When you look at mass produced plastic decoys they all appear to be very similar in size, shape & silhouette. The paint schemes all look pretty much like the species that they are intended to imposter, but there are very important differences to be pointed out.
The plastic that they use in the G&H decoy is especially formulated to maintain the decoys overall structural integrity in freezing weather. The plastic has the ability to expand & contract without weakening. Their decoy bodies are also thicker than their competitor's & twice as thick as some others.
Their paint & painting process uses a special etching primer that helps their paint to bond into the plastic & not be just merely a coat of paint on the decoy. Also in their painting process they have added a UV inhibator to help keep the paint from being affected by sunlight & fading or changing colors. Also, G&H has paid a lot of attention in the feather detail molded into their decoys & when painted you can appreciate the highlights & contrast this helps to bring out in the overall appearence of the finished product. Another thing that G&H does, that really impresses me, is that they use a green plastic to mold the Mallard Drakes head in their line. Now all of this stuff is a "trade secret" & it is a lot more complicated than my ability to describe it, but basically that's what they do.
The keels on their decoys are also a step above the industry standard, as they're not merely a long rectangle attatched by a heating the plactic on the bottom of the decoy (like a weld) & then filling the keel with sand to give it it's counterbalance balast, theres are part of the decoys mold. The keels on a G&H decoy looks a little different than everyone elses too. Because they understand how important a keel is to the overall performance of the decoy in clam water or in raging seas. On the front of the keel there is a flat looking area that acts as a keel (like on a boat), then as you look talong the keel it gets thicker & then at the very end the keel it angles slightly outward on each side. This is so the decoy will move back & forth from it's anchor point, in a side to side motion with the current or wind, depending on which end you tied your decoy line & weight to. Also this design helps to keep them upright & stable, not allowing the decoy to pitch & roll onto their sides. On G&H decoys they come ready made with 3 places to tie off too, allowing you to tie several here & there. This variation allows a few to face this way & a few to face that way, so that they don't look like a herd of plastic clones in formation at attention on the water. Ducks don't do that, so why would you want decoys that do.
If you have looked at the picture you also will notice the the underside of the decoy is concave or recessed. This creates a vacuum when the decoy is placed on the water & this helps to hold the decoy in a natural riding postion & not pitch & roll, etc.
G&H also uses a glass eye in their decoys similar to what a taxidermist might use in making a mount. Now they're not that elaborate, but the eye is not merely a painted on black circle either. They also have a line of decoys that have differnt head postions & some that swivel... I really like those features, as it allows me to add another dimention to the overall appearence of my decoy spread. If you have ever watched ducks the only time they "soldier up" (come to attention & get in formation) is when they sense something just isn't right, become threatened, etc. & are preparing to take flight. Ducks do not decoy well to a decoy spread that looks like ducks in a defensive flight posture.
G&H has applied physics, chemistry, ergronomics, art, animal psychology, etc. into their finished product. They hold several US Pantents & are currently doing research & developement on a few changes to improve the decoy line. G&H decoys may also cost a few dollars more than their competitor's, but you're also not having to replace them year after year, so in the long run you are actually saving money. G&H decoys are the most durable mass produced plactic decoy out there... & to quote Mr. G "The Best Damn Decoy Made Period".
