A wooden Duck?!

I thought this price seemed too good to be true! A 2013 D.D for about $200k!

Upon further review I noticed her hull material was wood. What do you diehard Diesel Duckers say about her??

2013 Diesel Duck 40 Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

Here's the info from the builder, Wayne Shibley

I must say, the build photos are amazing!

A handsome vessel; not like the maximum-volume, cruise-ship-style boat. The four-cylinder John Deere engine is similar to mine. Good engine.

markpierce said:

A handsome vessel; not like the maximum-volume, cruise-ship-style boat. The four-cylinder John Deere engine is similar to mine. Good engine.

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Okay, but what about the four letter word? WOOD

South of Heaven said:

Okay, but what about the four letter word? WOOD

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Diesel Decoy.

She's a lovely design, beautifully built and lovingly maintained.

Like steel, a wood boat will last virtually forever if attended to. Like steel, it will quickly fall into disrepair if left to her own.

Wood boats clearly aren't for everyone, but I don't think they're more difficult or expensive to maintain than the same design built in steel.

If the plans were for wood and construction was faithful to the plans, then why not?
The only proviso being that she may not have the ultimate strength of a steel hull, but you may not require that anyway.

I recall a wood DD for sale in or near Northport, Michigan within the last few years. This may be that boat.

For a 40 foot, 5 year old boat, the price seems low. She's a beauty though. That's the kind of boat I'd love to have my friend buy!!

South of Heaven said:

Okay, but what about the four letter word? WOOD

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A lot nicer warmer and personal than the 5 letter word one

I like this boat. I read the build blog a while back . Looks like a heck of a deal for somebody. If you have some woodworking skills it would be a plus . The fact that it’s practically a new build and a nice build at that, with care it could outlast it’s new owner.

Did anyone notice it is keel cooled?

Donsan said:

Did anyone notice it is keel cooled?

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We're building a 41' Duck in wood. The designer, George Buehler, was a big fan of dry stacks and keel cooling. We're still going back and forth on heat exchangher vs keel cooling.

scott2640 said:

We're building a 41' Duck in wood. The designer, George Buehler, was a big fan of dry stacks and keel cooling. We're still going back and forth on heat exchangher vs keel cooling.

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Are you the owner or the builder? Good luck.

Coming from the work boat world I prefer keel cooler and dry stack. Beuhler's designs have a strong work boat influence.


Keel cooler and dry stack are easier to maintain and less prone to problems. But on a wood boat it won't be possible to install a 'real' keel cooler. And the dry stack will cost you some interior space. If not properly installed dry stack will be nosier and hotter than wet exhaust.

Both! We are building a 41' Duck in our backyard.

South of Heaven said:

Are you the owner or the builder? Good luck.

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Portage_Bay said:

Coming from the work boat world I prefer keel cooler and dry stack. Beuhler's designs have a strong work boat influence.


Keel cooler and dry stack are easier to maintain and less prone to problems. But on a wood boat it won't be possible to install a 'real' keel cooler. And the dry stack will cost you some interior space. If not properly installed dry stack will be nosier and hotter than wet exhaust.

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Ok, I'll bite, why do you think a wood duck can't have a real keel cooler? Plenty of Chesapeake Bay wood work boats have commercially built keal coolers.

Ted

O C Diver said:

Ok, I'll bite, why do you think a wood duck can't have a real keel cooler? Plenty of Chesapeake Bay wood work boats have commercially built keal coolers.

Ted

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Some wooden work boats keel coolers are a galvanized steel pipe running for and aft, very simple but effective.

sdowney717 said:

Some wooden work boats keel coolers are a galvanized steel pipe running for and aft, very simple but effective.

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Yes, I've seen a number of them at the boatyard in Chance, MD.

Ted

O C Diver said:

Ok, I'll bite, why do you think a wood duck can't have a real keel cooler? Plenty of Chesapeake Bay wood work boats have commercially built keal coolers.

Ted

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I'm being fussy about the terminology. A keel cooler is structurally part of the keel and very resistant to damage from dead heads, minor groundings etc.

A wood or composite hull will have pipes or a Fernstrum style grid coolers attached to the hull. Those are often referred to as keel coolers. They work well and offer most of the advantages of a true keel cooler.

no reason at all a wood boat can't be keel cooled.

Sailor of Fortune said:

no reason at all a wood boat can't be keel cooled.

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Yes, and mine works GREAT. I'd want that in my next boat too

Entire wooden hulled fishing fleet was keel cooled.

Dashew has made a pretty convincing argument for heat exchanger cooled/wet exhaust.
Either way, designed well will work well.
My brother had a 55' steel trawler, keel cooled, dry stack. Biggest complaint against was cold starting either main or generator any soot out the stack landing on other yachts is bound to get owners aggravated. He ended up scrubbing soot off decks to appease a few.

Portage_Bay said:

Coming from the work boat world I prefer keel cooler and dry stack. Beuhler's designs have a strong work boat influence.


Keel cooler and dry stack are easier to maintain and less prone to problems. But on a wood boat it won't be possible to install a 'real' keel cooler. And the dry stack will cost you some interior space. If not properly installed dry stack will be nosier and hotter than wet exhaust.

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Portage_Bay said:

A wood or composite hull will have pipes or a Fernstrum style grid coolers attached to the hull. Those are often referred to as keel coolers. They work well and offer most of the advantages of a true keel cooler.

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Those Fernstrums are extremely expensive. You may wish to consider the external pipes on your wood boat - more cost effective.

D.Duck44 said:

If the plans were for wood and construction was faithful to the plans, then why not?
The only proviso being that she may not have the ultimate strength of a steel hull, but you may not require that anyway.

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One word MAINTENANCE. I have had a 40ft, wood (commercially built) diesel powered boat and would not do it again. Later purchased a CHB 45 P/H in glass and cruised it for 25 years.
As always YMMV,
CCC

I visited With Wayne. He is a great boat builder. He has more in this one in materials alone. The boat is located near Chicago. It’s a beauty.

scott2640 said:

We're building a 41' Duck in wood. The designer, George Buehler, was a big fan of dry stacks and keel cooling. We're still going back and forth on heat exchangher vs keel cooling.

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Scott,
Ive watched your build from the beginning when wi-fi and time permit. Your makin headway and hope your able to see her through. Only issue is the New York weather is not conducive to year round building. Its a short walk from the shop to the shed, until you have a foot or two of snow to deal with. Keep at it bud, might see ya on the water some day in the coming years.

hi,

A really interesting boat seems to have a well constructed and strong design. The price is an incredibly low hand-made boat vs ordinary serial production. Good opportunity for somebody to get a great Trawler, I think a new wooden boat might be really ok to buy and own.

NBs

I pass by this boat all the time in South Chicago. I gaze at her longingly every time. I don't know much about wooden boats, so I'm just too dumb to know any better, but I'd seriously consider buying her.