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Building the "Swiss Army Knife" of Small Boats...Wood Duck Double

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73K views 127 replies 14 participants last post by  DustyMark 
#1 ·
Overview

Needing an Intervention?
I like to plan and build things from wood…the more complicated, the better! I especially enjoy building small boats. Previous boat builds included a tandem sea kayak, single racing kayak, single recreation kayak, mini ski boat, single performance/play kayak, skin-on-frame rowing shell, and three duck hunting layout boats. I even built a teardrop camper in 2016.

I recently finished part of my basement and lost some of my small boat storage. That leaves me with space for two kayaks on the ceiling, my rowing shell and triple kayak on the wall, and my Grumman Sportboat in the third stall of the garage. My wife's single kayak occupies one space on the ceiling and that leaves me with one spot for a rereational kayak.

Can One Boat Do it All?
Having moved back to MN six years ago, I've settled into a number of outdoor activities that I enjoy a lot. These include fishing for northern pike, hunting ducks, kayaking on Lake Superior, and sailing.

Water Sky Hat Watercraft Boat


I netted this 32" northern pike for my wife when we were kayak fishing. She didn't have her own net as she had yet to experience the thrill of landing a toothy pike from a kayak and wasn't "all in." She has one now!

Water Hat Fisherman Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Casting (fishing)


I caught this 38" northern pike while fishing from my Grumman Sportboat.

Eye Boat Wood Font Rectangle


I've spent a lot of time searching for a boat that could safely and comfortably do all of these activities and I think the Chesapeake Light Craft Wood Duck Double kayak would work quite well. I sold my duck hunting layout boat and a solo canoe with a nice duck blind a few weeks ago. I'll sell my Current Designs Solara 135 fishing kayak after I complete the build of the new kayak. The kit will arrive in the next few days. I hope to complete the build in about a month…that could be wishful thinking since I'm also in the final stages of finishing my basement!!!

Next
Why the Wood Duck Double will make a good Lake Superior kayak.
 

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#90 ·
Duck Blind Planning

What Fits?
Duck season starts in MN on 9/26…I need to build my blind! Now that I know Copper will be riding in the back, the big question is "how many decoys can I realistically fit in the kayak?"

Dog Collar Dog breed Carnivore Fawn


I'm able to squeeze a dozen full-size decoys between me and Copper and stay below the notional height of the blind. My blind bag and six decoys fit in front of my feet. I'll wedge my shotgun and case on the floor on one side of the kayak behind me.

Dog Carnivore Dog breed Recreation Flooring


I'll make the roof of the back half of the blind convertible so Copper can escape if we tip over while paddling. That will also allow him to sit full height as I paddle to and from the hunting site.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Boat Smile Wood


I own four goose floaters that I plan to transport between my legs during the paddle out and back. These are great confidence decoys that I won't leave behind. During diver duck hunts, I'll replace the goose floaters with two swan decoys…another great confidence decoy.

Layout Position
Hunting from a layout position is very comfortable and keeps you quite low for better concealment. A disadvantage is that you have limited visibility behind you. I experimented with how far back to place the layout support board and found a position that is just far enough forward to reach the rudder pedals when paddling and just far enough back to rest my feet on the pedals when in the layout position…nice.

Wood Outdoor shoe Sports equipment Recreation Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies


This photo shows how Copper will have good visibility to mark the birds I shoot. It also shows how much you can stuff into this kayak. I plan to store some safety gear in the front and rear hatch compartments. I dressed in my gear and carefully weighed everything that I normally take hunting…I'm sitting at 320 pounds without the blind. I imagine a wet blind will weight about 40 pounds, so I've got perhaps 40 pounds to spare. Copper was getting a little "birdy" being around all the duck hunting gear!

Frame Design
I plan to use 3/4" aluminum tubing for the frame and assemble it with bimini fittings. This approach is light weight and durable. The layout board rest is the centerpiece of the system. An arched piece of tubing will run from one coaming edge to the other. Two struts will run aft from that and define the shape of the back of the blind. The flip blind doors will run forward from the rest. I'll primarily duplicate the method I used and described in detail in my Kara Hummer blog.

Blind Body
I ordered solution-dyed, coyote brown, 500-weight Cordura nylon for the blind body. I've used this successfully on three layout boat blinds, my Grumman Sportboat blind, and a canoe blind. The brushing straps are 9/16" wide military-grade nylon tacked down every four inches. Any buckles or webbing are 3/4" wide. I'll brush the blind out with various colors of Rafia grass to begin a good base and supplement it with natural vegetation during the season.

Costs
I've spent $190 on the blind body materials. That includes purchasing excess amounts to restock my canvas supply kit. I ordered the brushing strap material on e-Bay and the rest of the materials from Rocky Woods out of Colorado. I've also spent $170 on the aluminum tubing and the bimini fittings from Sailrite Kits out of Ohio. I already have enough Raffia grass that I previously bulk-ordered from Joseph Stern. If you had to purchase the raffia grass, that would push the total cost of this blind to over $400. That might seem like a lot of money, but this will be long-lasting, "tank" of a blind that is also easy to deploy.

Next
Build the blind frame.
 

Attachments

#91 ·
Electric Bilge Pump and Stern Rudder Pedals

Electric Bilge Pump
I struggled over where to locate the electric bilge pump. Normally I mount them behind the stern seat and attach the battery to the aft side of the stern bulkhead in the stern hatch compartment. My initial thought was to mount it behind the solo seat so that I could keep the fish cooler as far back as possible.

Automotive tire Product Tire Tread Electrical wiring


Here are the items I typically use for an electric bilge pump installation in a small boat. I was most of the way complete with building a pump system centered around a Pelican dry box and abandoned that for a standard installation. Mounting it behind the solo seat would have made it dangerous to wet exit the kayak from the rear tandem position with the spray deck installed.

Wood Hood Flooring Toy Floor


I fabricated a bracket to hold the top of the pump from 1/8" thick aluminum scrap. I used footman loops and a 1" tie down strap to hold the body of the pump to the bulkhead. This is quite secure and allows me to remove the pump screen without tools to clean debris. This is a much simpler installation than my original plan.

