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Discoverer
10-06-2014, 11:28 AM
I recently bought an old Mirrocraft 14ft boat I am planning to convert to duck boat
I stripped it completely out, cleaned and washed throughfully:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bKLlKKzJxvs/VDIKC8_WPsI/AAAAAAAAU6Y/nsSa2X2e1sA/s1024/IMG_20140924_212616.jpg

Bought a brand new trailer as the old one was all rusty and in terrible conditions, then painted boat in and out:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aGPhe_HE5Z0/VDIKSgODkZI/AAAAAAAAU6o/0eu792G2TO0/s1024/IMG_20140928_165741.jpg

And than the fun begun - camo painting!
I made my own stencils from the shower curtains. First layer - black:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xX1IQd3V2dQ/VDIKbCyjRBI/AAAAAAAAU64/hd8IimTf2_I/s1024/IMG_20141004_130418.jpg

Than brown, green and beige. Here is the look and the final touches:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nHLgF2rrJBE/VDIKsSSLgiI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/bDfdvzSyWL8/s1024/IMG_20141005_172752.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1UEX7M74oDQ/VDIKwRD1EVI/AAAAAAAAU7g/ewiSEzHzc-A/s1024/IMG_20141005_172803.jpg

I camo the motor's cover too. It should be good enough for the time being, Next - I will need to install the blind, but most likely will do after the season is over.

edgy
10-06-2014, 11:48 AM
Sweet 😄 looks good

Drillbit
10-06-2014, 11:52 AM
Looks great!

I love those boats! That's the 20" too.

300win
10-06-2014, 12:12 PM
sweet little project, good luck this season

northernsculler
10-06-2014, 01:52 PM
Beauty of a boat. Are you putting the thwarts/seats back in? My guess is that they are structural and are needed to keep the sides from folding in. Real nice to have that high transom.

pnbrock
10-06-2014, 02:24 PM
At the very least gussets to keep from twisting. Nice paint job.

Discoverer
10-06-2014, 02:51 PM
Yes, seats will be re-installed with new lumber this week.

Ovis17
10-06-2014, 03:01 PM
Looking good!!

barklee
10-06-2014, 03:39 PM
Looking good. Did you free hand the Camo on the boat?

Discoverer
10-06-2014, 03:53 PM
Not free hand, I made my stencils first. Different stencils for different colors.

rbduck
10-06-2014, 06:47 PM
Good looking boat. My bud and I built one a few years ago. A lot of satisfaction doing it yourself. Nice job.

Ron:mrgreen:

therise
10-08-2014, 01:34 PM
Did you buy that boat in North Vancouver? If so, I have spent many days in that boat. Lots of ducks been hauled home in that bad boy!

Discoverer
10-08-2014, 03:52 PM
Did you buy that boat in North Vancouver? If so, I have spent many days in that boat. Lots of ducks been hauled home in that bad boy!
Yep :mrgreen:

barklee
10-10-2014, 05:46 PM
Thanks for the guidance on the stencil. I built one and camouflaged my boat today. Looks good.

Geo.338
10-10-2014, 06:13 PM
sweet . gives me inspiration to redo my old Mirro Craft

Discoverer
09-03-2015, 02:12 PM
I spent some time this summer to construct a duck blind on my boat. First I built a base support. I used an 8" piece of angle aluminum 1"x 1" , measured and cut pieces for desired length for the bow and transom, next, cut a portion of the angle bracket to allow for flush mounting
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_B8By9ANmHU/VaVamtluNNI/AAAAAAAAWh0/mGxT1j0Z5xo/s512-Ic42/IMG_20150712_130957.jpg

Next you will want to cut 2 pieces, roughly 3" in length. File down the edges and corner, drill holes for the bimini mounts and mount small brackets onto cross-boat support bracket. I used stainless steel screws.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8u7ftbb2qoI/VaVawz89yqI/AAAAAAAAWjY/rxxS7zLuG9Y/s512-Ic42/IMG_20150712_131024.jpg

Mount both transom' and bow's brackets onto the boat using stainless bolts
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vbJ_GwBP3MM/VaVa5nupg6I/AAAAAAAAWjg/idmgI-m-ZKY/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_131145.jpg

Nest I secured the bimini mounts. All bimini rod ends and slide on used were 7/8" diameter, which I bought in the marine store.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PSvv1jTButc/VaVa8mwPjiI/AAAAAAAAWjg/-BBxrub6GvU/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_131349.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6J7KaIbancQ/VaVbDJyygAI/AAAAAAAAWjg/Xf__nueAjyw/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_131209.jpg

Discoverer
09-03-2015, 02:28 PM
Next I had to construct the frame for my blind. I used 4 of 3/4" x 10ft EMT pipes. Bent them at a 90 degree and jointed together using EMT coplers. Placed the bent pieces into bemini rod end.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cmdKPf5Qqjg/VaVbMNkiWsI/AAAAAAAAWjg/l1uR53-cOFc/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_154347.jpg

