Help Needed

Scooby, there are books about how to row rivers, but I don't think they endorse brands. I could be wrong. If money is not a big factor I recommend the aluminum Willie 17' X 54". Willie boats are right at the top and the 17' will row easier with 3 aboard than the 16', and have more room for 'stuff'. There are many more brands that are also excellant aluminum driftboats; such as Fish-Rite, Alumiweld, Koffler, Thor, Wild Hair (popular on the Oly Pen), and more that I can't think of off hand. The aluminum boats withstand river punishment and time/weather erosion better than fiberglass and wood boats, and you can get excellant deals on used ones. However, they are noisier, colder, and don't climb over shallows as well as fiberglass. That's because the fiberglass hull bottoms flex, thus allowing less sticking pressure on a rock; and they don't have chines that scrape the rocks. And their renewable gelcoat seems a bit more slippery than Gluvit or Coat It. Clackcraft and Lavros are the 2 best that I know of. I've had all 3 type boats. I now only have a jetsled and cataraft, with many of my fishing buddies having driftboats. If I were to get another driftboat, that I would keep garaged, I would strongly consider a top quality new wooden driftboat. I just think they are the most beautiful boats on the river, especially varnished over natural or stained wood. And they are quiet and natural. They are just a bit more stealthy for low clear water. Long time wood driftboat builder Don Hill now installs a jetage composite bottom on these that is as slippery and durable as anything. I think they can now be built in the 17' sizes too. They are built in configuration to handle and pull plugs very well now. My 2 cents worth. - RT

[Spooled]

Hi scooby. I went through the same ordeal this fall. I ended up buying a Willie
16' X 54" and have zero regrets. Some of the deciding factors for me were, reputation, value, and customer service.
Willie has earned a great reputation for building excellent boats. The base price of this boat is $3995.00 and has everything to get started other than PFD's. The base boat is the same as the top of the line boat except for options. I added "coat-it", a side pull anchor system, dry storage seat, gunnel guard and upgraded trailer. All of these can be added at any time. I bought mine from Dave Traaen at South River Marine and am super pleased with the way I was treated. He won't try to sell you something you don't need.
One last factor was to buy aluminum, simply because I feel the resale would be better if I ever sell it. (Not likely). There are many good boats as RT points out, Willie just worked out best for me.

[fishbait]

Scooby,
The best way to learn is not to read, but to row. Ask some friends to take you or hire a guide for a half day (ask for a deal). I have a calckacraft, bought it used for $1600 10 years ago and can probably sell it for $1700. Also have a sled so the clack is not my main boat. I like it in low water. Pulling plugs, aluiminum is better, hard chine tracks better. Willie is a great great boat, wider IS better. Analyize what you will use it for, how will you fish, what rivers/water level. You might try buying used (get a good deal) and try it for a year, If you sell it for $50 - 100 less than you paid and buy a completly differant boat, it's money well spent. My clack looks like ****, smells like fish, sits uncovered outside but cleans up easiely and fishes OK for what I use it for. by the way, Cataract (sp) oars are wonderful, worth the money. Good luck in you selection process.

[scooby]

Thanks for the input guys. My reason for asking about books is not for an endorsement of a specific brand of boat, but more looking for explanations/definitions of the basics regarding design and functionability. Basically, I know nothing about drift boats.

thanks again for the information it is helpful.

scooby

[scooby]

In the next two or three months I am going to purchase a drift boat. Before I do this I would like to learn as much as possible and have found for myself the best way is to accomplish this is to read.

Can anyone recommend some books that provide good information about drift boats such as what make a boat handle well, advantages and disadvantages of specific features and construction, etc...


thanks

scooby

[Spooled]

Scooby. There is a book titled Driftboats by Dan Alsup that I bought. It has some of the info you might be looking for, but does not really choose one boat material over another. It also covers rowing technique, water reading etc. E-mail me if you would like to borrow it.
Troy