Drift Boat vs Raft

[Dan Wood]

Hello All,

[Zach Matthews]

Dan –

I am in the exact same boat man.

[Allan Dozier]

Zach pretty much sums it up.

I plan on living forever, so far so good.

[Mike Lewis]

I’ve been mulling this issue over for years myself. I actually owned a small 2 man driftboat at one point and it was pretty fun to fish out of.

For my waters (mostly the hooch), launching a driftboat is an all day trip. The route Zach mentioned, JF to 41, is a long float for one day for a lot of people.

Shuttling then becomes an issue also as you have the truck and trailer 10 miles away. The upper hooch would only lend it self to 2 or 3 unique runs.

I also have some storage challenges (no garage) so I store all of my canoes by hanging and locking underneath my deck. Renting a storage unit for a boat and trailer looks like about $120 a month.

For now, I am sticking with lightweight canoes (solo and tandem) that can be launched anywhere for any length trip and shuttled back by most any other vehicle.

However, in a dream world, I would have a garage and a jet boat.

[Dan Wood]

Thanks Zach!

[Dan Wood]

Hey Mike, my go-to float would be the Hooch as well.

[Zach Matthews]

The only issue with HDPE in my mind is cost, because it is the clear winner across the board.

[Zach Matthews]

Dan I think he’s referring to the availability of put-ins.

[Dan Wood]

Yep, the beautiful (and scary) thing about this hobby is that you almost need two or three different boats for different purposes.

[anonymous]

Dan,

Considering your last name is “Wood”….
You need one of these.

http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1317419423

Under $800 as built.  

Motors well.  Has been dragged through the woods 75 yards over rocks, gravel, logs, rebar and concrete to the river last week to shoot ducks.

Stick it in the bed of a full size truck, no trailer needed.
Don’t underestimate the value, durability and class of wood.  It is not the “rotting” material modern boat makers lead you to believe.

I’ve owned em all and come back to hard boats in wood every time.

[Dan Wood]

Thanks Dave,

That is a fine looking boat indeed.

[wraysinclair]

scott boats seem very good for an allaround boat to look into but if you are just doing rivers then driftboats are much better. I have rowed both a clacka 16 high profile and low profile but can say that i perfered rowing (and fishing, especially if you need to be closer to the water) the low profile model.

[Zach Matthews]

Dan –

We run a shuttle man.

[Rob Snowhite]

I’ve got an aluminum drift boat. Its roomy and can store all sorts of stuff.

The only negative about it so far is running over shallow spots and grinding against the bottom. That sound is awful.

Hitting a rock sucks too. Its super loud and everyone lunges forward.

We floated the Salmon River in Ny a few weeks ago and the river was 350cfs. I had to jump out and push the boat and rock it back and fourth as it dragged the bottom. Imagine nails on a chalkboard amplified.

Other than that the boat is indestructible, can be modified how ever I want based on a marina in Oregon that sells parts, can have an engine put on it, has all sorts of storage, and sits on the side of the shoulder of a big road here in metropolis with out a worry. Its got more room than a raft so I can get people in it with plenty of space, room in the back for a wheelchair if needed. Its rated for class 5 not that I would ever go down water like that.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oc2b9nF0y9E/TpyKoyB_bSI/AAAAAAAAQyI/0cctypolPQQ/s640/DSC_6796.JPG

[Karlin Bilcher]

An option that has not been mentioned yet is the cataraft.  A brand new top of the line model (Aire, NRS) with every bell and whistle – about 4k.  They handle better than full on rafts with floors, though not as slick as a drifter. They avoid most of the draw backs of rafts mentioned.  After some practice,  two guys with some experience can assemble them in about a half hour.  Even if you did not have a trailer or big garage you could break it down and assemble it each use, not ideal but possible.  You can rig platforms, casting bars, comfortable seats, cooler, dry boxes, motor mount, whatever you like.  Very easy in and out for kids, dogs and wives.  They are pretty popular in my part of the country.  Something else to consider.  

Kb      

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1178&pdeptid=1133

[Mike Lewis]

Hey Mike, my go-to float would be the Hooch as well.  Just out of curiosity, were you saying the Hooch above Buford or below Buford to Morgan would only have 2 or 3 unique runs?  I only ask because I was under the impression that the floats below Buford provided good fishing.  Or maybe it’s just a lot of frog water?  Having only waded the obvious locations below Buford I’m interested in what the rest of the river holds…

I was referring to the number of runs on the upper section that would have a proper boat ramp on each end of the trip. There is a lot of good water throughout the whole stretch from Buford to Paces.

I like the cataraft idea too, is there a complete fishing kit that anyone offers?

[Rick Marcum]

I’ve owned a raft and there are upsides and downsides as Zach and others have stated.

[Steve K.]

I put the plastic “shoe” on my woodie 🙂 Rocks are no problema.

[Zach Matthews]

Steve –

How much did it run you and did you vacuum bag it or like roll it on?

Zach

[Dan Wood]

Rick, those streamtech boats are very sweet.

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