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We have by now built well in
excess of 60 of these boats and at around 130 hours each
building time, that adds up to something like 7,800
man-hours of working time. Let's see....that equals the
output of someone working full time for almost 4 years.
You would think that after all that time, and I couldn't
count how many hours spent in the marsh using the boats,
that we could come up with what might just be the
quintessential, premier "Duck Hunting Boat". I am sorry,
did I hear trumpets playing in the background? Well this
"Black Brant" is really a fine Duck Boat under anyone's
consideration. She has several features that are worth
noting, the first of which, is her very interesting
Outboard motor well configuration. You see, the Outboard
motor fits not on the stern of the boat but on a
bulkhead that is forward of the back of the boat by
about 24 " length. This allows the operator of the boat
to sit further forward in the boat than would be the
case with the outboard mounted on the stern, and allows
the foam floatation of the stern area to be made up in
the sponsons on either side of the Outboard well. The
Outboard itself since it is further forward is now more
conceivable and in a position that the birds flying
overhead can't see it as clearly and distinctly. Forward
of the Outboard well is a cockpit large enough to for up
to 3 hunters with 2 being an ideal number, especially if
you've got a good retriever along to pick up the downed
birds.
There is space to carry up to
6 dozen decoys in the boat and your able dog won't have
much trouble getting back on board with a bird in its
mouth. All you need to do is have the dog swim up
alongside the cockpit of the boat with the bird in their
mouth, and if you place your hand behind its head the
dog will place its front paws on the side deck of the
boat, push against your hand and pop-up on board. Your
hand gave the dog the leverage that it needed to swing
up onboard and it all happens quicker than the
description takes to write about. A single day of
hunting on board a boat like this and your dog now looks
forward to hunting in a way that it never could before.
The Black Brant has a covered
foredeck in front of the cockpit with storage below and
foam compartment way up in the bow of the boat. This is
coast to coast one fine duck boat, and her owners are
her biggest fans. Talk to one and you will find a Hunter
that knows they have found the best tool for their
hunting pleasure.
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Specifications |
| Length |
14' |
| Beam |
5' 10" |
| Draft |
11" |
| Displacement |
225 lbs |
| Power |
25 hp outboard |
| Speed |
20 mph (med. load) |
| Max load |
780 lbs |
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