Drift boat or Jet Sled this is the question

[fishfry]

I guess I should introduce myself first as this is my first post. My name is Ed and I live up on Whidbey Island. Yes I am in the Navy but Oak Harbor is my home town so I guess I went real far huh I just recently transfered to Shore duty and htis looks as though it will be my last tour before I retire and I plan on catching up on a lot of fishing that I have missed out on the last 20+ years and I believe this site is going to help out a lot. My question though is this:

I REALLY am interested in doing some river fishing but I do not want to be limited by bank access. I have a nice 21' Arima Searanger w/ skip tower and am leaning at looking into a drift boat because one I don't want to go out and buy another big $$ boat, two I think I would like the nice quiet and peaceful trip in a drifter and three I could use it on lakes as well. I would be fishing mostly the Skagit and I am sure I would eventually move on to others once I have some idea of what I am doing. I have read that a jet is better on big rivers like the Skagit because you are more mobile but couldn't you put a little kicker on a drift and make it more mobile? I also figure the Skagit would be a good river to learn some good rowing techniques because it is not as rough as others are, is this a bad assumption on my part? I am going to be going with some friends that are experienced and I plan on taking a few guided trips as well this year to learn as much as I can before going out solo so to speek, but I have been looking at some drift boats in particluar the Clackacraft and want to know if I should be looking at something else instead. As complicated as I made it my question is should I continue to look at drift boats or should I start looking more seriously at a sled? I do apprecitate the time you spent reading my novel and answering my questions though.

[Two Fister]

fishfry,
Welcome to ifish and thank you for your service to our country!

I think a driftboat would be a nice complement to youur Arima, but a sled can be very handy on the Skagit. The Skagit is a pretty mellow river for rowing compared to the Salk or the rivers on the OP, but it's also a very powerful river. One of the nice things about the sled is you don't have to worry about shuttling your vehicle downstream. A drifter would be nice on Pass Lake if you want to do a bit of trout fishing. A kicker on a drifter will give you some mobility, but you're looking at 6-8 MPH tops so you're not going to run way up river at those speeds. A sled can make a really good duck hunting platform on some of the inside bays. Sounds like you need one of each!

I'd post this question on the main board as you'll get a lot more views and response from there.

TF

[twisted lines]

First; Welcome and sounds like your on track, retirement is around the corner and you're not jumping into the river without a paddle! Take all the rides you can, you will learn from every trip, and if things work out you might not need to buy one! I have never had the privilege of floating in a Clackacraft so no help there, but have friends with drift boats and very much enjoy the ride. Have a open offer to borrow one at any time but will never do it. No better way to learn the rivers then in a drift boat and you should be able to tell that from looking at the bottom of my very expensive jet boat. Drift boat with a good kicker motor would be a good choice for a first river boat. My

[kilchisfisher]

Uh oh, now you've done it.

First, You need a TUNA! boat. The Arima might not qualify. Ask the Salty Dogs. If might not be big enough to go out over 100 miles. 26 feet seems acceptable.

Then you need a springer boat. An 18 - 21 footer might do it.

Then you need a sled. Something 17 foot or so is nice.

Then a drift boat. Clackacraft makes a good boat. I've had two. Tough. Handle really well.

And finally a little aluminum boat for the tiny lakes and back waters you'll be fishing.

Oh, did I mention the 'toon?

And each needs a different motor.


lol



Welcome. I'm sure you'll get answers, but IMHO keep the Arima and get a driftboat, a good used one. Clacks are really good boats. Use it and learn from it. You might find it's ok with a motor and be happy with it, but driftboats make poor motorboats as a rule. Some people end up with a small sled as well. Your idea of going with friends and guides is right on. You'll learn a lot right there, and have a lot of fun.

Good luck! Keep us informed on youir progress, and Congrats on the pending retiremement.

[fishfry]

LOL I thought or at least I know my wife thought the same thing. I think with the 2 I should be fine for a while. Like I said I am leaning towards a drift boat and I have thought about taking the Arima after Tuna if they get close enough. I have seen posts from a couple guys that have taken out boats either the same size or smaller.

Thanks for support as well. I am proud to serve and enjoy it very much.

[Lead Bouncer]

depends on your rivers, your budget, your friends. If you cant get a passenger, youll be stuck with the few shuttles. DB definitely cheaper. I had both and the DB sat. I also have a pontoon and its been used once in a year. Dont buy a big bus to accommodate other people. They are expensive, and tougher keep it straight. Expensive boats are tougher to sell, so figure out how long you will own it.

[fishhog4u]

FF- I fish the Skagit often and mainly use my sled. It's a lot easier than having to deal with the shuttling as others have mentioned. Plus it allows multiple passes of an area where as with a DB, you generally only get the one.
One other thing to consider is weather. If it's nasty out and you want to get out of there, in a sled, you power to the trailer and head for the barn. The DB you are stuck. Each has their time and place.