Wood Bumper Motor vehicle Hood Trunk


The through-hull bilge fitting is stainless. I still need to paint it. I also need to install hose clamps.

Wood Flooring Hardwood Composite material Wood stain


I mounted the marine switch to some aluminum angle to the middle hip brace cleat. I used 14-gauge wire as recommended for the distance of the wiring run. This system should pump 18 gallons per minute as installed!

Brown Wood Wood stain Floor Flooring


After drilling 10 holes through the Pelican box for a free-standing installation, I discovered it didn't fit in the stern hatch compartment! That change of plans cost me $35…I ended up building a simple plywood box to contain the 12-volt, 5 amp-hour, AGM battery and fuse holder. I routed the wires through the bulkhead directly into the battery box. I'll back the electric bilge pump system up with a collapsable bailing bucket.

Stern Rudder Controls
I purchased a second set of rudder controls so that I can operate the rudder from any of the three seating positions for super versatility.

Air gun Wood Trigger Shotgun Gun barrel


This is the setting that is most comfortable for me in the stern position. (The middle seat would obviously be removed if I was paddling from the stern position.) I'm able to comfortably paddle with the middle hip braces installed. I lock my ankles around the brace. This is great since it gives me more of a connection to the boat for bracing. I also like it since the hip brace stiffens up that long run of coaming that is usually unsupported

Tire Wheel Bicycle wheel Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle tire


I routed the stern rudder cables aft and outboard of the front rudder cables. I can switch rudder cables at the rudder head by removing a retaining ring from each clevis pin. I'll fasten the unused set of cables to the stern hatch cover webbing tab with a small carabiner.

I'll adjust the new cables tomorrow after the 3M 5200 adhesive caulk has cured.

NOTE: The kayak now weighs 65 pounds. That includes two sets of hip braces, a rudder system with pedals at stern and bow positions, one seat, and the electric bilge pump system. The tandem spray deck weighs another 12 pounds. That's only 77 pounds for a Lake Superior-capable small tandem kayak. I'm quite happy with these final weights!

Next
The rest of my blind building supplies arrived today, so it's time to build the blind frame.
 

Attachments

#92 ·
Duck Blind Frame: Main Body

Decisions
This is the point in the blind build that you make basic decisions like how low to lay in the blind and how much room to set aside for decoys and the dog. My objective remains to paddle the kayak with the blind doors closed around my torso. This will allow an amazingly quick set up.

Tire Automotive tire Motor vehicle Wheel Bumper


This is a comfortable position for Copper and me. It's the second lowest position on the layout seat. The lowest position would conceal us better, but at the expense of comfort. Copper is a little crouched in this photo, but he has good visibility to mark the birds I might shoot.

Boat Motor vehicle Automotive tire Watercraft Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies


The top of the seat fits under the frame when in the paddling position.

Frame Design
The heart of the blind is the support board that is clamped across the coaming ring.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Hood Wood


The layout board rests on it, the rear blind frame is built around it, the aft portion of the flip blind doors are attached to it and my notional face shroud is also connected to it.

Wood Hardwood Household appliance accessory Wood stain Machine


Close up of the support board. Notice the two 10 degree wedges I used to try to deconflict the flip blind doors and the face screen frame. I'm not sure it will work, but I'm giving it a try.

Wood Bicycle part Motor vehicle Gas Bicycle tire


Bimini fittings are a wonderful thing! They make blind construction a whole lot easier. I'm happy with my bends…I've gotten a little better with a conduit bender during each blind build!

Cooper will ride to and from the hunt site in the area between the two crossbars. I'll sew a flip door that will cover the opening once we're set up. I'll also sew a removable barrier that will allow me to stack decoys tight in the are between Copper and me. It sounds complicated, but it will be simple and fast to use.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive exterior Gas


The flip blind doors will connect to the front deck with bimini fittings. I bought a piece of 1/2" EMT conduit to practice the bends on the doors since a replacement piece of aluminum tubing would cost $30 in shipping alone. I'll burn through as many pieces of $4.49 conduit as it takes to get it right.

Next
Fabricate the flip blind door frames.
 

Attachments

#93 ·
Duck Blind Frame: Doors

Complicated Bends
Bending the doors always kicks my butt. I used both ends of my conduit practice piece before I moved on to aluminum tubing.

Tire Wheel Motor vehicle Automotive tire Fender


I'm laying pretty low in these pictures. There's room for me to raise the seat up one incline notch.

Tire Wheel Motor vehicle Automotive tire Tread


Once you get all your gear on, the extra room gets used up. I hate being crowded under the doors. I don't need a framed face shield. A soft shroud attached at the roof of the blind will work just fine. I'll part it in the middle so there's never any chance of getting stuck under it while sitting up for a shot.

Tire Wheel Boat Automotive tire Watercraft


It's nice to have the rudder pedals to hook a foot under while shooting.

Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Asphalt Wheel Recreation Sports equipment


My arm pits just clear the door frames when I paddle. I suppose I could have lowered the blind an inch or so, but I'd rather add a cushion to raise my butt and have the room under the doors during the hunt.

Boat Tire Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Watercraft Truck


Being able to paddle with the blind completely assembled is a game changer for me. I'm used to throwing out decoys and then setting up my blinds in other boats I've owned. This blind is fast, convenient, and comfortable.

I still need to replace the set screws with 3/16" rivets, add braided stainless tethers to the quick release clevis pins, and paint the frame. That's just busy work after wrestling with bending the door frames!

Next
Sew the blind.
 

Attachments

#94 ·
Blind Body: Boat Prep

Backing Plates
I fabricated backing plates from 1/8" aluminum for use under the bimini mounts. I didn't want those #10 washers pulling through the deck when I flip open a wet door!

I also cut all the bolt ends flush under the deck with my Fein oscillating sander and the bimetal blade attachment.

Clevis Pin Tethers

Hood Motor vehicle Gas Automotive exterior Bumper


I used 1/16" braided stainless cable to tether the clevis pins to the blind frame. Each tether is riveted to the frame.

