SOLD on the First Lewis River Test Run.
Following several more tests on the Pro 7’s home water, the Snake River, the boat was shipped to Pacific Boatland in Vancouver, WA. The dealer already had several prospects interested in seeing if this new Duckworth was in fact the “missing link” among the current offerings for open tiller sleds. A prominent local guide was among the interested parties and we were anxious to get his verdict on the performance.
Duckworth Pro 7 Lewis River test run
We hit the Lewis River and with five people in the boat proceeded to give the Pro 7 an authentic run through all the potential scenarios its eventual owner would be subjecting it to. At the tiller was a guide who knew every seam, tailout and backchannel of the river, and we ran through all of them. We backtrolled in every type of current, from swift and straight to squirrelly and hydraulic.
The boat held the line with perfection. We ran some shallow spots but had to play it ultra safe on account of the boat being brand new. The consensus was, even with five people on board, we weren’t taking on any more than five inches of draft…probably less. We drifted back in some tailouts that were less than a foot deep and full-throttled our way out with almost no bow rise or squatting coming on to plane. The boat provided an extremely level take-off out of the hole. To recap, this Pro 721 (7’ wide bottom x 21’ length.) had a 150 ETEC motor, 8 hp Yamaha kicker, five people and around 42 gallons of fuel.
Pro 721 Backtrolling for Lewis River Spring Chinook
After the test runs, a few other avid anglers joined in for a lengthy “tire-kicking” session. Everyone agreed the thickness of the gunwale at the bow was too wide. They needed to be reshaped to gain more floor space and a sportier look. The sliding seat brackets were a big hit, as was the split fish box and storage compartments.
Duckworth Pro 7 seat slider system
Duckworth Pro 7 Transom
The biggest debate centered on the side flair and beam. As it was, this first Pro 7 had a 7’ bottom and 8’ beam. This provided the perfect interior vertical stance for angling. You could stand right against the gunwale with your toes under the lower rod tray and lean only about 8-degrees out before your thighs comfortably rested against the gunwale.
Duckworth Pro 7 interior stance angle.
In everyone’s opinion, that was optimal for interior functionality. However, it was the external look that seemed to catch many with uncertainty. The side flair was minimal, about 12-degrees, so while it worked well on the inside, it gave the boat a somewhat boxy look from the outside. There was the usual “if this, then that” debates that went on and on. It was precisely the candid feedback we were looking for from this influential group.
In the end, while being a major redesign, the decision was made to expand the beam another 6” to 8-1/2 feet or 102.” This would place the Pro 7 in the coveted position of having the widest bottom width in its class, as well as nearly the widest beam. The change would not affect the dynamic performance of the bottom much, if at all. Certainly some would say, “why not just go 104 and be the widest?” The answer comes back to that critically important vertical stance on the interior. The wider the beam, the wider the side trays and/or gunwale would have to become in order to prevent an imbalanced stance. Any width over 102” would require anglers to brace themselves with their hands or risk their feet flying out from under them and potentially going overboard. We all know it takes two hands to fight and net fish effectively.
Throughout the test ride and subsequent discussions, one individual in the group had seen everything he needed to and purchased the boat. A little rigging and it was gone a few days later.
Pro 721 number 2 and 3 in production now.