Life Size Flocked Canada Floaters..

[SloaneRanger]

Not trying to bitch here as I am a GHG fan but I have a couple of questions/observations. I had bought a set from a large online outfitter and they looked absolutely fantastic. I don't have many decoys, maybe two dozen, but what I do have are all GHG.
When I opened the box these Canada floaters had been so beaten up that I had to return them for an exchange. I think it likely happened in shipping. One was dropped and must have landed right on the tip of the tail. It had hit so hard that it smashed a chunk out and cracked the plastic and it would have filled with water and sunk. On one or two of the others the paint was scraped of in spots. The box didn't seem too beaten up though.
Can I make the suggestion to use some bubblewrap when you ship these as it would really help absorb the shipping manhandling that they unfortunately seem to take and would help these things to look as beautiful when they show up as when they leave your shop.

The main reason for my post and I genuinely need your help, is that the heads didn't want to go onto the body, even after removing the flocking overspray. They just didn't want to go. Is there a trick to this? This is a concern that I am worried about as I have 8 on the way. I don't want to fluff these up trying to get them on.

I am hoping that the new set that should be here when I get home from work is better. I also have second set on the way to replace the over size ones as the over-size ones were ordered by my wife in error as an xmas present and should have been life size and were sent back for an exchange. I didn't ever use them and only took them out of the box to look at. They seemed to be better condition when they showed up than the life sizers I got. They actually were flawless and looked absolutely beautiful, I hated to switch them out but they just would have dwarfed my life-size GHG duck decoys.

My problems aside, these decoys are absolutely the best looking on the market in their price group. No question about it. The G&H and the BF and Gosh forbid, flambeaus, don't look as good.

Thanks
E

[Eric Wolf]

When I put the heads on my decoys I use soapy water. It seems to do the trick.

[SloaneRanger]

Nice tip. Thanks.

The replacments did show up last night and again they're beautiful. I did have to touch up a few minor paint spots which was no big deal at all and once done they are awesome.
The head went on one no problem but i'll have to try and lube the other three.
To me it looks like the diameter of the shoulder is correct for the receptacle on the body, but it is the 'Tabs' that lock it in place that are too wide for the gaps in the locking ring.
Any Avery guys know if the locking ring is solid plastic rather than molded in where I could take a craft knife and open up the gaps for the tabs by about 1/16-1/8th of an inch without cutting through the plastic into 'air' before I go messing these up. I'd like to keep the watertight. I have heard of people splitting the seams on the flocked heads trying to push too hard to get them on.

Thanks,

E

[Rick Frisch]

You shouldn't have to trim them if you use soap. I use straight dish soap. Mine slide right in. We made them like this because of all the complaints we were receiving from our other connection. They just would not stay on.

Thanks,

[SloaneRanger]

Righty-ho! Will try the soap and report back. Cheers chaps!!

[dukcman87]

I had the same problem and i didnt have enough cash to buy replacements so i just used black drywall screws and it has worked great. I just cant turn the head but thats not too big of a deal. They are still the best goose decoys i have bought.

[Wayne Radcliffe]

I just lined it up, then worked it back and forth slightly pushing down on it. Once the head is completely flush with the body give it a half turn to lock it in. Just make sure you are still pushing down when you lock it in.