Duckhood

I believe there comes a time in every man's life where you realize how spectacular nature really is. For me, that journey began with the purchase of an old junk boat from a man that was happy to get it out of his yard. Unbeknownst to the project that may lie ahead. This is where it starts.

Now, naturally one would think, a little paint and some new carpet then bam! the family is tubing on the water. Nope, it’s a boat. Anyone who has owned a boat will know immediately what I’m saying. 

Others, it may just seem logical to think it’s basically a floating car!

Me, well I can dream a project into only the best it can be. I have found with age that can be a never-ending process and frankly, for the most part, an impossible mission.

With a little online research and pricing materials, it seemed feasible. Let’s get the motor running, deconstruct and see what we got!

After a week of waiting for ignition parts, oil change, and gas it was up and running. 

Everything is looking good.

Let make it look better, I thought. Do I convince myself I could do interior work, I know how to sew and glue. lol 

So, began to tear out.

Rotted this and that, o’ nice at least it’s coming apart easy I thought to myself as the misery starts to unfold. 

Finally, the moment of truth, the boat is damaged well beyond the scope of the project. 

Rotten stringers. Instantly, the excitement went out the window, this boat is junk.

So it sits. 

And sits, summer is almost here and we had dreams of tubing and fishing I said to myself. 

It’s almost heartbreaking if you let it. Kids are upset wife is bummed there is no boaters beach this year.

I was determined to make this happen. 

We contemplated fixing it, talked ourselves out of it about 4 times and finally, the day came. Scrolling thru the social media marketplace I saw it. The one. How I knew, well that’s in the next book. 

Anyway, I checked the accounts and yes I can make it happen. Pick all the kids up from school and announce, should we buy it? my daughter said DaD we should probably look at it first?! 

Ok, made contact we’re on our way. Stop at the bank and let’s do this!

All the while I’m coaching them to stay calm, I’m thinking I’m coaching myself. But it worked.

Got there checked it out, the guy was super informative and willing to point out all the major things needed. 

I felt comfortable with the research I did in 15 minutes waiting in the parking lot for the kids. You dot a deal!

I walked back to the truck with the kids waiting in the car and said well we bought a boat! It was a good moment! Question after question, I thought we would all be expert boaters by the time we got this thing home.

It was everything we needed in a boat. 

It was solid and everything worked except the magneto. It won’t charge the battery, that’s why they stopped using it. 

Got all the numbers off the boat and let the research begin. 

I called and called trying to get parts for this boat, I soon realized what owning an older boat was all about. Who you know. 

A buddy of mine said, go down to the local marina and talk to the owner. He will have whatever you need.

Ok, yea! I remember that place!

Down I go with my numbers in hand, and I instantly realized I’ve been here before. This is the place! 

30 years ago I was there with my uncle, but it didn’t look the same. I used to love this place, nostalgia took over, and instantly I could see what the place could become. Talk about a time warp, also available in another book. 

Anyway, shake that off, and let’s get these parts.

I walked into the most antique service shop, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It was like walking into a working museum.

Parts everywhere, new, used, and in between. 

And there sits the man, I can see him through the door that looks like it’s been in service since 1890. We’ll come to find out it’s been around longer, but, that’s for another time.

I walk in and explain my situation, and he just stares at me. Kinda like when you interrupted someone doing paperwork. 

This lasted for about 30 seconds although it felt like hours. I was starting to wonder what to do, and he says “Yea”. And we wait. 

Now let me tell you something, I have never encountered this situation before and a million things were running through my head. 

Did I make a mistake? Maybe he doesn’t like people? Maybe it’s a bad day. 

Nope, just like that! The information started to flow. He knew everything about that boat. Down to the color on the wiring harness.

Instantly, the repairs of times gone by were recalled with professional-grade solutions.

Never could I have imagined where this would take me.

After all the questions about the seaworthiness of this vessel, he must have gotten enough correct answers to ask me what motor is in it. 

So reply, it’s a four-cylinder a 170 Mercruiser.

That was it! 

By the look on his face, all the sequences had unlocked my ability to make this dream possible.

Then the next logical question is what do you need?

It won’t charge I said. 