Buckles
The lower edge of the blind is attached with 3/4" plastic buckles along the outer edge of the kayak.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive exterior


The blind is planned for three individual sections (bow, doors, stern.) The buckles are doubled where each section meets the adjacent section. The buckles help hold the blind down during windy conditions.

Entering the Kayak
I hadn't given much thought to how the bend of these doors might make it difficult to enter the kayak.

Motor vehicle Wood Bicycle part Automotive exterior Gas


However, loosening the clevis pin at the shoulder area and suspending it from a carabiner gets the door out of the way nicely. I'll also have to unclip the aft most buckle.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Bumper Gas


It won't lay this flat with Rafia grass on it, but I'm confident that entry over the side will remain possible. This also might be my preferred paddling setup, if I'm not anticipating flushing ducks and then trying for a speedy setup before they return. I'll know more after it's all brushed out and I take it for a test paddle.

Next
Begin sewing the blind body.
 

Attachments

#95 ·
Blind Body: Boat Prep

Backing Plates
I fabricated backing plates from 1/8" aluminum for use under the bimini mounts. I didn't want those #10 washers pulling through the deck when I flip open a wet door!

I also cut all the bolt ends flush under the deck with my Fein oscillating sander and the bimetal blade attachment.

Clevis Pin Tethers

Hood Motor vehicle Gas Automotive exterior Bumper


I used 1/16" braided stainless cable to tether the clevis pins to the blind frame. Each tether is riveted to the frame.

Buckles
The lower edge of the blind is attached with 3/4" plastic buckles along the outer edge of the kayak.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive exterior


The blind is planned for three individual sections (bow, doors, stern.) The buckles are doubled where each section meets the adjacent section. The buckles help hold the blind down during windy conditions.

Entering the Kayak
I hadn't given much thought to how the bend of these doors might make it difficult to enter the kayak.

Motor vehicle Wood Bicycle part Automotive exterior Gas


However, loosening the clevis pin at the shoulder area and suspending it from a carabiner gets the door out of the way nicely. I'll also have to unclip the aft most buckle.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Bumper Gas


It won't lay this flat with Rafia grass on it, but I'm confident that entry over the side will remain possible. This also might be my preferred paddling setup, if I'm not anticipating flushing ducks and then trying for a speedy setup before they return. I'll know more after it's all brushed out and I take it for a test paddle.

Next
Begin sewing the blind body.
Interesting!!
 

Attachments

#97 ·
Blind Body: Base

Designing on the Fly
I pretty much "wing it" when I'm sewing blinds. My initial thought was to have the flip blind doors provide sole coverage for the middle third of the kayak. However, once I started sewing the stern panel, I realized I could extend it to the bow panel and provide a nice, fitted base for the blind that would provide better coverage with the Rafia grass.

Hood Motor vehicle Wood Naval architecture Boat


View of blind base from port bow. I'll float the kayak with me and gear and Mary will pin an accurate waterline hem tomorrow.

Boat Naval architecture Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Wood Vehicle


View from starboard stern. I used a seam with edge binding that ensured the side panels would fold over close to the hull. The wind shouldn't be able to lift these panels up.

Wood Rectangle Beige Flooring Bag


Close-up of bow.

Bag Beige Automotive design Personal protective equipment Eyewear


Close-up of stern. I still need to fold it over and sew on a buckle below the rudder assembly.

Lots of Fittings to Sew Around
There are lots of fittings on the deck of the kayak. I sewed around all of these for the base of the blind. These help hold the base in place. I reinforced each area with a piece of heavy vinyl.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Road surface Wood


Overview photo.

Brown Outerwear Sleeve Wood Collar


View of stern.

Brown Sleeve Dress shirt Beige Collar


View of stern and bow overlap.

Brushing Straps
I'll sew brushing straps after I've completed the cover for the stern frame and the blind doors. I'll know better at that point how the various parts overlap.

Next
Sew the blind doors.
 

Attachments

#98 ·
Blind Body: Doors

Floated the Boat
We floated the boat today with about the amount of weight it will have once the decoys are deployed. Mary sat in the boat as "self-propelled ballast" and I cut the side panel material of the blind at the waterline.

Table Wood Saw Floor Tool


That's the waterline of the kayak loaded. Unfortunately, I ran 4' short of binding edge material to even finish these edges. I totally messed up that order!

Sewing the Doors
I draped a 2' by 5' piece of material over the door frame and pinned the material around the tubing to create sleeves. I then sewed those in place with enough tension to shape the doors, but loose enough that I could slip the door frame through the sleeves

Wood Beige Hardwood Rectangle Automotive exterior


View of port side with brushing straps sewn in. I might add another short row in the fat section. I sewed a 3" flap on the starboard door to overlap. This will keep the rain and snow out on miserable days. It also provides a way for brushing material to fill the gap between the doors. Three buckles, attached to the deck, keep the lower edge of the door tight and in position.

Door Motor vehicle Wood Automotive exterior Automotive design


I like the way these doors turned out. Since they terminate at the deck edge, they don't lay in the water with the doors open. The overlap flap on the starboard door will touch, but not the majority of the door like my old layout boat blind.

Wood Tire Flooring Floor Automotive exterior


Closeup of inside of port door. You can see my brushing strap stitching.

Wood Beige Shade Outdoor furniture Linens


The lower overlap area flipped up in the wind. I'll sew velcro to prevent that from happening. If the Velcro doesn't hold, I'll add a couple of snaps.

I still need to sew brushing straps on the starboard door and the blind base.

Next
Sew the stern dog blind.
 

Attachments

#99 ·
Blind Body: Dog Blind

Lots of Sewing
The dog blind was pretty complicated to sew. It's 3-D shape, so it requires darts to shape it around the frame.

Sleeve Collar Beige Tints and shades Pattern


View from the inside. There are eight buckles to hold it to the kayak, four buckles to support the decoy barrier, seven velcro sleeves to hold it to the frame, one buckle to hold the back door shut, velcro to hold the shroud at the front, a zipper, and brushing straps

Outerwear Sleeve Wood Beige Khaki


View from the outside.

