Alright, let’s talk about them boats, the Duckworth and all them others. Folks keep jabberin’ on about which one’s best, so I figured I’d put in my two cents, you know? I ain’t no expert, but I seen a thing or two.
Duckworth, Hewescraft, Thunder Jet, Kingfisher – What’s the Big Deal?
Now, you got all these fancy names, Duckworth, Hewescraft, Thunder Jet, Kingfisher… Sounds like a bunch of birds, if you ask me. But folks say they’re boats. Good ones, too. People up north, Canada way, they like that Duckworth Offshore 28. Said they hauled it all the way from Seattle. That’s a long ways, gotta be somethin’ special ’bout it.
Some fellas, they like the Duckworth ’cause it’s comfy. Like a sittin’ room on the water, I reckon. Then you got others, say the Raider, that’s a fishin’ machine. No frills, just gettin’ the job done. Me? I like a little comfort. My old bones ain’t what they used to be, you know?
Chines and Such – Head Scratchin’ Stuff
Then they start talkin’ ’bout chines. Reverse chines, no chines… Makes my head spin. TJ and Duckworth, they brag about their reverse chines. Raider, they say no chines is better. Who’s right? I ain’t got a clue. Sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me. But I guess it matters to some folks.
Big Boats, Little Boats – Gotta Haul ‘Em Somehow
And then there’s the trailerin’. Some boats, they say they’re easy to trailer. Like that Duckworth Navigator 235. Light as a feather, they say. But then you got these bigger ones, the Duckworth 26 Offshore, the Northriver 27 Offshore. Them’s hefty gals. Gotta have a good truck to pull them, I tell ya.
- Duckworth 26 Offshore: Big and strong, for serious fishin’ or just cruisin’ around.
- Northriver 27 Offshore: Another big fella, lots of room, but you better have a truck to match.
- Duckworth Navigator 235: Lighter and easier to handle, good for folks who don’t want a giant boat.
Specs and Numbers – Makes Your Eyes Go Crazy
Then they get into the numbers. Freeboard this, sides that, fuel capacity… My head’s swimmin’ just thinkin’ about it. But I guess it’s important. You don’t want a boat that’s gonna tip over easy, do ya? And you gotta have enough gas to get where you’re goin’ and back. Common sense, really.
Duckworth 18 Advantage – The Little Guy
Now, they talk about this little Duckworth 18 Advantage Outboard. Sounds like a good starter boat, maybe. Not too big, not too small. Just right, like Goldilocks and her porridge. They say it’s got 28 inches of freeboard, not 27 like some others. And 34-inch sides, not 31. Every inch counts, I suppose. And it holds 27 gallons of gas, not 24. More gas is always better, right? And it’s 90 inches wide, not 85. Wider’s better, too, I reckon. More stable, like a good ol’ farm table.
Dead What? Deadrise, They Call It
And then there’s this “deadrise” thing. They measure it at the transom, whatever that is. Three points of measurement, they say. Sounds mighty complicated. But I guess it has to do with how the boat cuts through the water. Smooth or bumpy, I imagine.
Comparing Boats – Like Apples and Oranges?
Some folks, they like to compare boats. Line ’em up side by side, see which one’s got what. That’s fine, I guess. But it’s like comparin’ apples and oranges, if you ask me. What one fella likes, another might not. It’s all a matter of taste, just like cookin’.
Duckworth-Lewis-Stern – Cricket and Boats? Go Figure!
Now, this is a funny thing. I heard tell of somethin’ called the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Thought it was about boats at first, but no sir. It’s about cricket! That game with the bats and balls and wickets. Seems they use this method to figure out who wins when the weather messes up the game. They talk about scorin’ rates and innings and such. Confusin’ as all get out. And then there’s this V Jayadevan method, even more complicated. Uses all kinds of statistics. My head’s spinnin’ again.
But here’s the thing. Some folks say this Duckworth-Lewis method ain’t fair, gives the team battin’ second an advantage. ‘Cause it don’t take into account the wickets, just the overs and runs. Sounds fishy to me. Like givin’ one fella a head start in a race.
Anyway, they tweaked this method in 2014, made it fit better for modern cricket, especially that fast-paced T20 stuff. Now they call it the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Still used today, they say, for all them international matches. Fancy that, a boat name mixed up in cricket.
So, What’s the Best Boat?
So, after all this jabberin’, what’s the best boat? I ain’t gonna tell ya. ‘Cause I don’t rightly know. It depends on what you want, what you need, and how much money you got in your pocket. But one thing’s for sure, do your homework, talk to folks who know, and don’t be afraid to kick the tires, so to speak. And remember, a boat’s just a tool, like a hammer or a hoe. It’s the fella usin’ it that matters.
And that’s all I gotta say about that.
