Using Cordura, CPVC & Raffia
plus
Tricks & Tips for Raffia
and a
"Kwick PVC Tiller Extension"
A 14 ft Jon boat was my last duck boat, and a scissors blind worked great. However,
the Bluebill is 12 ft long with a much different structure. A "cockpit" type blind built
out of CPVC, Cordura and raffia grass was designed..........."The Kwick Bluebill Blind".
Awhile back I purchased 25 yards of 500 Denier Cordura with an International "Camo"
design for $1.99 per yard (66" tall). Tailoring Cordura to the correct shape is simple
using waterproof carpet/contact glue and "The Speedy Stitcher" (manual device).
Heavy duty plastic clamps "tie" the blind sections to the PVC frames. "Snapped"
bundles of raffia make it possible to rearrange placements or aid in removal for
drying and seasonal storage.
With a Cordura base, the blind is wind "proof " and warmer for my dog. In addition,
the back section can be brought forward and attached to the front forming a shelter
from heavy rain.
list of materials and sources:
2#18-2#10Cu wire crimp splice caps - Home Depot
( these work for crimping large diameter mono decoy lines)
0.095 orange Commercial "weed eater" line - Walmart
black plastic snaps P-163 at
Lanyard Making Hardware Accessory and Tool Supply - usalanyards.com (not cheap!)
( 1/8" Hardware Attachment For Round Cord / Flat Straps (Link) lanyards)
¾" CPVC - Menards
PL Water Base Contact Cement - Menards
18 pounds of raffia - Cabela's via a friend (some left to do a field blind or two)
66" Cordura Denier 500 fabric - Camouflage Fabrics (Link) (very inexpensive!)
Structure Sequence (left click on thumbnails)
 Carsten Bluebill 6HP Johnson |
 finished boat blind |
 cockpit frame |
riding position (frame) |
 front support |
 deck bimini |
 "snapped" Cordura/raffia blind |
 cockpit |
 rear blind support |
Cordura "base" |
 back Cordura with "rings" |
 slide open dog working area |
 aft blind view |
"self bagged" blind |
packed blind dozen decoys |
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Tricks and Tips Attaching raffia to a blind is much simpler in the long run if it can be re-positioned or removed for storage. When working with large "hanks" of raffia, place it on a table, snip the bindings or un-tie them depending on how it is "prepared", unfold it and de-twist it until it is slightly spread out (see picture). Next, gently divide the "head" into four or five smaller ones without disturbing the the rest of the "hank". Zip tie each of the smaller "heads" tightly before pulling them apart one at a time. There is little loss with just a small amount of trimming. Place a plastic snap into each zip tie. The "snapped' raffia can be "hung" on a Cordura blind base using rings protruding from the fabric. The rings are built into the blind along a center line. First, a narrow strip of Cordura is cemented down the center on the underside of the fabric. A sharp awl made from a Phillips screwdriver using a grinding wheel can poke holes in the fabric aided by a predrilled 1''X2" wood template as a target. The weave will close back quickly as if nothing happened to it. Therefore, the section of 0.095 weed eater string must be immediately inserted. Two holes about ½" apart allow a loop to be formed. Pull each end through to the underside forming the ring. Crimp this with a copper "splice cap". Trim each tab to about 1", squeeze the plastic ring and push/pull it back through to the outside. If necessary, two "snapped" raffia bundles can be attached to a single ring (loop). note: One of the larger raffia "hanks" was divided into 10 smaller bundles and used for grassing up a field blind (zip ties and snaps). (left click on thumbnails) |
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