Sleeve Rectangle Khaki Wood Beige


The door has .4" foam inside to give it some rigidity.

Wood Naval architecture Automotive tire Boat Flooring


The profile of the blind turned out well.

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Motor vehicle Wood


Copper riding in the position he'll travel to and from the hunt site.

Wheel Dog Tire Hood Automotive tire


Copper positioned in the door he'll use for retrieves.

Wheel Tire Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive tire


Close-up of side. Notice the little window I sewed in to help reduce the blind spot to the rear quadrants.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Hood Automotive tire


Close-up of the retrieving door. Sewing the zipper in an arch shape made for a roomier entry and exit.

Vehicle Motor vehicle Wheel Automotive design Wood


The doors blend nicely into the shape of the dog blind.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Tread Wood


Copper has plenty of room when we're laying out during the hunt.

The sewing remaining includes a buckle at the bottom of the door, velcro to join the bow panel to the stern panel, the shroud, and a whole lot of brushing straps to the rest of the blind.

Next
Brushing out the blind.
 

Attachments

#100 ·
Blind Body: Dog Blind

Lots of Sewing
The dog blind was pretty complicated to sew. It's 3-D shape, so it requires darts to shape it around the frame.

Sleeve Collar Beige Tints and shades Pattern


View from the inside. There are eight buckles to hold it to the kayak, four buckles to support the decoy barrier, seven velcro sleeves to hold it to the frame, one buckle to hold the back door shut, velcro to hold the shroud at the front, a zipper, and brushing straps

Outerwear Sleeve Wood Beige Khaki


View from the outside.

Sleeve Rectangle Khaki Wood Beige


The door has .4" foam inside to give it some rigidity.

Wood Naval architecture Automotive tire Boat Flooring


The profile of the blind turned out well.

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Motor vehicle Wood


Copper riding in the position he'll travel to and from the hunt site.

Wheel Dog Tire Hood Automotive tire


Copper positioned in the door he'll use for retrieves.

Wheel Tire Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive tire


Close-up of side. Notice the little window I sewed in to help reduce the blind spot to the rear quadrants.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Hood Automotive tire


Close-up of the retrieving door. Sewing the zipper in an arch shape made for a roomier entry and exit.

Vehicle Motor vehicle Wheel Automotive design Wood


The doors blend nicely into the shape of the dog blind.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Tread Wood


Copper has plenty of room when we're laying out during the hunt.

The sewing remaining includes a buckle at the bottom of the door, velcro to join the bow panel to the stern panel, the shroud, and a whole lot of brushing straps to the rest of the blind.

Next
Brushing out the blind.
Amazing sewing…You must have a heavy duty machine!
 

Attachments

#104 ·
Brushing the Blind

Applying Raffia Grass
I applied Raffia grass to the blind in order to give it some 3-D effect for a better hide. I bulk-ordered it from J.M. Stern Company a few years ago. I'm no expert, but here's how I applied it to the blind.

Tire Automotive tire Wood Wheel Composite material


Here are the heaps of the four colors I used…green, light brown, dark gray, and light tan. That blend proved quite effective for me with a previous layout boat all season long without having to add natural vegetation.

Vertebrate Wood Mammal Military camouflage Hay


I tend to go overboard when I'm brushing a boat, so I was deliberate in using four strands of green and two strands of the other three colors. This gives a pretty nice blend.

Gesture Wood Electrical wiring Plant Cable


Fold a bundle of grass in two and insert the folded end through a brushing strap.

Wood Beard Grass Electrical wiring Electrical supply


Run the tag end of the grass through the loop you inserted through the brushing strap and tighten it.

Wood Composite material Rectangle Engineering Metal


My brushing straps are sewed down every four inches. I tied a bundle to each of these sections and then zip tied these down to other brushing straps to form a thin, secure base layer of Raffia grass.

Tire Wheel Wood Plant Natural material


You could add natural vegetation at this point. I opted to add another bundle of Raffia grass to each brushing strap and not zip tie it to the lower straps. It seems to fill in the voids better if left attached only at the top. We'll see how messed up it gets going down the highway…I may need to add some more cable ties later.

Wood Gas Tool Natural material Table


View of brushing complete, as far as I'm concerned. I can always add natural vegetation if needed later. The skirt along the water line could possibly use some more grass, but I'm thinking it's good enough.

Wood Floor Flooring Tire Building


I like the coyote brown Cordura nylon as a base. It seems to blend in nice with the surroundings. I think this kayak blind will work quite well for a layout boat while waterfowl hunting in the local lakes and marshes!

Next
Sew a shroud to cover the opening between the doors and the dog blind and sew an insulated floor pad for Copper.
 

Attachments

#105 ·
Cockpit Shroud

Amazing Results
I've gone back and forth on how or whether to sew a facial shroud for the blind. The opening between the doors and the dog cockpit is slightly oversized so that I can paddle with the doors closed. I decided to give a shroud design idea that I had a try. I'm glad that I sewed a flap and a strip of velcro at the top front edge of the dog cockpit to hold the shroud. It was better to sew those in and not use them than to wish I had sewn them later.

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Plant Natural material


I was surprised how well this simple shroud finishes off the blind's concealment. I used mil-spec mesh in coyote brown like the rest of the blind body. I added Cordura in the lower sections and sewed on brushing straps to blend it in with the doors. The shroud seam is offset to the left so that I'm not looking directly through the seam all the time. One buckle holds the sections together if I wish to take the chance of forgetting to loosen it before a shot…

Mammal Grass Wood Natural material Feather


Heavy vinyl helps the shroud to drop behind me when I sit up to shoot. The vinyl also helps keep the shroud in place on top of the doors. Unless a piece of Raffia grass wraps around something, this shroud will not inhibit me from sitting up to shoot at all.

Tire Wheel Automotive tire Tread Wood


Duck's view from the third step of a ladder. I'm super happy with this blind!

Outerwear Wood Collar Grass Helmet


Here's the configuration I'll use to paddle to the hunt site. The back door is held open on the roof by the shroud and its buckle. I got lucky and the same buckle works for holding the shroud halves shut and securing the back door to the roof.

