Boats………………let’s see ’em
- This topic has 83 replies, 37 voices, and was last updated Mar 4, 2014 at 9:23 am by
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Zach if it’s important enough to you you’ll find a way to get it. Make no mistake boats are a bad investment choice if you look at it purely from a family financial perspective. If you look at as making the most of your short time on this planet they are IMO priceless.
What are you thinking about buying?
Mike –
Nothing right now, but in a couple years when Lauren gets done with her PhD, I’ll be looking at getting something that’s appropriate for the local waters I’m in.
Dear God your name got long Lando! How is my boy Steve doing and how come he is not chewing on a rock or a sucker in that picture?
Joel
Dad made me do it…………..Steve is doing well and can’t wait to get up there amongst the suckers (fish, not you, of course)
Zach,
I would really look into the jon with a jet.
Zach,
I would really look into the jon with a jet. You can row, jet, and you don’t have to worry about a shuttle, which is the one thing I hate about drift boats.
Zach – I agree with Lando; the shuttle sucks. That said, I row a 13 ft. two man pontoon made by north fork outdoors and love it. NFO is a tough company to love, but the boat itself is fantastic. It’ll take a small outboard, too. I can only speak for myself, but the boat has turned out to be a ‘hot whip.’
Here is a picture of my River Hawk before the last round of mods:
This is my 12′ jon boat that I use for local ponds and creeks. I just rebuilt the transom out of aluminum. Waiting on warm weather to paint:
I absolutely love the wood drift boats. I will be looking into building one when time allows.
Does it have a brace for the person up front? I am looking at either a toon or a raft for some of the local rivers that are too skinny for my drift boat and am interested……………why don’t you haul that up here and let me row you down the drink a few times as a kind of test drive?
Yeah, it’s got a lean bar with a mesh apron protruding from it.
Zach,
If there is one thing I have come to realize about boats. You can’t have it all in one boat. you can come close with some for say local waters but there is always another river, or body of water that suits another type of hull etc. If you want to row and love the romance of a motor less vessel then that sounds like a great place to start. You may find in a few years that a jon with a jet will work better. Or like some, you could end up with more than one.
Chad
Zach,
If there is one thing I have come to realize about boats. You can’t have it all in one boat. you can come close with some for say local waters but there is always another river, or body of water that suits another type of hull etc. If you want to row and love the romance of a motor less vessel then that sounds like a great place to start. You may find in a few years that a jon with a jet will work better. Or like some, you could end up with more than one.
Chad
Word.
I owned a 2 man pontoon. hated it. You’re always wet and can get cold in bad weather. They are slow too. Fine for mid summer. And fly line hangs off of every thing on them. But the upside is the portability and storage. You can also skinny it down a bank but I can do the same with my small drifter. I like the carrying capacity of a drift boat and many times my feet never get wet, and some trips I don’t even put on waders. (I hate waders).
I still own a single man toon. Probably gets used 1 time per year. Actually the kids used it as a sled just yesterday.
First choice is a drift boat, obviously wood.
My second choice would be a framed raft. Setup is a pain, most guys I know leave them inflated and on a trailer anyway. At that point you might as well have a drifter. It depends alot on water type though. On rocky nasty stuff (North Branch Potomac) A raft is king.
A drift boat sucks on flat water. It is not made for it. There is a section of my home water that is an endless dead sea with a headwind. (Mike E, you know the place). In a high side drift boat it sucks. In a pontoon it is an all day affair. If you only float really slow or stillwater, a driftboat is not the right boat. A big jon boat with a jet would be the way to go.
As far as skinny water my 16′ wood drift drafts 4-5 inches with two dudes in it, beer and gear.I agree with Zach, in that I enjoy my days on the river foating in the old drifter. I would say it is the best ride and most comfortable to fly fish out of, and it’s very stable and safe also. I ,on the other hand have a jet boat and a center console maverick because there are times when I can’t devote enough time to float all day. I also enjoy fishing some bigger water when flows, generation etc. will not allow a trip on the tailwaters.
I would say if a guy wanted only one boat to use for all applications, then the blazer with a jet is as close as I have found.Mike –
Nothing right now, but in a couple years when Lauren gets done with her PhD, I’ll be looking at getting something that’s appropriate for the local waters I’m in. My options are pretty much (1) jonboat with jet, (2) Supreme with jet, (3) driftboat, or (4) raft. Cost and how I plan to fish and how many fishing buddies I have at the time will all factor in. I will say, my preference is for a driftboat even with the impracticality that sometimes has, just because I enjoy my days on the water in a driftboat more than in any other type of craft.
Zach
Ive been down the raft avenue and now have a drift boat which is great, but some days I find myself peeling out of work early to do a hooch solo afternoon and the drift boat requires as much time tinkering (even with a drag chain)
A motor is an absolute must if you fish the hooch, but it weighs you down on the Hi or the toccoa.
have you ever considered going in halfzies with someone?
also, plan on $600-$1000 to get one here from Ro, Clacka or Hyde
all being said, a jet sled will fish all but the bone-iest water, and will let you foot troll to control yourself solo double.
Dad and I split the cost of a 16′ WF Clacka three years ago and haven’t looked back. While it’s not an ideal boat for every situation, we are in it at least 3 to 4 times a month from March through October. I still enjoy wade fishing, but being in the boat (especially here in SWPA) provides a great way to get away from the crowds and enjoy a day on the water.
It doesn’t float quite as high as a wood boat, but I have been amazed at what this thing will slide through without scratching bottom. This is especially true with two average sized guys in the boat. IMO the carrying capacity, stability and fishing/rowing comfort that a drift boat provides is second to none.
Shuttles suck, especially after a long float, but you find ways to make them work. A bike is a great option on our local water, as it is paralleled by a Rails to Trails project from top to bottom. When we have three in the boat, we usually have the guest drive the shuttle vehicle, or make arrangements with a local canoe rental place to run the shuttle for us (unreliable at best).
Sometimes I wish it was a jet, other times I wish it was a raft, but most of the time I’m glad to have the boat that I do.
I was just getting back from my Belize trip when this thread was started so I just came across it.
I plan on living forever, so far so good.
I guess I will throw my two in, since everyone else showed theirs….
Creek Company ODC 1018 Pontoon (great boat for the money)
The $800 Hyde after a new rear deck and 3 years.–Tucker
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