Wood Drift Boats

[Wog]

I have recently looked into building a wood drift boat. After contacting several kit manufactures and listening to all the pro's and con's on the subject, I would like to here from anyone that has ever built or owned one before. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

------------------

[Deleted User]

Wog,

A well built and natural marine varnished wooden driftboat is the most beautiful boat on the river. They have pros and cons. If you get a really good one (about the best you can get is Don Hill boats in southern Oregon), they handle well and are quieter than aluminum or even fiberglass boats. Don puts a modern 1/4" composite plating on the bottom of his driftboats that is quiet, slipery, and durable. Also important is to have re-inforcement along the outside of the chine (where the bottom and sides meet). I can't remember what is used for that but Don's is a tough chine. He also sells them as unfinished kits that are a good buy. The down side is the day you have to refinish the boat. Unless you have it professionally sandblasted you will about rub your arms and hands off sanding around the nooks and crannies that a beltsander can't reach. If you keep it garaged the finish will last a long time however. If you must leave it outside in the open I would opt for aluminum Willie driftboats. - RT

[NorthRiverS]

Wog,
I agree with everything RT said. Wood driftboats are fun and challenging to build. They are also beautiful boats. I built a Don Hill driftboat in 1982 and I still get complements while on the water. It is showing its wear and leaks a little, but I love it. We've caught a lot of fish in it.
Maintenance is the big problem, as you can imagine. Usually it is a big project to sand and refinish it. I have a custom canvas that helps protect it, but the sun, rain, and weather still do their damage. A garage is best. Northriver S

[WaterDog]

Ray's River Dory's are decent too. Ray helped me out a few years ago when I did a major overhaul of a 16 foot wood sled.

If you decide to build one, DO NOT paint the inside. Stain it then restain every year or so. Fiberglass and epoxy the outside with West System's epoxy. The boat will last forever. And definatly garage it.

[Jim]

This post brings back fond memories. I worked and saved before I turned 16, the day after that event I bought a truck and a wooden drift boat. What I learned quickly about the wooden boat is that if you take the time right after winter steelhead to carefully go through the the entire boat and "fix" trouble spots the maintenance is much easier. I loved that boat...now I fish a plain ol' Willie aluminum...no compliments or anything...hmmmm....good memories...Just take care of it and you will put as many fish in the bottom of it as any other boat.

Jim

[Jeffhead]

I to am in the middle of building a wood drift boat. I have seen them on the river and just fell in love with the way they look when stained. The frame is together and just have not had the time to work on finishing it. One thing that I would add is to use a europeon plywood for the shell and bottom of the boat, it costs about twice as much as american made plywood but the quality of the wood will pay for itself in the long run. The fiberglass over wood may make maintenance easier but there is no comparison to the look of a stained/varnished wood drift boat. The one I have is a 14' McKensie drifter from Glen L plans.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[cureless]

Not sure I have anything to add :
But I have always wanted to build a wood driftboat I come from a family of carpenters but don’t have the skill set the rest of the bunch do. I always thought the adventure started with the effort to build the boat and the prospects of the future.

I knew a guy here at work that started building a “Rapid Robert” after a couple of years it still wasn’t completed. I use to bug him every time I saw him. Last year he drowned while kayaking a mountain lake, sure wish he had completed the boat, May have spent more time in it?

I didn’t have a garage to keep a wood boat in and wanted to get fishing right away so I bought aluminum (Willie) sure glad I did but, I still dream of that project. Father and sons working in the shop telling stories I’m sure more than a boat gets built up in a situation like that

Maybe I could start with one of those scale models that can sit on top of my monitor?

[Nuttinbutnet]

I bot a 14' boat from a fishing buddy about 10 years ago. It was built by Greg Tatman. I think it was 8-1o years old when I bot it. (yes Dave, if you're out there in I-Fish land, the "Ouzel" is still going strong!) I still get compliments whenever I am on the river. Some tips to you guys building your own boats- If you are going to paint hull, marine enamel works great and can be stripped with paint stripper when you need to do it. Use a good marine varnish on the seats and front panel. Everything else inside the boat from the gunnels to the floor coat with Watco Oil. I love my Driftboat. It is light, bouyant, highly manuverable, and warm int hte winter as the hull does not conduct the cold. Good luck with your building endeavors.

[Wog]

Thanks for all the great posts. I think the work that goes into a project like this will be well worth the effort. Now all I have to do is find garage space. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif This could be the largest challenge of all.
Thanks again, Wog