Twig Wood Hat Grass Event


Overhead view shows the effectiveness of the brushing material and the shroud…I'm set for opener!

Next
Reports from the field after I've used it a while.
 

Attachments

#106 ·
Video of the Kayak Layout Blind

Dry Run at a Lake
I loaded the kayak today and did a dry run, before duck season, to practice loading the boat, paddling, throwing out decoys, sending Copper out on a retrieve and picking up decoys.

Check out this link to a video of the kayak all set up for duck hunting at the boat ramp.

Everything worked out about like I expected. Here are some observations:
1. Copper was hesitant to exit out the side door at first, but eventually figured it out. I may need to build a little step for him to get back in a little easier…we'll see.
2. The kayak paddles well with the blind doors closed. I thought the door frames would rub my arm pits more…pleasant surprise.
3. The best place for my blind bag is immediately behind my seat in the dog blind. I can still fit a dozen decoys in the dog blind.
4. Six wood duck decoys fit well in front of my feet, under the deck.
5. Packing the four goose floaters in the cockpit with me is tricky, but possible. If I lay them in poorly, they could hinder my egress if I tipped over.
6. I need to determine how i'll pre-rig an anchor at the bow and stern to hold my position when I'm not pulled up on the bog. I may be able to use my anchor trolley for one of them.
7. I definitely need to keep a sponge in the boat when the dog is coming in and out.
8. I had great visibility through the shroud mesh on an overcast day. I'll drape the shroud around my shoulders during low light conditions. I really like the shroud set up.
9. I need to route the rudder lifting line on top of the blind for the latter part of its path. It binds up when routed under the blind the entire way.

Next
A hunting report!
 
#109 ·
Reinforcing Stern for Mounting a Torqeedo Ultralight 1103 AC Electric Motor

Expensive Modification

Cloud Sky Plant Natural landscape Wood


The Wood Duck Double has worked out great for my planned uses (duck hunting, fishing, and paddling Lake Superior.) It's quite a comfortable fishing kayak. My wife and I had planned to buy a Lund 1650 Angler SS v-hull boat as we're getting more and more into fishing. However, this winter we decided to focus on kayak fishing instead since we can take two kayaks with us everywhere we go with our travel trailer and only need one vehicle.

Bicycle part Gas Automotive tire Cylinder Auto part


We purchased a Torqeedo Ultralight 1103 AC electric motor for each of us. This motor puts out 3 hp and includes a 31 amp-hour lithium battery that should produce a range of 40 miles at 3 mph. We bought a Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 fishing kayak for Mary and I'm installing my Torqeedo on the Wood Duck.

Minnesota DNR is considering a change to allow electric trolling motors in their wildlife management areas. This motor would be perfect for getting out to my favorite, distant honey holes for duck hunting. We'll also modify our triple kayak so we can get a "boost" on our Lake Superior kayak expeditions in the Apostle Islands.

Beef Up the Stern

This kayak is not designed to run a motor. However, I'm not letting that stop me. The motor assembly weighs 20 pounds and I opted to reinforce the stern and go for it!

Hood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wheel Wood


The wedges lay on the top of the deck and level it so that the motor mount is running closer to level. The 1/4" plywood is custom fit to beef up the underside of the deck at the stern.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Hood Bumper


I sanded the paint off in this area so the epoxy would get a good bite on the stern deck.

Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive design


The motor mount is installed and serves as a clamp as the epoxy cures. I'll seal the new parts with epoxy once this assembly cures.

Next

Raising the seat.
 

Attachments

#110 ·
Reinforcing Stern for Mounting a Torqeedo Ultralight 1103 AC Electric Motor

Expensive Modification

Cloud Sky Plant Natural landscape Wood


The Wood Duck Double has worked out great for my planned uses (duck hunting, fishing, and paddling Lake Superior.) It's quite a comfortable fishing kayak. My wife and I had planned to buy a Lund 1650 Angler SS v-hull boat as we're getting more and more into fishing. However, this winter we decided to focus on kayak fishing instead since we can take two kayaks with us everywhere we go with our travel trailer and only need one vehicle.

Bicycle part Gas Automotive tire Cylinder Auto part


We purchased a Torqeedo Ultralight 1103 AC electric motor for each of us. This motor puts out 3 hp and includes a 31 amp-hour lithium battery that should produce a range of 40 miles at 3 mph. We bought a Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 fishing kayak for Mary and I'm installing my Torqeedo on the Wood Duck.

Minnesota DNR is considering a change to allow electric trolling motors in their wildlife management areas. This motor would be perfect for getting out to my favorite, distant honey holes for duck hunting. We'll also modify our triple kayak so we can get a "boost" on our Lake Superior kayak expeditions in the Apostle Islands.

Beef Up the Stern

This kayak is not designed to run a motor. However, I'm not letting that stop me. The motor assembly weighs 20 pounds and I opted to reinforce the stern and go for it!

Hood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wheel Wood


The wedges lay on the top of the deck and level it so that the motor mount is running closer to level. The 1/4" plywood is custom fit to beef up the underside of the deck at the stern.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Hood Bumper


I sanded the paint off in this area so the epoxy would get a good bite on the stern deck.

Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive design


The motor mount is installed and serves as a clamp as the epoxy cures. I'll seal the new parts with epoxy once this assembly cures.

Next

Raising the seat.
Interesting….
 

Attachments

#112 ·
Raising the Seat

Comfort

I fished quite a bit out of the kayak last season and realized that raising the seat would make it considerably more comfortable. I know the boat is stable enough to handle raising the seat about 4" so I made a platform to raise my Creature Comfort seat.

Hood Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive design


This is a piece of 1/4" Baltic birch plywood connected to some western red cedar 2Ă—4 supports. The cedar was scraps from my sauna build. I cut the cedar to conform to the angle of the floor to avoid pressure points. Everything is sealed with two coats of epoxy, primed, and painted.

Bumper Automotive exterior Wood Trunk Vehicle door


I made new hip braces by laminating two layers of 1/4" Baltic birch plywood. The original 1/4" braces seemed a little flimsy.

