Best Drift Boat for Local Rivers

Surfnsully · 12-21-2008, 10:42 AM

Hey Folks, While I am sitting inside enjoying the snow and ice in the Portland area I thought I would ask you all for some input on Drift Boats for the Clackamas, Sandy, McKenzie, and Deschutes Rivers. What is the preferred material of choice out there? Aluminum or Fiberglass?

Flatfish · 12-21-2008, 11:36 AM

Willie or Clackacraft. Flip a coin as to which.

Surfnsully · 12-21-2008, 11:40 AM

I forgot to mention that I am a rookie rower. Been rowing for a couple of years with a pontoon boat but have not pushed any limits.

stevo · 12-21-2008, 01:27 PM

The one I have for sale in the classified section, it's killed fish on all the local rivers!

Flatfish · 12-21-2008, 02:51 PM

I rowed a driftboat for 22 years. In that time I tried several smart, and many more not so smart manuvers.

During those events, I had exactly one time that I cared to be in an aluminum boat.....and that was my fault. Overloaded and banged a rock hard enough to dent the chine a foot above waterline.

If I were in the market for a drifter, I would find a Clacka OR a Willie that met my needs in my pricerange. then I would buy it and abuse the hell out of it.

I doubt you could hurt either of them.

Premo · 12-21-2008, 04:52 PM

You can't go wrong with a Willie or a Clackacraft. Both are well built and have a good resell value.

Bobberman · 12-21-2008, 07:15 PM

Koffler(6061t6) is hard to beat for hard use on the D.

rockaway · 12-21-2008, 08:40 PM

There is a screeming deal on an older Clackacraft in the classifieds right now. I have a new Clackacraft and love it. I did a very simular search almost a year ago and found that Willie and Clackacraft row the best for the buck. There are many boats out there that may be less expensive but spending the extra dollars has been worth it to me. I have rowed many rivers with a wooden boat before I switched to a fiberglass. I will never go back. Fiberglass is quite, flexible, and doesn't stay freezing cold on a winter day. Aluminum boats are easier to find, but I believe that fiberglass boats, like clackacraft, are built to last and enjoy the river that the Northwest has to offer. Very durable. Much more so than I first thought. I run a gas and an electric motor on mine and love it. Tracks well and runs all day on a full charge with the electric. A side rear seat is also a must if you want a motor for it. Puts the driver in a high and managable position to take care of buisness. Look for counterballanced oars. Worth every penny. Easy to row all day and not get tired.
The older clackacrafts are built really well. They really stand behind their boats. I kick myself when I see such a good deal on a nice used one. These boats last for a long time. I guess thats why they offer a hundred year warrenty on their hulls to the origional owner. A used boat can be taken into them for an inspection to purchase the warrenty. I believe is costs a few hundred dollars.
I hope this info helps.

Greg

cutt plug · 12-23-2008, 06:32 AM

I agree. Willie and Clackacraft are the best choices. I used to own a glass Lavro and now own a Willie. I like the Willie, it handles very well and has tons of storage and accesories. The glass boat didn't have as much storage and accesories but it was much nicer sliding over rocks.

If you do much low water fishing I would say go with glass. If you want storage and accessories go with the Willie.

Find people with both and row them first to see what you like.

Good luck and happy holidays.

Hawaiian Time · 12-23-2008, 07:28 AM

How does the fiberglass hold up to being stored outdoors? Will it oxidize and fade over time and look crappy? I notice that there's a lot of clackacrafts for sale on CL and here. Why is that? Is it the economy? I might be looking to purchase a used drift boat and was just considering all the points brought up here. I know with an aluminum boat, one could vinyl coat the boat and it would look new again. HT

danger · 12-23-2008, 10:17 AM

Go buy a 10 year old Clacka for less than $3k. Perfect.

Jsteel · 12-24-2008, 09:18 AM

Clackacraft

Cliff D. · 12-24-2008, 10:37 AM

Fear no rock.

wosa · 12-24-2008, 10:51 AM

I've had a clackacraft fibreglass sold it and got a willie aluminum boat 6 years ago,when water is really low aluminum is the only way to go

Hookset · 12-24-2008, 11:08 AM

Something else to consider -

Aluminum boats are highly customizable; rod storage/rack, heater locations, fish box, anchor setups, gear storage, tackle storage, adding/changing colors, flooring and even adding downriggers. Plus a 30 year old aluminum boat can be completely refurbished inside and out to look just like new. And what's really nice, is you can do all this work yourself.

With every boat decision there are trade-offs and even though fiberglass driftboats may have a few advantages, there are a number of reasons why aluminum driftboats are still the most popular type in the Northwest.

good luck,

Gregg

Lou · 12-24-2008, 04:12 PM

Clackacraft!
Light weight, easy to row, bullet proof, did I say quiet?
I do not own one, I sold mine. But if I were to get another
DB, it's a Clackacraft!

JmillerFlyfish · 12-24-2008, 09:34 PM

I own 2 drift boats (clackacraft and a aluminum Fishrite). I have been rowing for almost 20 years in every kind of boat and raft and chose these two for very different reasons. The clackacraft is my favorite and if i had to chose only one it would be it. Great in low water (the comment above about aluminum in skinny water as better i do not undersatnd because the glass will slide better although is does draft a bit deeper based on the narrower width), a lot easier to row, easier to hold and tracks great but the storage is the weak part so i have the aluminum for several day trips. Since the sides are lower on the clackacraft it is also a lot easier to get in and out of on the deschutes (a big +) but it also can tend to take on more water on the huge rapids.

Just my

worth.

By the way my next purchase is going to be a 16'+ pontoon. Love em for the frightening water, there are a couple of river streaches i will never take my drift boat through again ..... but still need to fish them.

natew · 12-24-2008, 10:53 PM

I love my Clackacraft.

