Alumaweld's Alumadrifter

[baytroller]

Any one have personal experince wiht an Alumadrifter? How much better does this boat handle an outboard than a standard driftboat? How much do you give up in rowing/mobility? I'v rowed wood, glass and aluminum driftboats but I've never been in an Alumadrifter or knew anyone who owned one.

[crabbait]

I confess. I have owned, and still own, an Alumadrifter. Does not get much use these days.

I bought the boat new in the mid '80s to drift with and fish the bays and tidewater. I ran an 18hp Merc on it. The major difference between the Drifter and a db is that it will plane instead of just pushing the bow higher as you add power.

That said, it is very sensitive to shifting weight while underway and the motor has got to be adjusted right to avoid cavitation, etc. It is a handful while planeing. Be careful when using an extension handle.

The boat will run very shallow water, like up the Wilson at low tide, by stepping forward in the boat allowing the prop to rise. Not good for long distances because you can raise the water intake out of the water.

As for rowing, you do not want to pull plugs in this boat. It is ok for getting you to good drift water or for anchoring and backbouncing, etc. but it is not nearly as nimble and maneuverable as a full fledged db.

It is a compromise. It will plane like a sled, but not as fast or as stable. It will row like a driftboat, but not as easily.

[Barviewrocks]

I too own an Alumadrifter with a 15 hp Merc. I use it in Tillamook for clams, crab, trolling for salmon and fishing tidewater. I have also drifted the Sandy and Deschutes. It seems to do everything but not perfect. It has a lot of room for a drift boat and motoring as you can pull the rowing rack for trolling. As with all things, it seems you need a few boats for everything. I may trade up to a small sled someday.

[No Wishin Just Fishin]

I owned an alumidrifter for 10 years with a 15 horse Evinrude. It was my favorite of my 3 driftboats but like you said not for pulling plugs. My Hewescraft is Ad 11 which is what I call my guide service in respect to AD 1 which boated according to the log 193 steelhead and 671 Salmon. I had a canvas built for it and launched many times at ss beach for buoy 10 in the old days. Main thing I did not like was rowing downstream butt end first which is the way they were designed.