Post by sculler72 on Jan 5, 2021 0:54:03 GMT
Hi All: Excuse me if I rattle on! I seem to write a lot more in this Old Age.
These Sculls from Old are my Nellist Scull Boats. Many Boat molds were built from these Older Boats, in turn trying to copy the low stream line these boats have to offer.
These Boats are very low, very fast if speed is what you need, Along with one of the best sculls on the Bays, Estuaries , Reservoirs, and Lakes. These sculls in my opinion are by far the Best Sculls of there time. These sculls continue to meet all scullers expectations even though they were copied by many for years and are still today being built.
Most have been copied then recopied by builders who have just taken measurements, pictures, and what ever could be found too start the Build.
Most owners like my self would never give up one of my Nellists of 2 to anyone for building purposes, Nor would I ever think of selling one as My son Has one of the two and the other is used by myself. My Scull has been used for Many, Many years. Finding it in Humboldt County In 1963 in a Barn outside Arcata CA. The Scull was Buried under Hay in an old Barn and used by Chickens for a roosting area.
Hunting Ducks at young and always wanting a scull after watching the Old Timers come in with a limit of Ducks along with seeing how these Sculls, letting these Scullers slip into flocks of ducks close enough for a shot killing many birds.
In those days there were just not that many Sculls around in comparison of today. Today many sit or hang in garages after finding that it is a sport that takes time along with much patience to .learn
Growing in a family of Duck hunters and friends of family whom owned these Sculls made me even more intrigued. Listening to the stories along with watching these Scullers slip around was not only a new way to hunt, But maybe, just maybe I could kill a few more Ducks which made it that much more exciting.
Finding this Boat was the answer I always wanted. Here was my starter Scull Boat. Figuring I could learn and hopefully Harvest a few more ducks compared to what I was harvesting at that young age.
The next thing was the question? What was wanted to purchase this Scull, possibly working out some kind of work, In my young mind what ever needed to get this Boat. I at that time after school was working cleaning up at a facility making $3.00 an hr, so not much money thinking if the cost was going to be much, or more then I have saved up. Grand Father standing there watching this all go bye,bye as he was thinking it was going to be more then I could afford finding out later that he would of helped me get this first Scull.
Sir I asked, what would you need for this Scull Boat? He looked at me and said well Son if you can get this what ever you called it out of this barn right now it is yours. Thinking back, it was a real shock also to Gramps. He believed the old Farmer knew nothing of or about the boat. Loading and off we went with a new beginning of a different way of hunting and finding a Parent or Grand father to find time to haul me to the Bay every chance i got, to learn.
At first I really did not know what kind of Boat I had. But very fortunate to be around all the timers that to me were some of the best hunters on the bay. I met many, got a lot of pointers along with many laughs as I was learning and really seemed like I was getting no where.
One day waiting to get the tide to come in as I was dropped off, getting there when ever i could get a ride. While watching and waiting One of the Best and oldest Scullers that I was fortunate to meet Drove up was MR George Dean, also waiting to drop his boat in.
George indicated I have sure seen you here a lot, But not seeing many birds coming in with you. Well Sir I indicated I'm really still trying to figure out how to use this scull. Learning comes hard George indicated but your persistent enough you will learn. George went on to ask if I knew whom the Builder was and what I had. No Sir I said as he was studying the boat then said, Yes! You have a Nellist. Where did you find this scull? I indicated and told him the story about the Boat in the Barn in Arcada. We Chatted then he went on to indicate there is much more then just making that boat go straight. Continued on to tell me to think of all the things that go along with sculling. I learned a lot from Him, also from a few others that took me by the hand to learn.
It took me a season to get to where I could kill a few Birds. The following season I saved and with some help got my first Pick up. That was the Beginning of the end. I got better, and better each season and the real learning began.
Starting at 15 and now 73 I still have that Boat and latter in life was able and very fortunate to find a sister Boat to my Nellist owned By MR Hank Moore a local to Eureka CA and good friend to MR Bill Nellist. Fortunate to know Bill as we used to fly fish the EEL River for half pounders along with Summer Steelhead. Bill and I chatted many times about these Boats as he used to come up to Oregon after I had moved here in 1974 too fly fish for Stripers as that was one fish he wanted to catch and a huge plus on a Fly.
Back to the Scull. Bill indicated that Frank his Brother was the original Builder and very few of these boats were Built. That Nellist was taken from the old Dean boat and Built by Bills brother Frank, and the stories continued.
Today I know of about 6 maybe 7 still around not knowing if they are being used.
As I indicated that there were many molds built and supposedly of original Nellist boats. Seeing many of these molds I have to the conclusion that these molds were definitely not from any of the Original Nellist for many reasons. There were from what understand 5 that were modified with small wings to brake down the slap from water off the boats and 5 without the wings. All exceptional Sculls and very sought after Boats. Many of those old scullers market hunted Humboldt Bay in there younger years during the Depression Days in much Larger boats as there were non existent limits. These old Boys back in there time deserve much recognition for what has become a great way of hunting for many. The same happened on the East coast during those depression days and a way of making a living when things were very tough during those depression Day. We really don't know how well we have it today. Don't get me wrong, sure! things are not good in a lot of aspects but the depression was a different Bird all together.
Here is a picture of my Nellists a couple of years after I had Both My Original Nellist sculls.
