Hello Duck devotees,

I am considering building a 44 Duck, probably an Evo model in Australia alongside another steel boat we already have under construction. I have hired 2 very experienced boatbuilders - 1 on steel fabrication, engineering and the other who has fitted out over 30 boats and is a superb craftsman. I myself am a qualified welder. We have secured an economical facility with low overheads.

My idea was to complete the 2 vessels and deliver/cruise them to North America via the North Pacific and look to sell the Duck when we arrive. I have friends who have circumnavigated who want to come. Anyone who bought the Duck could obviously also come along for the delivery trip.

I'm thinking I would be after between 350k and 400k USD for the duck fully delivered. There are no import duties between Australia and the US due to the recent free trade agreement. This eliminates some serious costs.

If anyone is seriously interested get in touch and I'll provide some more detail on fit and finish. I've developed a preliminary spec sheet which I would be happy to email.

The focus would be on a robust, well engineered vessel as opposed to a floating electronics store. Simplicity and Seaworthiness.

MP

This forum is sponsored (and presumably paid for) by Seahorse Marine, builders of Diesel Ducks.

I think it is a wee bit unreasonable to plug your boatyard on their site.

Who said anything about a boatyard?

I am already building a boat for myself and we have the bandwidth to build another one in the coming year - nothing more.

If we do build a Duck, the boat will be sold as a second hand boat.

If the good people at Seahorse share your view they can remove my post anytime, no problem.But I'm guessing they'll be a little more relaxed than you - I noticed for example they have a link posted to a serious commercial yard in Brazil touting 48 Ducks.

Thanks for your input.

Mitch

We no longer build the Diesel Duck 44. If somebody wants one, and Mitch can build it - great. We will be glad to support his efforts.

But, and this is a BIG BUT! Buyers should beware of sending buck$ to new yards without some careful vetting. There have been several incidents recently of money going into New Zealand and Australian yards and no boats coming out. (Note: This can happen anywhere.)

One friend from Hong Kong had to go to NZ to finish his 70' sailboat and another got a call from a police department in Australian about his uncompleted hull sitting in the street out side a closed boatyard.

I'm deleting posts from surveyors trying to solicit business on the DuckTalk site. They should tout their services on their own sites.