14' Double Ender

This summer I purchased a 14' Double Ender. The boat is in okay shape considering its age. The story is that it was used on the Blackfoot river in Montana in the 40's and early 50's. It has been tucked away under some Pine trees since. I started cleaning it up and found a "Built by Woody Hindman" name plate (not "Built by Woody Hindman Boats"). Did some research and learned plenty about him and his boats. I guess I am wondering how unique is this boat. Not that it will change any of my plans to get her back on the water, just wondering if anyone has any ideas about it.

Also, I was originally considering fiberglassing the hull. Now reconsidering for tradition's sake. Any thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Tom Martin on September 23, 2009 at 8:44pm
Hi Cody, i'd love to see some photos of this boat. Can you get some digital pic's online??? Yours, tom
Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on September 24, 2009 at 5:29am
You have a classic. Don't fiberglass it. That would be like putting a coat of paint on a Chippendale desk.
Just one mans opinion.
Permalink Reply by Dave Z on September 24, 2009 at 10:27am
Good slice of history. restore it up right, keep the glass off it! Please post pics!!! lots!
Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on September 24, 2009 at 3:37pm
Great find Cody!
Is the Hull painted or natural?
Some of the old boats were also oiled for there entire life (in&out).
Best of luck getting her back on the water.
Mike
Permalink Reply by Jeff Wilson on September 24, 2009 at 8:19pm
I recently purchased plans from Roger Fletcher for the Hindman double ender; what a sweet little boat. Post photos if you can! Are the side panels intact? How's the structure? Keep us posted.
Permalink Reply by Cody Harris on September 29, 2009 at 9:19am
Pictures of the boat.
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Dave Z on September 29, 2009 at 10:04am
I'm envious. What a great find. whats the deal with the half frame on only one side up front?

It looks like its almost stripped clean. Good job.

I'd love to know what you have in it.
Permalink Reply by Roger Fletcher on September 29, 2009 at 8:16pm
Dave Z, regarding the shortened side frames under the fly line deck – that is traditional Woodie Hindman. Someone may have another theory, but my guess is that his rationale is tied to his adaptation of the Kaarhus square-ender – a longer story than is possible here. Its more practical function was likely to buttress the prow. Er, I mean stern. You usually don’t see that frame in the more contemporary McKenzies. They are a bugger to install. It is also probable that Cody’s double-ender pre-dates Shelly Pruitt’s double-ender. Her boat was built by Marty Rathje, the gentleman who bought Woodie out in 1954. She’s a sweet one – the boat, I mean. Shelly is too.

It looks to me like Cody has a real treasure, and I would echo Randy’s suggestion to use it but don’t abuse it. It would be interesting to know more about the boat’s journey to Montana. I know that Bobby Pruitt, Leroy’s Rogue River cousin, left guiding to manage Wally Haas’s (Levi Strauss) ranch in Western Montana in the late 1960s. I also know that Bobby took a McKenzie boat or two along with him, one of which was the Trapper. Good boats can’t be fenced in and the popularity of the double-enders was probably influenced by peripatetic guides who didn’t confine their business to Oregon.

Cody, you mentioned to me that the boat is 14’ stem to stern. This would require side panel lengths 16’ (+/- a dight). Woodie didn’t build his first 16’ double-ender until after the war. His first documented use of the 16-footer on the Middle Fork was 1946 or 1947. It is probably fair to date your boat between 1947-49 and early 1954. Woodie did build a few boats for local guides after he sold his business to Marty, but I think those boats were his double-ender with a transom.

I don’t know what your circumstances are, Cody, but if you get the job done and have the time and inclination, I know there would be a number of people interested in having a looksee at Randy’s McKenzie River Boat Show in April. It's a heck-of-a event. A.J. DeRosa’s clan from Jackson have been coming over for the past two or three years. A.J. is a real boat history guy who is deep into refinishing vintage McKenzies. You two should get your heads together on your project. He can be a real asset. A’J’, you there?

Have fun with the boat!
Permalink Reply by Dave Z on September 30, 2009 at 10:25am
Roger,

What I am referring to is the second frame member between the last full frame and full half frame. On the second picture, there is another frame side member on the left side. Wonder if this was an add on or to repair some pre-existing damage?

Regardless, I am following this until the end. What a great little boat of so much historical importance to us freaks.

Cody, please post lots of pics if you can!
Permalink Reply by Cody Harris on September 30, 2009 at 10:34am
Dave-

That is a repair. The boat has a bit of damage to the side wall there, but not too significant.

Cody

p.s. I will post more and better pics soon.
Permalink Reply by Karl Mueller on September 29, 2009 at 12:55pm
Looks great. Are the chine logs and bow stem fir? I've seen boats from that period that were like that. As for my opinion, I'd do a period restoration with a Hindman boat.

Take that for whatever it's worth.
Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on September 29, 2009 at 3:44pm
That looks solid Cody. Good find. You should buy this book. It is worth every penny and will tell you all about the history of Woodie, the 14 ft boat, and the boats that came before and after.

http://www.riverstouch.com/origins.htm

I also recommend that you strip all of the paint and oil the boat inside and out as it would have been in 1940. There are people here on the site that can give you the recipe for a likely boat oil that would have been used in the 1940s.

I also recommend that you don't use it hard or in water that might damage the boat. That's just the historical part of me saying that the inventory of the original 14ft double enders is small and it would be a shame to see that boat get damaged.

Here is a photograph of an original double ender with an oil finish and with historic varnish that has been updated over the years. The dark color of the oiled boat is a common characteristic of linseed oil darkening in the sun over the years. Some people add a bit of pine tar to help this look along and protect from UV rays.

In the dark boat photo that is Shelley Pruitt, LeRoy's wife.


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