Wood Automotive exterior Gas Electrical wiring Vehicle door


Brace installed with 1/4" flathead bolts. These braces greatly improve the rigidity of the cockpit opening. The rudder assembly in this photo is for use from the rear seat when used as a tandem. I'm able to leave the hip brace in place when using this rudder position.

Hood Automotive exterior Automotive design Gas Trunk


Threaded inserts are driven into the cedar supports of the seat platform. A bolt is fastened from the outside of the brace into the seat base support and holds it in place solidly. The platform is then easy to remove for paddling Lake Superior.

NOTE: The four holes in the top of the seat base are spaced to hold a Wise boat seat. In my dry run experiments, I found the Creature Comfort seat more comfortable, but I do have a choice…

Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Vehicle Trunk Vehicle door


I can fit my measuring board and a tackle tray under the seat now. I reclined the seat base 4 degrees (like a good chair!) This setup will be good for a solid day of comfortable kayak fishing!

Made Fishing Shelf Shorter

Raising the seat 4" caused my shins to rub on the fishing shelf at the bow. I cut 4" off the length of the old shelf.

Hood Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Automotive design Gas


I had to make new outer clamp assemblies and move them forward.

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This meant moving everything else except the fish finder base. I plugged the old holes with thickened epoxy and painted the previously varnished assembly to hide the "scars."

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Gas Electrical wiring Machine


I removed the rod holder from the shelf in order to make room for the Torqeedo throttle. The throttle mounts to the rigid base on the far left.

Tire Motor vehicle Automotive design Hood Automotive tire


View of fishing shelf including the seat. Everything is within easy reach, yet out of the way of my paddle stroke.

Next

Install new rudder pedals at forward seating position.
 

Attachments

#113 ·
Rigging the Torqeedo Motor

Fitting New Rudder Pedals

I really like my toe control rudder system, but they simply won't have enough leverage to steer this powerful motor.

Office ruler Wood Wood stain Hardwood Plank


Unfortunately, Smart Track's rudder assembly mount hole spacing is off by 1/4" from the traditional Feathercraft system that Chesapeake Light Craft sells. I used a 1/4" plunge cutting router bit in my drill press to elongate the holes.

Wood Gas Machine tool Machine Household appliance accessory


The cut turned out nice.

Nickel Tool Automotive exhaust Auto part Wire


I found 1/16" thimbles at my local hardware store. These protect the cable from fraying.

Automotive tire Rim Bicycle part Gas Electrical wiring


These make a sturdy connection to the aft end of the rudder assembly. NOTE: I cut some of the T-track off the rudder assembly to make room for the thimble.

Tool Automotive tire Gas Bicycle part Machine


The thimbles also make a nice connection for the caribiners to the steering triangle.

Torqeedo Parts

Gas Composite material Wood Automotive exterior Machine


The throttle mounts to the fishing shelf. Notice the motor lift jam cleat on the starboard side and the reverse lock on the port side.

Hood Floor Automotive tire Flooring Engineering


I improved the motor lift system by adding an extra set of pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage. The final pulleys arrive tomorrow, but I'll use these ones for my test run tomorrow.

Hood Automotive design Automotive exterior Gas Personal luxury car


The battery will normally mount on top of my fish cooler. New footman loops arrive tomorrow, so I'm strapping the battery to the cooler footman loops on the floor for the test run.

Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Automotive tire


View of the stern.

Boat Watercraft Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior


The temp is forecast for 50 degrees tomorrow and the winds are favorable in Two Harbors. I plan to don my dry suit and launch the kayak in Lake Superior tomorrow to test out the motor.

Next

Results from my test run of the motor.
 

Attachments

#114 ·
Torqeedo Works Great!

Awesome Test Run!

I'm super happy with how the kayak/motor combo worked today during my test run at Agate Bay on Lake Superior. The raised seat was stable. The rudder pedals had plenty of authority. They got stiffer at full throttle, but that's a good thing since you don't want to slam the motor to the stop at high speed.

Water Boat Vehicle Watercraft Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies


I went with a pretty bare boat for this run. No use losing equipment if things went poorly!

Performance Results

My max speed in a wind neutral area was a consistent 8.7 mph if I sat on the edge of my seat a bit. It held 8.4 mph seated normally.

Communication Device Gadget Measuring instrument Automotive tire Portable communications device


The Torqeedo has a GPS built into the battery and it provides useful information on the throttle's LCD panel. This shot shows 94% of battery remaining, 6.1 miles range at current speed and throttle setting, 8.5 mph current speed, and 1,123 watts of power (that's wide open.) It's doing about 1 mph faster than any other results posted on the web that I could find.

Temperature Gadget Water Communication Device Gas


This shot shows a more modest power setting with impressive results of 93% battery remaining, 29.0 miles range, 5.0 mph current speed and drawing only 157 watts. The Wood Duck is more sea kayak than fishing kayak and it shines with these performance numbers.

Water Boat Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Watercraft Automotive tire


Kayak blade was catching a little water at full throttle.

Assessment

The motor performance results continue to affirm my opinion that the Wood Duck Double is the "Swiss Army Knife" of small boats. The stern didn't squat like I thought it might. I'm sure it will ride a bit lower with the rest of my fishing gear which is another 60 pounds including the cooler with ice, but I'm not anticipating any limiting problems with a full load. There was some swell out from the launch and I was able to surf it a bit and achieve a speed of 9.4 mph. The boat handled well and didn't take on any water during this. It will get wet in steep chop, but I fish smaller lakes. If I paddle on bigger water, I'll install one of my custom spray decks to keep out the waves.

Next

Report on how this new setup works for fishing.
 

Attachments

#115 ·
Torqeedo Works Great!

Awesome Test Run!

I'm super happy with how the kayak/motor combo worked today during my test run at Agate Bay on Lake Superior. The raised seat was stable. The rudder pedals had plenty of authority. They got stiffer at full throttle, but that's a good thing since you don't want to slam the motor to the stop at high speed.

Water Boat Vehicle Watercraft Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies


I went with a pretty bare boat for this run. No use losing equipment if things went poorly!

