS...and they did a great job. He used 3 different colors of spray paint on the patterns....and it turned out pretty good for a couple of guys trying to figure it out as we went.
After the boat was painted we started in on a frame design. We looked at several "do it yourself" jobs on the internet, as well as ones that you can buy already built. I think this one is WAY stronger and WAY cheaper. He's probably got $75 in the conduit and hardware. All the brackets were made from a flat piece of aluminum strip from Lowe's. It's all totally adjustable and when set up the rear cover will come up and angle in slightly so that the "top" of the blind will overlap the front of the blind making it virtually impossible for circling birds to look down into the blind. The front frame drops down when a support brace is easily tripped....allowing easy shooting towards the front and upwards. We might have some slight modifications after trying it out a few times, but generally speaking it's pretty cool. We still have to paint the frame (olive drab) and finish the camo netting process. Eventually a windstop material will be added to stop those chilly December winds! We're also looking at adding a "bench" style seat along the back side so seating will be more comfy...right now we sit on camp stools or buckets. It hunts the two of us comfortably, and with a bench seat you could squeeze 3 into it. All pushed at break-neck speeds by a 9.5 HP Johnson, complete with new olive-drab paint scheme!
Comments and advice are welcome!!!
We started out by adding some compartments under the rear seat....before it was just hollow space, but now there are 3 lift-top hatches to gain access. After that we put on the paint-job. The base coat is a "reed" color since it seems like last season we always were hiding it in cattails. He then went to the craft store and found stencils on mylar of grasses....these were cheaper than the "Reelfoot" stencils that are sold at Cabela's or BPS...and they did a great job. He used 3 different colors of spray paint on the patterns....and it turned out pretty good for a couple of guys trying to figure it out as we went.
After the boat was painted we started in on a frame design. We looked at several "do it yourself" jobs on the internet, as well as ones that you can buy already built. I think this one is WAY stronger and WAY cheaper. He's probably got $75 in the conduit and hardware. All the brackets were made from a flat piece of aluminum strip from Lowe's. It's all totally adjustable and when set up the rear cover will come up and angle in slightly so that the "top" of the blind will overlap the front of the blind making it virtually impossible for circling birds to look down into the blind. The front frame drops down when a support brace is easily tripped....allowing easy shooting towards the front and upwards. We might have some slight modifications after trying it out a few times, but generally speaking it's pretty cool. We still have to paint the frame (olive drab) and finish the camo netting process. Eventually a windstop material will be added to stop those chilly December winds! We're also looking at adding a "bench" style seat along the back side so seating will be more comfy...right now we sit on camp stools or buckets. It hunts the two of us comfortably, and with a bench seat you could squeeze 3 into it. All pushed at break-neck speeds by a 9.5 HP Johnson, complete with new olive-drab paint scheme!
Comments and advice are welcome!!!
Did you get my text tonight.
I had 60 +- geese flying over the house the other night and the 250-300 ducks are still here, I see them every day. Now I only hope they only continue the same flight path. I'm working on another property just out of Pendleton town limits. I had breakfast with a guy who in tight with the owner. Things are looking up.
If I was going to be welcome?