Magneto is bad! He said yep. And went into a very lengthy conversation about anything a person would need to know about the charging system of this boat or any boat for that matter.

  I was impressed.

His next words would seal the deal. He says “you know” I might have an old adapter we fabricated for this problem years ago. You can just put an alternator on it and be done. Actually, it’s better than the factory. I said ok! Great! I also need a few other things it won’t start. So we went down the list, and ended on a set of points, and run it. So I did as he instructed, I went home and put the points in gave it some fresh gas and two new batteries, it came alive!!!

He said to run it for an hour and make sure!! So I did. And I was! It was ready for the alternator.

A few days I had returned back down to deliver the good news, it runs! 

It was met with a blunt excitement that can only be described as routine. Good, he said!

 That’s it? I’m thinking. It’s then I realized that’s what they do.

They get you going and move on to the next in need. Not to discriminate against anyone for anything.

His word was circumstances. That is what he said to me. He began to tell me about how boating is like life, it’s all about circumstances. You see, when circumstances began to stack up, you were in trouble. You need to be aware!

Now, what can we do for you? He said.

I shaking replied, that bracket for the alternator? I said.

Yea, I haven’t looked for it he said. 

That pause should have been documented by the genus world book of records. What do you say? I thought about it, and said can we look now?

Yep, let’s go!

As we walked he explained that he designed the part and it worked so well that the manufacturer wanted to buy the rights to it. 

I said naturally, so did you?

Stops in his tracks turns around and said no!

I made my money from it they can do whatever they want. And we proceeded. 

I knew right there, this was a place for me.

We get in the building he walks right over to this box on the bench that hadn’t been touched in 20 years. Puts his flashlight in his mouth and pulls it out! The original one. The bracket I needed, unavailability does not describe the scarcity of this part. The thing technically doesn’t exist. But it does! And it’s almost mine.

He looks at it, and I can see memories start to flow, I’m thinking, man I might be in trouble. He might not let go!

He looks in the box for more and nope. It’s the only one known to man.

After what seemed like an eternity, he walked over and placed this strategically bent, machined piece of history in my hand.

Naturally, I wanted to run and put it on.

But, that something in my head made me say Hey should we make a pattern?

That was it!

We traced that pattern together, documented it a placed it in the box where the real deal used to be. 

He didn’t know it, but that time together meant more than the part. It was life-changing. To say the least. 

We gathered the remaining necessities to complete the project and armed with the knowledge of a master I set out to make this dream a reality.

We did. I got it running like a top the family cleaned it out and we we’re boaters.

Now, as an inexperienced boat owner with experience being on a boat, one would think that it would be natural, shopping trips with the family gathering unknown supplies. Armed with the regulations in hand we crafted a trip on the mighty Saginaw river.

I could go into detail but that is also another book soon to be available on Amazon.

We had our ups and downs, thankfully life experience will guide you through adversity. 

And now I have this boat. 

After all the fun of summer and everyone is burned out on this thing. 

I decided that I think I can fish. So, naturally, I get to rigging up the boat. 

I know by now you thinking, how does this have anything to do with duckhood?

Well, this is where the journey begins, the one I never saw coming.

The same man who helped me get this boat up and running is now becoming a friend. One that I desperately needed.

Not that I didn’t have friends, but he is different. 

He is like a grandpa friend, one that was willing to teach me things I didn’t know I needed.

And I was ready to learn and he knew it. Or so I thought.

You see, I became aware, or awoke if you could call it that. 

This guy is a marina owner of 59 years. He has seen it. Done it or probably witnessed things happen more times than I could imagine. 

And duck hunting season is approaching. 

I will soon come to find out things I didn’t know I wanted to know. 

And he feed that inspiration like I was his child.

Life, it’s alive! I worked that summer, of and on at the marina, soaking it up from customers to employees, I couldn’t get enough. 

I thought to myself, how have I neglected to know all these different sports that can be done using this boat.

Fishing, hunting, swimming, tubing and just cruising with the wife on a date night alone. All wrapped up in this one thing, a boat. 

So, naturally, I stored it at the marina, it only made sense. Instant water launches and endless sportsman knowledge. I was in heaven. 

I took the kids fishing, my buddies and I went deep water fishing, using the tips and tricks supplied by this newfound living library. 