The Sauk is a DB only show as is the NF of the Nooksack and other rivers where the water gets skinny. And Never take a sled to the OP. Bad Mojo

Just tell the wife you need BOTH Please Honey

[HOGTIDE]

An opinion from an 'older' guy.......go with the jetboat. Drift boats are unique in that they can go a lot of places a powerboat just can't go. Plus, they provide a wonderful aesthetic outdoor experience.The rowing is fun and the skill of manuevering properly is satisfying also.

But personally....I hate standing on an uncomfortable limited space rocker bottom boat all day. I also hate hitch hiking from take-out to put-in. And, it's an inconvenient pain to always arrange a shuttle. It takes a lot of planning to make a spur of the moment afteroon drift trip, whereas with a jet....just dump her in and go. And, maybe the greatest frustration is once you drop below a productive hole...you are bound to continue downstream and not look back.

I drifted the rivers of SW Washington and Western Oregon through the late 70's and 80's and consider the driftboat the true icon of the northwestern steelheader. But at this point the convenience of a powerboat means a lot to me.

[Got One!]

Personally, I'd pass on the DB if youre going solo. DB's are great to let the other guys on the boat fish, not so good to fish while your on the oars. Of course you can pull over when you find a good spot, but you can't always go back upstream unless you have a powerful motor.

I got rid of my db and opted for a Pontoon. Great fun and with a 10+ft you can go anyplace a db can, plus bigger toons like water ready's are high and dry. I will say my db was great fun to build and worked fantastic, its just a hard boat to fish from solo, unless you have someone to bring you back to your rig. A Sled you can go where you want depending on what river your on.

[sidewinder]

Welcome fishfry! I'll bet you get lots of good info here. I could babble on, and on about your question. The short answer is your going to need both. Yes...you will be traveling, lol!
Thank you for your service! Things are a bit messy now, but when I know I can get around the slide east of Concrete, or get to Rockport on 530...I'll be making some trips that way. I like the upper Skagit.
PM me if you want a ride. Alls you need is some earplugs. We might even catch some fish.

[QH's Paw]

Okay, I don't know if you're talking new or used so, I'll just assume new until you say otherwise.
The difference in price of the 2 boat styles is about $16-20K. Now, I'll qualify that statement. Fully outfitted open river sled with a 150HP pump in the 18' size range= $20-25K.(I'm talking real sled, welded)
Fully outfitted 16-17' DB=$3500-$6K.
I'm talking aluminum (maybe glass if Clackacraft).
I own both. I had my driftboat first because I couldn't afford the sled. I rarely drift anymore but use the boat still in small lakes and where gas motors are not allowed..
The sled is used for fishing freshwater(salmon,sturgeon, bass and other warmwater including walleye), salt (salmon, sturgeon and bottom fish) and duck/goose hunting. As previously stated, you will be taking part in whatever activity you are doing far more in the sled because you won't be the oarsman.
The sled is far more mobile and you can run and gun more readily. It is more adaptable except where motors are not allowed.
If I had the money for a sled first, I probably would have purchased the sled first. It would be easier to come up with the DB money later because of the smaller amount needed.
There was a time when everybody and their brother didn't own a DB and, the drift on most rivers were more enjoyable. Sorry to say, it just isn't that way in most places these days. There are plenty of people out there that know nothing of DB (and fishing for that matter) etiquette.

[Flatfish]

Sleds are much more comfortable to fish from. They allow you to do a short trip (2-3 hours). You can go in any direction (The cell phone makes this important) you choose.

I rowed a drifter for more than 20 years. Had a lot of fun doing so. But they require more effort than other boats to fish well.

[fishfry]

Wow this is great advice and I appreciate it all. Got One that is a nice looking boat you built and I must say I never thought of a pontoon (as much a nube as I am I thought that was for fly fishing in a lake). Sidewinder I would love to get out trust me. I have had some serious cabin fever waiting for this weather to turn and it looks like I might get my first chance to go Steelheading this weekend I am as excited as a 16 year old girl on prom night. So if you ever need someone to go with please PM me and I will do everything I can to go. I know I will have plenty of trips out in the salt where I would be more than willing to have someone go with.

As for friends I always have my #1. My wife loves to fish. My #2 is my best bud for 30+ years and we are like pees in a pod when it comes to wanting to go fishing. It seems as if the sled is leading this conversation but my only concern is where am I going to put another big boat and trailer? Selling my Arima is not even an option. The cost isn't so much of a concern as just the space to put a sled. I am sure I will have a better idea once I get down to the Sportsman Show on the 24th. They ussually have quite a few boats there to see.

Please keep the coments coming. I am learning a lot. Like what a skinny river is. I would have thought it was one that wasn't wide and more like a creek instead of shallow.

[ondarvr]

I've had most all of the boats listed above and the only I don't have now is the 26 footer, it was used the least. Once I got a sled the others just sat, my DB hasn't really been used for 7 years, it does get tied to the dock during the summer and gets used out front, but 99% of the time I'm fishing from the sled. My sled is on the smaller side because I also have 19' center console for the Salt, 2 seasons ago I pulled it out of the shop, started it, re-winterized it and haven't used it since.

The jet boat get's used for all fresh water fishing, but no salt and since salt water fishing has been restricted more and/or is frequently less productive, I just rarely do it any more.