Wintu · 12-25-2008, 07:36 AM

Check the material 6061T6 most boat use 5000 alum (apples to oranges)

Pyrojake · 12-25-2008, 09:26 AM

Clackacrafts are great but i might also suggest an aluma-drifter, it's a drift boat with a wider transom so you can drift with it but also put a short shaft motor on it. So it has uses other than just drifting, but it drifts just as well as a regular drift boat.

alanmikkelsen · 12-25-2008, 04:03 PM

Koffler, 6061, best people in the business, 'nuff said.......

Surfnsully · 12-25-2008, 06:41 PM

Thanks for the great tips and advice everyone. Keep them coming and when I finally make up my mind I will let you all know what I did.

Merry Christmas,

Cliff D. · 12-26-2008, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrojake

Clackacrafts are great but i might also suggest an aluma-drifter, it's a drift boat with a wider transom so you can drift with it but also put a short shaft motor on it. So it has uses other than just drifting, but it drifts just as well as a regular drift boat.

I take it you have one ?

RGB · 12-26-2008, 09:58 PM

How about the Rogue Stealth. It looks like the best of both worlds. I've never been in a drift boat, but it seems like it would be a hassle having to get a ride back up river to get the truck then drive back for the boat.

sidewinder · 12-27-2008, 01:20 AM

The older clacks are tanks, and they row like one. Saying they are built well is a understatment.

The new ones look nice.
Other than that...you guys have this subject about covered.
Lots of good deals out there now for someone who like to shop around.

Orion · 12-27-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGB

How about the Rogue Stealth. It looks like the best of both worlds. I've never been in a drift boat, but it seems like it would be a hassle having to get a ride back up river to get the truck then drive back for the boat.

RGB,

Most drifters will pay a few bucks for a shuttle driver to move their rig from the put in site, down river to the take out ramp. These shuttles can be arranged through sporting goods shops in the area, or private individuals that provide shuttle services.
Some choose to hitch hike, and others take two rigs to do the shuttle work. No real hassle any way you choose to do it.

Orion

coyote killer · 01-02-2009, 09:05 PM

I own a 17 x 60 koffler and love it... It rows great and is very versital from floating the Sandy, Clack or Deschutes to back trolling for springers in the willy the wide bottem is a must have option that I would not go with out plus it handles a 8hp kicker perfectlyin the biger rivers.

Honu_in_Oregon · 01-02-2009, 09:16 PM

My 2 cents:

I also am new to DB'ing.

When I row my new Willie, it just feels like I can turn on a dime.
I also went fishing with a guide, on the Sandy(where most go with pontoons, and he took us on a Willie from Dodge Park to Oxbow and WOW!!

Surfnsully · 01-04-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon_lifer

My 2 cents:

I also am new to DB'ing.

When I row my new Willie, it just feels like I can turn on a dime.
I also went fishing with a guide, on the Sandy(where most go with pontoons, and he took us on a Willie from Dodge Park to Oxbow and WOW!!

How does your Willie hold up to novice abuse with rocks etc.? I own a 11' pontoon boat and have run it on all of the local rivers but only one class III rapid. I consider my skills still novice and dont want to buy a drift boat and go destroy it due to my lack of skills. What has been your experience?

santiamflyguy · 01-04-2009, 09:31 PM

I'm a novice drifter too, and recently bought a 2008 Clacka.

I'm experienced enough running rivers (kayaks primarily, although I put a bunch of miles on the toon last year too) that I'm comfortable with the navigation aspects, but not with my skills on the drift boat sticks.

I bought the drifter so I could better fish the McKenzie, MF Willy, and Santiams, as well as a couple of coastal creeks. For these rivers, a boat capable of Class III will get you down pretty much every run. They all get pretty low in the summer and there's a lot of dragging. Hence a glass boat made sense for me.

If I were wanting to do the lower D, MF Salmon, or whatever where there's lots of big water, I'd have strongly considered a higher-side aluminum. Same goes if I was planning on fishing a lot of lakes or tidewater where a kicker could be hauled to and from on the transom.

One more note - in my Clacka SSG, there's a good amount of storage in the base model. With most of the aluminum boats, the base models don't even have storage under the bench seats... very bare-bones. You can get it, as well as a ton of other accessories, but be prepared to pay if you're buying new.

VancMike · 01-05-2009, 11:57 AM

Years ago, I rowed a friend's AL boat for a few years, which convinced me to get a glass boat. Bought a 18' Lavro in the '70s. It's a big boat, but it handled as well as some 14' AL boats. It's apparently still made: http://www.lavroboats.com/r18.htm

Took Whitehorse and Oak Springs rapids very well, with huge loads, and yet would slide over wet moss on the McKenzie. I made 100+ 3-day trips from Warm Springs to Maupin, carried most of the gear for the nights out (and in reference to another thread, weight distribution was carried slightly forward).

Launched it over cliffs on the East Fork Lewis, dragged it up banks on the Kalama. I attribute its ease of handling to curved chines, which appeared to be many multi-layers, compared to a slightly flexible deck/floor which helped in the shallows.

FWIW, the motor well option didn't work for beans, so I glassed over the bottom, and used it for storage. I'd also tip it upside down every summer and Marine-Tex any scrapes.

Alas, after 20 years of use, health issues required me to sell it a few years ago...guy in Sandy bought it. Anyone seen the "Rancid Rose" lately?!

Mike

Chance · 01-11-2009, 05:55 PM

You should check out River Wolf. If you're going to put a motor on the boat, then go with a RW. They're just as well made and customizable (if not more) as Wille. Customer service is excellent. I'm buying an 18' side drifter from them in a few months (if funds are as expected).

Of course everyone has their favorite, but in reality it's like comparing Dodges, Chevys and Fords.