Day in and out something different. 

And then it happened. I was walking by the shop and he was there, it was like destiny was waiting. That’s the only way to explain how it felt. 

He said! Come over here I want to show you something! 

Naturally, still in a state of lucid walking, I see him there with the boat. 

Now, I can tell this is no regular boat. It’s like a battleship for the flats. Designed with extreme duty at hand, it’s the infamous duck boat. 

He says, you ever duck hunted?

Nope! That’s something I’ve never done. 

Mind you, no one in my family or close relationship has done it. So it really never crossed my mind.

He went into explaining all the features as it was like I was boarding the vessel today. Really, he wanted my reaction. You see, he built it from scratch. Just as I would, the best it could be for its intended application. And he knew I would appreciate it. 

I did!

We talked for hours. Customers came and went, it was like we were the only ones there. Life had stopped just enough for me to notice.

And he noticed too. 

We hit it off. 

He needed a hunting buddy and so did I.

Come to find out, he needed a son and I needed a dad.

We didn’t know it. Now we do. It’s an unspoken feeling of being with someone you care for and don’t even know why.

It has a strange effect.

So the month leading up to the first hunt, was mental preparation, equipment gearing, and planning. He said you got to be part duck hunter part lawyer. 

So we did. I read the books and did as much research as I could possibly cram, probably to the annoyance of my entire family at home. After all, we are hunting with a legend I said.

They could see it too. This is something that I might enjoy doing.

Now, let me tell you, I have learned now that duck hunting is much like owning a boat.

It takes money. And this I don’t have much off. My wife would kill me I thought. 

Well, grandpa friends are exactly that. He had my back. Here is a gun, and all the shells you can shoot. Let’s go.

We registered for that opening day hunt together. 

And waited two days to see if we got in. Yep, an opening day with the legend was going to happen. 

I didn’t really know what to expect, I thought I did.

But, life will teach if we’re willing to learn. 

So I hopped in that battleship on that dark foggy morning, just me, my new friend, and the shop dog. 

Now, this is where you get to touch nature with your bare hand and feel the power. I thought.

On that long ride to the spot he has chosen, I felt a connection with life that would change me.

We’re here. The motor cuts off. 

I’m like, ok what do I do?

Let’s get out and set up. 

Mind you, it’s pitch black and we’re smack dab in the middle of the river.

That was a fear I didn’t know I had until I overcame it. The hesitation to get in that water, the unknown!

He could sense my hesitation I’m sure, but I did it. Just jumped right in. 

And like second nature we were set up and waiting for ducks.

It was so elegant that it was hard not to feel like it was that simple. 

This man has done this many times. I thought to myself.

The dog came over and sat by me. It didn’t take long to see why we brought the dog.

She was waiting to see if I could hit the birds.

All she wanted to do was go get them.

I was in paradise. 

The first bird came down, he waited. And then said shoot it as it was landing in our decoys. So I did.

The dog sprang into action, swimming out, and brought it right back and set it on my foot. 

That's when he knew I could shoot. 

So did the dog, we also became friends.

Come to find out everything has a reason.

We shot quite a few ducks that day. I think he was impressed. 

I was impressed. 

That day I learned so many new things. 

It felt like I was living in a dictated dream.

Ducks, their pattern, types, rules, and most importantly how to field dress waterfowl.

It was a complete package.

I didn’t want that day to end. 

Grandpa and I were having too much fun. It felt like he invented the sport and designed the birds just for us. 

Unexplainable!

It was in my blood. This man just uploaded the encyclopedia of waterfowl into my blood!

Little did I know it was only the beginning. 

As the days went on, we hunted as much as possible. Different spots, the same spots all producing these amazing results. Some of the most beautiful birds I’ve ever seen. It’s kinda sad the only way to enjoy really how beautiful they are is when you're holding them in your arms.

He continued to teach, every day like a program. 

I continue to learn. 

To this day I still feel like a kid at Christmas the night before the hunt. 

But I enjoy the miracle of life more. 

I guess the most important thing to remember is we never really know what’s around the next corner. 

And we also don’t know how long our significant other will put up with duck hunting. lol

I encourage anyone with something to share, go out and find someone to share it with. Life is short don’t regret it.