Thanks for letting me share of some Great Men and there Sculls. sculler73
These Sculls from Old are my Nellist Scull Boats. Many Boat molds were built from these Older Boats, in turn trying to copy the low stream line these boats have to offer.
These Boats are very low, very fast if speed is what you need, Along with one of the best sculls on the Bays, Estuaries , Reservoirs, and Lakes. These sculls in my opinion are by far the Best Sculls of there time. These sculls continue to meet all scullers expectations even though they were copied by many for years and are still today being built.
Most have been copied then recopied by builders who have just taken measurements, pictures, and what ever could be found too start the Build.
Most owners like my self would never give up one of my Nellists of 2 to anyone for building purposes, Nor would I ever think of selling one as My son Has one of the two and the other is used by myself. My Scull has been used for Many, Many years. Finding it in Humboldt County In 1963 in a Barn outside Arcata CA. The Scull was Buried under Hay in an old Barn and used by Chickens for a roosting area.
Hunting Ducks at young and always wanting a scull after watching the Old Timers come in with a limit of Ducks along with seeing how these Sculls, letting these Scullers slip into flocks of ducks close enough for a shot killing many birds.
In those days there were just not that many Sculls around in comparison of today. Today many sit or hang in garages after finding that it is a sport that takes time along with much patience to .learn
Growing in a family of Duck hunters and friends of family whom owned these Sculls made me even more intrigued. Listening to the stories along with watching these Scullers slip around was not only a new way to hunt, But maybe, just maybe I could kill a few more Ducks which made it that much more exciting.
Finding this Boat was the answer I always wanted. Here was my starter Scull Boat. Figuring I could learn and hopefully Harvest a few more ducks compared to what I was harvesting at that young age.
The next thing was the question? What was wanted to purchase this Scull, possibly working out some kind of work, In my young mind what ever needed to get this Boat. I at that time after school was working cleaning up at a facility making $3.00 an hr, so not much money thinking if the cost was going to be much, or more then I have saved up. Grand Father standing there watching this all go bye,bye as he was thinking it was going to be more then I could afford finding out later that he would of helped me get this first Scull.
Sir I asked, what would you need for this Scull Boat? He looked at me and said well Son if you can get this what ever you called it out of this barn right now it is yours. Thinking back, it was a real shock also to Gramps. He believed the old Farmer knew nothing of or about the boat. Loading and off we went with a new beginning of a different way of hunting and finding a Parent or Grand father to find time to haul me to the Bay every chance i got, to learn.
At first I really did not know what kind of Boat I had. But very fortunate to be around all the timers that to me were some of the best hunters on the bay. I met many, got a lot of pointers along with many laughs as I was learning and really seemed like I was getting no where.
One day waiting to get the tide to come in as I was dropped off, getting there when ever i could get a ride. While watching and waiting One of the Best and oldest Scullers that I was fortunate to meet Drove up was MR George Dean, also waiting to drop his boat in.
George indicated I have sure seen you here a lot, But not seeing many birds coming in with you. Well Sir I indicated I'm really still trying to figure out how to use this scull. Learning comes hard George indicated but your persistent enough you will learn. George went on to ask if I knew whom the Builder was and what I had. No Sir I said as he was studying the boat then said, Yes! You have a Nellist. Where did you find this scull? I indicated and told him the story about the Boat in the Barn in Arcada. We Chatted then he went on to indicate there is much more then just making that boat go straight. Continued on to tell me to think of all the things that go along with sculling. I learned a lot from Him, also from a few others that took me by the hand to learn.
It took me a season to get to where I could kill a few Birds. The following season I saved and with some help got my first Pick up. That was the Beginning of the end. I got better, and better each season and the real learning began.
Starting at 15 and now 73 I still have that Boat and latter in life was able and very fortunate to find a sister Boat to my Nellist owned By MR Hank Moore a local to Eureka CA and good friend to MR Bill Nellist. Fortunate to know Bill as we used to fly fish the EEL River for half pounders along with Summer Steelhead. Bill and I chatted many times about these Boats as he used to come up to Oregon after I had moved here in 1974 too fly fish for Stripers as that was one fish he wanted to catch and a huge plus on a Fly.
Back to the Scull. Bill indicated that Frank his Brother was the original Builder and very few of these boats were Built. That Nellist was taken from the old Dean boat and Built by Bills brother Frank, and the stories continued.
Today I know of about 6 maybe 7 still around not knowing if they are being used.
As I indicated that there were many molds built and supposedly of original Nellist boats. Seeing many of these molds I have to the conclusion that these molds were definitely not from any of the Original Nellist for many reasons. There were from what understand 5 that were modified with small wings to brake down the slap from water off the boats and 5 without the wings. All exceptional Sculls and very sought after Boats. Many of those old scullers market hunted Humboldt Bay in there younger years during the Depression Days in much Larger boats as there were non existent limits. These old Boys back in there time deserve much recognition for what has become a great way of hunting for many. The same happened on the East coast during those depression days and a way of making a living when things were very tough during those depression Day. We really don't know how well we have it today. Don't get me wrong, sure! things are not good in a lot of aspects but the depression was a different Bird all together.
Here is a picture of my Nellists a couple of years after I had Both My Original Nellist sculls.
Thanks for letting me share of some Great Men and there Sculls. sculler73