Performance Results

My max speed in a wind neutral area was a consistent 8.7 mph if I sat on the edge of my seat a bit. It held 8.4 mph seated normally.

Communication Device Gadget Measuring instrument Automotive tire Portable communications device


The Torqeedo has a GPS built into the battery and it provides useful information on the throttle's LCD panel. This shot shows 94% of battery remaining, 6.1 miles range at current speed and throttle setting, 8.5 mph current speed, and 1,123 watts of power (that's wide open.) It's doing about 1 mph faster than any other results posted on the web that I could find.

Temperature Gadget Water Communication Device Gas


This shot shows a more modest power setting with impressive results of 93% battery remaining, 29.0 miles range, 5.0 mph current speed and drawing only 157 watts. The Wood Duck is more sea kayak than fishing kayak and it shines with these performance numbers.

Water Boat Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Watercraft Automotive tire


Kayak blade was catching a little water at full throttle.

Assessment

The motor performance results continue to affirm my opinion that the Wood Duck Double is the "Swiss Army Knife" of small boats. The stern didn't squat like I thought it might. I'm sure it will ride a bit lower with the rest of my fishing gear which is another 60 pounds including the cooler with ice, but I'm not anticipating any limiting problems with a full load. There was some swell out from the launch and I was able to surf it a bit and achieve a speed of 9.4 mph. The boat handled well and didn't take on any water during this. It will get wet in steep chop, but I fish smaller lakes. If I paddle on bigger water, I'll install one of my custom spray decks to keep out the waves.

Next

Report on how this new setup works for fishing.
nice going,....take it easy around White fish point!
 

Attachments

#125 ·
Updated Fishing Configuration

Refined Ergonomics and More Capable

After fishing with the kayak a couple times, I had an "Ah, Hah" moment and realized that if I raised the anchor/rod holder assembly above the cooler and moved it back slightly, it would work a lot better. Check out this video for a short tour of the new fishing configuration.

Automotive tire Engineering Machine Bicycle part Automotive design


With the rod holders and anchor assembly moved further back, it's much easier to reach everything since it's less of a twist of the body. This also allowed me access to the cooler without having to reach through the rods. It's a lot easier to get a big northern pike in the cooler now!

The cooler is secured to the floor by tie-down straps to footman loops. The Torqeedo battery is mounted to the top of the cooler with the same method. I don't want to lose an expensive battery if I tip the kayak over! It's waterproof to only 1 meter for 30 minutes…not to the bottom of the lake!

The YakAttack paddle holders are quite secure and quiet in operation.

Wheel Tire Gas Machine Watercraft


Starboard view. I'm looking forward to fishing with the new motor! I reached a top speed of 8.7 mph earlier this week (without all the fishing gear.)

The YakAttack Visi-Carbon Pro flag and light will make me more visible day and night.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Boat Automotive exterior Bumper


Port view. My travel fly rod fits nicely in the foreground. I like to cast big streamer flies at pike when I get the chance. The rod in the red case is a two-piece crappie jigging rod. That will see a lot of action after ice-out.

The YakAttack anchor trolley runs along the length of the port side. I run my regular anchor through it and I often connect my anchor pole to it in shallow water. The trolley repositions the anchor along the length of the boat so you can face the wind or have it to your back.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Vehicle Automotive tire


The YakAttack Omega Pro rod holder made it easier to fasten the rod holder to the bow area of the boat after it got displaced from the fishing shelf by the Torqeedo throttle. I used 1/8" thick aluminum plate to make a backing plate for the YakAttack Mighty Mount 2 base and the result is an amazingly solid rod holder mount.

The red rod half behind the seat is an unused rod that I attached a fly reel loaded with Kevlar line and a lure retriever. I saw this setup from a profession kayak angler and anticipate good results retrieving lures from submerged trees and the mine pit lakes we often fish…

In the background, Mary's new Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 kayak is rigged and waiting on delivery of her Torqeedo motor!

Electronic instrument Audio equipment Electrical wiring Gas Machine


A sit-inside kayak typically has less room to operate and store gear than a sit-on-top kayak. This shelf gives me advantages over sit-on-tops due to easy access to gear. The fish finder and transducer arm are easy to deploy/operate from my seat.

I designed and sewed the hook removal kit. We fish northern pike a lot and removing lures from their mouths can be a challenge. This kit includes pliers to hold the lip, grippy glove to hold the fish, mouth spreader, mini-bolt cutters to cut hooks, hemostats for smaller grabs, long-nose pliers, and braided line scissors. I'm designing and sewing one for my wife that will mount under the seat of her new sit-on-top fishing kayak.

The throttle is an easy reach from the seat. I had to move the rod holder from the shelf to the deck of the boat, to make room for the throttle, and that's now a bit of a reach. However, if I slide forward on the seat it's doable.

Under the deck and in front of the rudder pedals is enough room to stow my flying fishing stripping basket, fly real case, and tackle tray with my streamer flies. It's nicely out of the way until I need it.

Car Motor vehicle Automotive design Luggage and bags Automotive exterior


I raised the Creature Comfort seat 4" and also reclined the new base 4 degrees. This significantly improved the comfort. My legs are in a better position for staying in the seat longer and I seem to reach back to the Anchor Wizard, cooler, and rods more easily.

Bass plastics are stored in the small pouch on the starboard side. A 10 amp hour lithium battery (that powers the fish finder) is stored on the port side of the seat. The line with the red ball is the reverse lock for the motor.

Conclusion

It's difficult to anticipate everything up front as you build a kayak and fit it out. Putting a configuration to use and keeping a critical/creative eye can result in some significant improvements. Thankfully, a plywood boat (that you built yourself) is pretty easy to modify and further improve. You can always fill old holes with epoxy, drill new ones, and paint over the "scars."

Next

More field reports…
 

Attachments

#126 ·
Updated Fishing Configuration

Refined Ergonomics and More Capable

After fishing with the kayak a couple times, I had an "Ah, Hah" moment and realized that if I raised the anchor/rod holder assembly above the cooler and moved it back slightly, it would work a lot better. Check out this video for a short tour of the new fishing configuration.

