48 or 54 inch bottom???

dampainter · 02-12-2002, 05:27 PM

So is there that much difference??what is the difference with 6 inchs anyway?? am looking for a good deal on a drift boat...its time!!!! :grin: ( preferably? a 16 x 54 willie or a alumaweld )

Drachir · 02-12-2002, 08:15 PM

I have owned 3 Drift Boats. My first was an old Rapid Robert wood boat, very narrow and not much fun to row. My second was a 1983 Clackacraft w/ 48" bottom. Great boat but still a little narrow, but it was easy to row, didn't track real great though. My third was a 1994 Clackacraft w/ 56" bottom. This is by far the easiest boat I have ever rowed. It tracked real well, had lots of room, and storage, great boat. Had to sell it 2 years ago to pay for my Back Surgery, miss that boat. I have a 16' Willie that am storing for my fishin' buddy. He let's me use it anytime I want. It is a roomy and comfortable boat to fish in, but it is not too much fun to row. It does not track as well as my Clacks., and is just plain much harder to get it go. It is quite a pig in the water!! :depressed:
Do yourself a favor, go row a Clackacraft. With their tunnel hull, I think this boat would be a Dream boat to row!! Just my .02 worth!!

David Johnson · 02-12-2002, 08:44 PM

The wider the boat is the more stable it will be. All brands have their advantages and disadvantages, do some homework.

Thumper · 02-13-2002, 05:34 AM

I had a girlfriend in high school with a 49" bottom. She didn't track very well either, but she was very stable.

OR Coast Range · 02-13-2002, 06:43 AM

I'll bet that she liked the extra 6" though! :grin:

RiverMan · 02-13-2002, 12:43 PM

Thumper, sounding like you may be living up to your username. :shocked: I would very much second the opinion of Drachir. I own a 1992 16' Alumaweld, the first and only driftboat I have ever owned. It is very well built, seems to track fine for me, but it is unreal heavy to maneuver! The only thing that makes me nervous about glass is hitting large rocks. I know others say glass is very strong but here in the little rivers I am drifting we hit maybe 20 a day so hard that it nearly throws you out of the boat! The rocks are everywhere and simply unavoidable! Hitting rocks on the bottom of the boat is one thing but when you take one hard in the side, ouch!! Will glass hold up to this abuse, I don't know. My metal boat never looks any worse for wear. Talk to the glass reps, see what they say! Good luck!

RM

Drachir · 02-13-2002, 04:09 PM

I can speak from experience, Fiberglass DB's are very strong. I have hit rocks so hard you would think you were in a head on car crash, and no damage. I was involved many years ago in the testing of the Eastside Fiberglass boats, back in 1972. We took their boats thru the the Hollywood Gorge, of the Toutle River. We were asked to see if we could destroy their boats. Wow what a challenge!! So off we went, with Life Jackets on, and lots of warm clothes. We ran this stretch 3 times with the same boat. We hit house sized boulders at 8-10 mph, with no damage, just cosmetic stratches. We hit them bow first, stern first, broadside, flipped once, and still the boat held up, even with all that water pressure :shocked: !!
I can say for sure that the Fiberglass boats of today, are far superior to the ones we tested way back then. So don't be held off thinking Fiberglass DB's may be weak, they are not!! :grin:

dampainter · 02-13-2002, 04:56 PM

besides cost.... what are the disadvantages of the fiberglass boats?

[ 02-13-2002, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: dampainter ]

02-13-2002, 05:53 PM

Have a brand new (garaged 2000 and cherry, no damage outside or inside) Willie WB 16ft loaded nice and a very nice upgraded Baker Trailer sitting under it. No paint, custom lettering and Willie logo decals. Two sets of wood oars, one set with oar rights, brass oar locks, anchor and rope, sliding Fish On rod holders, under the rowers seat portable fish box, two padded like new fish on passenger seats, etc. Getting long in the tooth I guess, so I might let it go for the right price. Good deal yes, but won't give it away either. Best offer over 3.5K might take it. Yes, I know the factory special is 3.99K, but this is the basic boat with your basic trailer. Anyone who has bought a boat, knows the expense of outfitting it. Think about what I probably have in it all and shoot me an email offer or come see it if anyone is interested before I change my mind.

Wait, a potential buyer just came to mind!

[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Never rolled it on the Hoh either, so that surely makes me "gay" too. (NOT!) :shocked: :shocked:

Knock off the IFISH, Jennie and innocent folks bashing up there too! Glad you are not hurt, so STOP the hurt giving? When you get old, and your bottom becomes 54 inches, looks start to fade a bit, you will realize some kindness went (or would have went, if you did not give any) a long way in life. Hope you get your boat back.

[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[ 02-14-2002, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: ****** ]

02-13-2002, 06:31 PM

[img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Sorry, could not help myself. Started as a no agenda post, really.

Hoosier Daddy · 02-13-2002, 11:05 PM

[ 02-13-2002, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: chnookie ]

02-14-2002, 08:01 AM

In case anyone is looking for a driftboat.

Bobberdown · 02-14-2002, 11:37 PM

I have a 16 foot A.W. with a 48 inch bottom. I love the boat but my only complaint comes when we have 5ft or more of river height (we havent had to worry about this too much in the fall for a few years). If its me and one other substantialy sized guy, it rows just fine but...put the third person in the front and I would love to have a wider bottom on the boat. My good friend has a 17x54 and I love it in high water. People will tell you that the narrow bottow turns easier. Well I dont know about most of you but for me where I salmon fish that is not an issue. I guess if I were going to shop for another boat I would look for a 52 to a 54 inch bottom. Good luck!