Raise the frame, drill the holes across two pipes and place the pin in holes
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3K3E5IWnewk/VaVbUnj004I/AAAAAAAAWjg/hwBQJOiWALs/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_181147.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5xig3Ykn6iA/VaVbPm5mfOI/AAAAAAAAWjg/oUiLFQ_vPAY/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150712_181134.jpg

Next I bent and installed the mid back section to allow the blind material to not drape into boat. I used 4 camo lines to connect the upper and back sections:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hKxRIfNDG1A/VeY1mG-7KjI/AAAAAAAAXIQ/9Qv_bGtx22E/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150830_193344.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AKK2l2Uw1rM/VeY1ec_UPSI/AAAAAAAAXHw/JRnR4ghurKA/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150822_153801.jpg

Discoverer
09-03-2015, 02:39 PM
Next I had to build a ladder for my dog, so he could climb into the boat after retrieves without a man's assistance. I used two 1/2" pieces of EMT pipes and bent them like follow:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8LRPDBX8JCk/VeY1ha2q3JI/AAAAAAAAXIA/jD_MdoRv1xw/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150827_210738.jpg

Bent and mounted the support mounts which used as steps also:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2mAQce4MpnU/VeY1jUmyetI/AAAAAAAAXII/h8GuBo1BAcw/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150830_123545.jpg

And mounted the rest of the steps:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfwcXEieSYM/Veiw-kQbMXI/AAAAAAAAXJY/k-B0BhIy83U/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150830_193432.jpg

The final pictures of the fully constructed blind will follow shortly ...

Discoverer
09-13-2015, 10:43 PM
Final touch:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxMT8M9Sugg/VfZbCVPlnlI/AAAAAAAAXL4/NmOmZmILBx8/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150913_154612.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x3bciFKiOu8/VfZbHZaPDaI/AAAAAAAAXMA/cxZtkKwEYYQ/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150913_154653.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RN5b6paS4GQ/VfZa9NUe_zI/AAAAAAAAXLw/ED6sLLXJwG8/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150913_154557.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OkTvkmsnPck/VfZbtzxAq3I/AAAAAAAAXMo/sTNuGrfyM-k/s640-Ic42/IMG_20150913_200302.jpg

LeverActionJunkie
09-14-2015, 06:20 AM
Awesome boat/blind! Lookin forward to pics of it on the water and with some birds on the deck. Nice build

itsy bitsy xj
09-14-2015, 07:16 AM
WOW! That looks great

The Hermit
10-21-2015, 02:39 PM
Great looking rig! Love the dog ladder too!

Xenomorph
11-13-2015, 04:39 PM
Any updates on this? Where are the birds? :)

srupp
11-13-2015, 07:22 PM
Very creative, well done and inspiring.nice addition for your dog.
Srupp

Discoverer
12-18-2015, 10:26 AM
Any updates on this? Where are the birds? :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0DSHOVxc71o/VhmZyDmLjqI/AAAAAAAAFPI/CWw_ZBG3yZw/s1024-Ic42/005.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0hD7LtAR740/VkkHvcwXI1I/AAAAAAAAFU8/8D1eJHJHwak/s800-Ic42/IMG_20151115_101142.jpg

Discoverer
11-28-2017, 11:18 AM
Unfortunately, I don’t use this boat/blind nearly as much as expected, mostly because we got an access to the farm’s land and it’s much easier to hunt in a field.
I really like this boat, but it takes too much space in my garage, so maybe somebody will find a better usage than collecting a dust. Long story short – it’s for sale.
Here it goes:


1. Mirrocraft 14ft aluminum boat seriously renovated three years ago, no leaks of any kind;
2. Custom build scissor blind installed on a boat, super easy to setup and ready to hunt within minutes;
3. Custom build dog ladder that allows your retriever to climb into the boat without a help;
4. Yamaha 25 hp outboard, works as a Swiss watch, easy starts, very powerful. With a load of 3 big guys + 3 dogs + guns and ammo + 24 ducks is still gliding like a corn through goose. The last service by Yamaha dealership in 2015, have a receipt for $420 (carb cleaning, replaced parts, lubricated, etc)
5. Karavan trailer, brand new in 2014, used maybe 10 times, everything works, tires are great and basically in new conditions
6. Detached fuel tank


Everything stored in the garage and never outside except for hunting.
Asking $5,500 for the whole package, will not sell separately and very firm on price.
PM me if interested.

MarthaBenson
11-23-2022, 10:43 PM
Looks great! I love those boats.

ab3
12-17-2022, 11:40 AM
That is truly an awesome duck boat. Well done and nice results with the pile of ducks too :)