Float Trips and Studs
- This topic has 10 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Mar 30, 2009 at 11:31 am by
.
-
Posts
-
My only pair of wading boots have studded aquastealth soles and I like them so far. However, I went on a guided float trip on the Guadalupe here in Texas a few weeks back and the guide was not happy with the studded boots and his raft. He allowed me to wear them, but I was overly conscious of them the entire day and didn’t want to leave any marks on his raft. It was something I had never considered. He advised me that many guides in the west will not allow studded boots in their boats. Is this true? It makes sense to me as far as drift boats are concerned. Wouldn’t want to mark up the boats and I assume it would be slick on the boat floors. If I am going to be taking any guided float trips or be in any kind of boats or rafts, do I need to get some non-studded boots and just save the studs for when I am wading only?
Shane,
As the owner of a wooden driftboat….studded boots are absolutely verbotten. I would not want studded boots in a fiberglass boat either. Guides are very particular about their gear….for good reason….. It’s how they make their living.
Let me throw another scenario out…..don’t even think about getting near a DeHavilland Beaver or any floatplane for that matter…..with studded boots on. The pilot/owner will have a stroke.
To answer your question….yes….I’d suggest getting a pair of non-studded boots.
Shane, it’s the considerate thing to do to not wear studs in any boat.
However, I have had customers show up with them and have not had that much angst over letting a client in my boat with studs. On one occasion my floor boards were due for replacement in a few months any way. The customer was sure to stand only on the floor boards and kept his feet off everything else. It looked like a splinter-fest on the 1/2 inch ply board afterwards but they cleaned up–a little sanding and more oil and they survived til the replacement floor went in. Two other times I threw some old carpet car mats in the floor and nothing was damaged.
My boats are work boats and not pieces of furniture, but I try to minimize the abuse. If my boat didn’t have replaceable floor boards I’d probably have a different perspective on it.
Like everyone said, get you a second pair of wading boots without studs if you plan to do any future boating.
I like the piece-o-carpet idea.
Shane….I re-read my post and don’t want it to come across as being harsh. You ask an excellent question….one that many folks don’t think about until they are about to jump in the boat / plane. I learned about the floatplane scenario when I booked a flyout in AK a few years ago. The outfitter sent me an email “checklist” with the studded boot disclaimer attached.
I had a similar experience several years ago with a guide and studded boots on the Snake River out of Jackson, WY.
Steve, no offense taken by your original post. I wanted honest answers and I got them. When I purchased the original boots with studs it was just not a scenario I ever thought about or even thought to ask about. I was thinking I would only be wading. The guide was gracious to me and I was extremely careful while in and around his raft. It was a distraction for me as I did not in any way want to damage his boat. Now that I know about this, I went out and bought myself a pair of Patagonia Riverwalker Sticky Rubbers at Tailwaters Fly Shop today. The guy I dealt with there is a former guide and he told me the same thing everyone else has told. Problem solved and hopefully I won’t be a pain in the arse anymore. At least as far as my footwear is concerned.
The other reason studs and boats don’t always mix is safety, particularly if the boat is fiberglass.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.