The Astoria Group
Decoy Makers, Duck Skiff Builders and Duck Hunting on the lower Columbia River
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Duck Boat Craftsmen

Duck skiffs were the main transportation for the duck hunter and some of the best were built in Astoria. Noted decoy carver and boat builder, Charles Bergman built his first double-ended round bottom craft in the early 1890's. Made of cedar, it was 13 feet in length, decked fore and aft, and had a 46" beam With a center mast for a sail, this seaworthy craft was easy to handle in the grassy sloughs, but a headache and backache to move over bare tideland. Bergman's last personal skiff was an 11 foot 9 inch beauty with a 43-inch beam and no center mast.


Unkown Hunter 1920 in a Gustin boat using Mason Factory Wigeon Decoys

  


Ernie Gustin on a pheasant hunt 1920

Eli Gustin father of Ernie and hunting partner of Charles Bergman 1920

   Ernest Gustin 1890-1980

    The most prolific skiff builder, Ernest Gustin  was born in Astoria and lived there most of his life. He worked at the Astoria Box Factory with his father and commercial fished. At the age of 15 he built his first boat, a flat bottom skiff, after seeing a local candy store owner completing one. Gustin then began making his trademarked quality double-ended craft. If you owned a Gustin boat you owned the best. The average length of his boats was 11 feet 9 inches with a 46-inch beam. The oak ribs were steamed and bent into shape, then the cedar planks were fastened with copper nails. After 1945 Gustin used galvanized nails. His wife Eleanora and his daughter Sara sometimes helped in the skillful planking installation. Gustin complete his last boat in 1964 for a professor in San Diego. The customer heard of his reputation, traveled to Astoria and stayed until the boat was completed. Gustin produced about 200 skiffs over 60years, with prices ranging from $35 to $300. He also made a few decoys for his personal rig.

Another boat builder, Pete Welch (1885-1952), who worker at the George and Barker Station with Charles Bergman, produced several round and flat bottom double-enders in the 1920's. Adolph Lindstrom also made four out standing round bottom double-enders in 1917. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Bobby Lindstrom 1954 Lower Grassy Island with Washington in background. Hunters would weave grass onto skiffs to make a blind.

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