Automotive tire Engineering Machine Bicycle part Automotive design


With the rod holders and anchor assembly moved further back, it's much easier to reach everything since it's less of a twist of the body. This also allowed me access to the cooler without having to reach through the rods. It's a lot easier to get a big northern pike in the cooler now!

The cooler is secured to the floor by tie-down straps to footman loops. The Torqeedo battery is mounted to the top of the cooler with the same method. I don't want to lose an expensive battery if I tip the kayak over! It's waterproof to only 1 meter for 30 minutes…not to the bottom of the lake!

The YakAttack paddle holders are quite secure and quiet in operation.

Wheel Tire Gas Machine Watercraft


Starboard view. I'm looking forward to fishing with the new motor! I reached a top speed of 8.7 mph earlier this week (without all the fishing gear.)

The YakAttack Visi-Carbon Pro flag and light will make me more visible day and night.

Automotive tire Motor vehicle Boat Automotive exterior Bumper


Port view. My travel fly rod fits nicely in the foreground. I like to cast big streamer flies at pike when I get the chance. The rod in the red case is a two-piece crappie jigging rod. That will see a lot of action after ice-out.

The YakAttack anchor trolley runs along the length of the port side. I run my regular anchor through it and I often connect my anchor pole to it in shallow water. The trolley repositions the anchor along the length of the boat so you can face the wind or have it to your back.

Wheel Tire Motor vehicle Vehicle Automotive tire


The YakAttack Omega Pro rod holder made it easier to fasten the rod holder to the bow area of the boat after it got displaced from the fishing shelf by the Torqeedo throttle. I used 1/8" thick aluminum plate to make a backing plate for the YakAttack Mighty Mount 2 base and the result is an amazingly solid rod holder mount.

The red rod half behind the seat is an unused rod that I attached a fly reel loaded with Kevlar line and a lure retriever. I saw this setup from a profession kayak angler and anticipate good results retrieving lures from submerged trees and the mine pit lakes we often fish…

In the background, Mary's new Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 kayak is rigged and waiting on delivery of her Torqeedo motor!

Electronic instrument Audio equipment Electrical wiring Gas Machine


A sit-inside kayak typically has less room to operate and store gear than a sit-on-top kayak. This shelf gives me advantages over sit-on-tops due to easy access to gear. The fish finder and transducer arm are easy to deploy/operate from my seat.

I designed and sewed the hook removal kit. We fish northern pike a lot and removing lures from their mouths can be a challenge. This kit includes pliers to hold the lip, grippy glove to hold the fish, mouth spreader, mini-bolt cutters to cut hooks, hemostats for smaller grabs, long-nose pliers, and braided line scissors. I'm designing and sewing one for my wife that will mount under the seat of her new sit-on-top fishing kayak.

The throttle is an easy reach from the seat. I had to move the rod holder from the shelf to the deck of the boat, to make room for the throttle, and that's now a bit of a reach. However, if I slide forward on the seat it's doable.

Under the deck and in front of the rudder pedals is enough room to stow my flying fishing stripping basket, fly real case, and tackle tray with my streamer flies. It's nicely out of the way until I need it.

Car Motor vehicle Automotive design Luggage and bags Automotive exterior


I raised the Creature Comfort seat 4" and also reclined the new base 4 degrees. This significantly improved the comfort. My legs are in a better position for staying in the seat longer and I seem to reach back to the Anchor Wizard, cooler, and rods more easily.

Bass plastics are stored in the small pouch on the starboard side. A 10 amp hour lithium battery (that powers the fish finder) is stored on the port side of the seat. The line with the red ball is the reverse lock for the motor.

Conclusion

It's difficult to anticipate everything up front as you build a kayak and fit it out. Putting a configuration to use and keeping a critical/creative eye can result in some significant improvements. Thankfully, a plywood boat (that you built yourself) is pretty easy to modify and further improve. You can always fill old holes with epoxy, drill new ones, and paint over the "scars."

Next

More field reports…
This is the swiss army knife of kayaks because of all the work you have put into outfitting it! You have this thing dialed in to near perfection. Here's to many hours of enjoyment after the work you have put into it! Nice job!
 

Attachments

#128 ·
Two-Year Update: Cracked the Hull Twice

I absolutely love my Wood Duck Double kayak. However, I put it through a lot of hard use and flooded timber duck hunting proved too much for the hull in its original lay up.

Brown Water Wood Fluid Flooring


This photo shows an old crack repaired left of the keel and a new crack right of the keel that needed a repair. The hull is pretty flat and the fiberglass is quite light inside and out. Paddling over deadfalls in a river with a full 400-pound payload caused the hull to crack from the outside in. If I were to build another boat like this, I'd add another layer of plywood inside the main floor area to stiffen it up for heavy duty use and use 10-ounce cloth for the exterior hull. This adds weight, but so does a cracked hull that takes on water!

Brown Wood Fluid Grey Beige


Crack sanded and ready for a layer of 10-ounce fiberglass cloth for a repair. I eventually sanded all the paint off the inside of the hull and added a layer of 6-ounce fiberglass cloth over the floor. That got me through the rest of the duck season in flooded timber.

Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Wheel Naval architecture Automotive exterior


I recently added a layer of 10-ounce fiberglass cloth over the outer hull to just past the chine on each side. I added a narrower layer of 10-ounce fiberglass cloth over that in the high wear areas. The shiny section is the second layer before sanding. We have a 2-hour paddle and drag along a river to get to the ducks. The dragging causes a lot of wear on the hull.

Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire Automotive parking light


I added a bit of filler in the bow where breaking through ice had worn through the fiberglass into the wood. The extra layers of fiberglass will also help with this.

Brown Wood Table Floor Flooring


Photo shows previous cracks and deep scratches.

Hood Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Gas


Stern gets a lot of wear when dragging over portages.

Final Thoughts

The extra fiberglass makes the boat more suited to my purposes while duck hunting in rugged conditions. I probably added 10 pounds to the hull weight with these mods, but it's now more reliable 4 miles from the landing. The Wood Duck Double is an excellent all-around kayak and remains my favorite of the 26 small boats I've owned over the years.
 

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