Drift Boats
- This topic has 19 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated Jul 28, 2010 at 9:43 pm by
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I have guided out of both plastic (Hog Island) & fiberglass (Hyde). I have found advantages and disadvantages with both. The plasitc boats are nice for the fact that the material can really take some abuse. Plus you do not take those bone jarring hits when you nail that rock you didn’t see in them. The disadvantages I have found is that they are slow and heavy. The weight of the boat can be an issue sometimes when trying to launch or retrieve the boat, but like I said it can take abuse, so you don’t have to baby it. Now getting to the fiberglass boats. Biggest advantage to me is weight, nice and light. They are quick and responsive. The one big disadvantage to me is that they are the more fragile then plastic or aluminum, but they are still pretty strong.
If I had to select a boat out of the materials listed I would take a fiberglass drift boat.
My fiberglass Hyde is now 12 years old. Apart from some chine repair, it is holding up wonderfully. My next Hyde will probably have a G4 shoe, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing. Fiberglass is light, weather resistant, and easily repaired if needed.
Zach, to get insight in the modern composite wooden drift boats of today, those that are a combination of marine plywood/fiberglass/maybe plascore with/without kevlar/linex please contact sandy at his forum at montana-riverboats.com and Jason at montanaboatbuilders.com….and who they recommend
Zach,
In addition to Sandy, (who is a member here) try:
http://www.riverstouch.com
http://www.woodenboatpeople.comRay Heater at http://www.raysriverdories.com
and AJ DeRosa at http://www.woodboattours.comThere are many perspectives on methods to build wood boats and what they buy you.
I don’t know if he will see the thread, but you might want to PM Allan Dozier for thoughts on the aesthetics and function of wooden drift boats.
Zack,
I am the proud owner of a Clacka and tell you that I have personally have beat the heck out of it with no issues. On the Upper Delaware system I would say 90% of the guides have Clacka’s. They really track better than the rest of the market.
Thanks
Zack I’m guessing you’ll have BBW in the mix for the review? I’m in the market for a boat this yea and looking forward to reading it. Which issue will it be in?
Thanks Aaron. Zach, give me a shout if you like, I have some material from a powerpoint I presented at the FFF conclave in Helen I presented on building wooden drift boats I can share. The forum mentioned by Chris is where I did most of my original research.
Hey Allan, are drift boats tough to build? I enjoyed time rowing a glass Hyde in April and have been dreaming of rivers to drift ever since. Australia doesn’t have many drift boats to check out and the one I used is in another state. I have reasonable skill’s (making Bamboo rods is another interest) and I believe all the tools, I think a wooden (ply) model should be achievable.
Andrew, I think building a drift boat is within the realm for most people with any basic skills. I could write several pages on the aspects of it but what we are talking about is basically a sandwich of plywood covered both sides with fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. The epoxy is much stronger than polyester resin like fiberglass boats are made of but more expensive. So it makes a light, strong construction that is easy to repair. I know some folks who regularly run the Grand Canyon in wooden driftboats. If you don’t have any woodworking equipment or skills I usually recommend a kit but that is probably not feasible to ship to Australia. I got plans from Jason Cajune at Montanaboatbuilders.com. I prefer “stitch and glue” method over “framed.” You can decide to build the boat as nice or as utilitarian as you want. If you painted both inside and out it could be tough, low maintenance and easily repairable. You can search for my previous posts for pictures of mine but you wouldn’t need to add that much detail unless you wanted to. If you decide to build email me, I have hundreds of photos throughout construction that may help you with a specific problem.
I plan on living forever, so far so good.
Zach,
You might want to talk with David. He built his wooden drift boat ten years ago. David has guided out of this boat in Georgia, North Carolina, and Wyoming since being built. We have put this boat through it all. 13 hour float on the Upper Green River.
A couple of years ago, he did some minor repairs with epoxy and marine plywood. But, the Toccoa River is a killer on drift boats. I’ve seen grown men cry after putting their new boats on the Toccoa.
I think his boat has character and wouldn’t sell it for anything!Zach,
I don’t think he got it. I will shoot you an email.
I am sure he would like to go take some pictures. Did you not notice what a HAM he is?
Just kidding! Don’t tell him I said that!
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