Building a Wooden Drift Boat
- This topic has 24 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Apr 30, 2009 at 3:41 pm by
.
-
Posts
-
I built a Montana Boat Builders Guide model. It’s a 16 ft. stitch and glue boat. My first attempt at boat building. I started it from a kit in MArch 2006, but in June of that year I was diagnosed with acute leukemia resulting a few months away from the boat (And fishing). I started up again in January 2007 and did my first float on the Delaware River in May 2007. All in all, I think it took around 500 hours.
There are a lot of designs to choose from – especially in the framed boat designs. I suggest you try a kit to start. Maybe a skiff if you want to float some gentle waters and still fish out of it.
Anyone contemplating building a boat should read Roger Fletcher’s book “Drift Boats and River Dories” as well as read the Wooden Boat Forum online. The latter can be accessed through Montana Boat Builders’ Web site or Montana River Boats’ site.
If I can get the photo upload to work, I’ll post a few pictures.
More boat pics. I’m doing these individually as I can’t seem to get them upload as a group. Sorry guys!
Nice! What a sweet boat. I am going to split this section off this thread so people can really get into it (I think that makes more sense).
Michael – I picked a title for you but feel free to edit it and change it however you like.
How many man-hours do you reckon this took? You did a great job; I love all the old-school touches like the rope seats.
Yes, sweet boat, Michael. The pedestal seats in the stitch and glue design is a nice feature.
Look forward to seeing more pics of it on the water.
Scott
A friend of mine built a Montana Boat Builders’ skiff at the same time. He paid to have Linex (the truck bed stuff) sprayed on the outside and inside bottom. MBB does this for some of the boats they custom build. I just used graphite and epoxy on the bottom to keep weight down. With just me in the boat I only draw about 4 inches of water and can get through soime pretty skinny stuff.
That said, I may have the outside sprayed with Linex just so I don’t have to keep recoating the bottom myself. I’m not sure if it makes the boat stronger — there is 1/2 plywood with three layers of fiberglas and epoxy ove it — but the maintenance may be older for an old guy.
Michael
A cousin’s girlfriend’s father (‘s former roommate?) was building a wooden kayak during my cousin’s brief liaison with the young lady.
Wow, that’s a great boat.
In answer to those who asked if a novice can build a functional boat, the answer is yes.
Nice job Michael!!!!!!!!
……………with the kayak on a set of rope pulley lifts to hold it up to the ceiling….Zach
Zach….I was thinking the same thing and finally just said what the heck…….and built a half-scale model of my driftboat…and hung it in my Man Cave:
For you wooden boat devotees:
http://www.flyfishingfrenzy.com/2009/04/28/2009-drift-boat-makeover/
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.