Have boat, need clue

[lilnorthfork]

Just got my first db, a '78 Eastside, but have minimal experience on the oars. Anybody out there willing to help educate a newbie on the lower Wilson or Trask? Weekends or Mondays are usually best for me. Thanks. lnf

[ampersat]

Oo Oo!!! Another Eastside!! Post pics. I wanna see!

Get the drift boat bible (Driftboats: A Complete Guide by Dan Alsup) and pay close attention to the section on rowing it and reading the water. Then take it out on some flat water and practice rowing so that you're familiar with it when the time comes. If you decide to float the Wilson, you can probably run it on your own as long as you keep the boat ahead of you in view so you can see what line he takes going into the runs. I've done new water like this in the past and so far it has worked well for me.

[Steelie Steve]

The book that Ampersat mentioned is a good one. Lots of great info on driftboats and how to use them. Another place to look is on the clackacraft webpage, click on "How to row a driftboat". Some very good basic tips on rowing and outfitting your boat.

Have fun with that "new" boat.

Steve

[Dakotan]

I'll volunteer to show you the Trask from Loren's down to 101 takeout. Floated it a lot in the fall for nooks. Heard the steelhead bite hasn't been too bad as of late too. Also live in Forest Grove too. -Eric

[smoky]

Easiest drift is Wilson from guide shop down.

By the time you get to the take out you should have a good feel for the boat.

Always point at where you dont want to go and pull back on the oars.

Most of the turns on the Wilson are right hand turns that suck you towards the bank with a back eddy on the right. The first turn below the guide shop is like that.

Go into these turns with your bow pointed slightly towards the bank while pulling back on the oars. You should slip right through the turn.

If you pull yourself into one of the back eddys pull bcak on your left oar and spin the boat so the bow is pointing up river and just row out of it.

Have fun.

[lilnorthfork]

Thanks for the great responses. Been down the lower Wilson a couple times in my pontoon boat so I'll try that first. This saturday, btw, so consider yourselves warned. :smile:
ampersat - been following your Eastside restoration posts... good stuff. This boat is pretty rough but should do the job. The previous owner is a carpenter and did a beautiful job on the rails using African Mohagany. He laminated two thinner strips intead of bending one thicker one. The seam hardly shows.
Dakotan - sounds like an offer I can't refuse. Are you free on Mondays? Otherwise maybe next weekend?
Thanks again. lnf

[West Linn Wader]

I have just the opposite problem

GS/WLW

[greenbuttskunk]

John,
I may be up for joining you on the river to help row. Yes, the guide shop down is a safe, smooth trip, nothing much to deal with. A good spot to cut the teeth.
GBS

[Mad Mikey]

If you really want to get good on the sticks in a hurry and row it like it is another appendage, PULL PLUGS!

Do it often to build strength in muscles you may not have used in a long time.
Watch where your line is at and park your plug behind boulders and seams etc. Kind of like target shooting.
Your plug may be in a fast slot while the boat is in slow current or you may be rowing like a madman just to keep it wiggling. Either way it is a quick tutorial in action/reaction and getting to know your boat like it is an extension of yourself.
When you get ready to do the heavy stuff there's a few guys on the BB who really dig that too!

[freespool]

LNF,if your oar pops out that easy something is wrong. Either your oar is to thin for your oar lock or your oar lock is bent open to much. If the latter is the case,just take it out of the boat and hammer it closed a bit. Very unpleasent things can happen if the oar comes out in the middle of a technical section of river.


salmon hugger

[lilnorthfork]

Thanks Grantspastor and Freespool. I'll try that. Should I close the tops of the oarlocks a lot (pretty qualitative term I know) or is it a must for the oars to be able to pop out with a certain amount of pressure? lnf

[weekend warrior]

Close it so that the only way you can get the oar in or out is by sliding the blade thru the oar lock until the oar itself is in the lock. You should not be able to take the oar out once the round part is in the lock, no matter what. Like previously said, bad things can happen if thats the case.
I had my oar pop out of my pontoon while going thru some rapids on the NF Nehalem, luckily the water was not really high otherwise it would've been grim
Hopes this helps

[lilnorthfork]

Thanks weekend warrior! It is help like this that keeps me coming back to this site. lnf

[Riverkeeper]

Jon, are your oars wrapped in rope or some kind of sleeve where they sit in the oarlocks?

[lilnorthfork]

Took her out for the maiden drift yesterday on the lower Wilson. :smile: :smile: :smile:
No fish for Kodiakfisher and I but, more important, no major mishaps either. Had an oar pop out when I was watching my line... luckily, nabbed it before it got away. Note to self: carry a spare oar.
[img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] Is there a way to tether the oars to the boat in case one goes in the drink, or is that too dangerous? Thinking about a heavy-duty retractor so the leash is out of the way while rowing and allows the oar to get safely away from the boat when it goes.
Got low-holed on the first run we anchored on. No other boats in site... just us and the Alumaweld 20 feet below us. I thought I'd have to row for a couple years before gaining that experience.
Thanks again for all the great tips; with the exception of Mad Mikey's... my shoulders are cursing his tip. :grin:
lnf

[Grantspastor]

I wouldn't tether the oars to the boat. A third oar is mandatory. I have used it several times over the years. If your oarlocks are a little wide at the top, you might try whacking them with a hammer and closing the gap a little. If you do this, take them off the boat first