Drift Boat Sway?

[finclipped]

I have a 17'X 52" Koffler driftboat and I was wondering if other boats sway in the current? What I mean is that, when I have three in the boat and one guy stands in the back, behind the oarer's seat, the boat will sway back and forth in a moderate-heavy current. This eventually will cause the anchor to slip. If all the weight is in the front it doesn't do it. It also gets worse as more anchor line is let out.

Do others experience the same thing?

[Pete]

I've seen a drift boats do that. Doesn't seem to happen with my 16x54 Willie.

[Chilly one]

finclipped, Perhaps try it with your weight forward of the rowing seat, as I think it probably is that once u get weight back, behind the seat. where the chines in the rear part of your hull bottom start digging or dragging you will have that effect as it produces a "pivot point". Give that a try and see if that makes any diff. Good luck!
"Happiness is a Bent Rod!"
Chillyone

[Grant Scheele]

I have never been in a boat that does not do this. It is a pet peeve of mine. I hate it and I hate watching other boats do it. It just is really unsafe in fast water.

I have an easy fix.

OAR RITES! You can buy them at most GI Joes.

Place them far enough down on the oar so that they don't interfere with your rowing and place them so that they cut into the water just right.

You will find that you now have a left side and a right side oar but your swaying days will be over.

Try this and let me know how they work for you.
Grant

[Grant Scheele]

[ 01-20-2004, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: Grant Scheele ]

[FishOrDie]

I have the same issue,
If someone is behind the rowers seat it seems to push the rear end of the boat down and the chine catches the current and rolls from side to side using the anchor as a pivot point. I have 16'X54" boat I only see this happening when we run four guys, three guys in the boat is no problem at all. My solution unfortunately is to run with only three guys total when I am running rivers, for lake fishing I throw the extra guy in with no ill effects.
If you find a better solution I would love to hear it.


FOD

[T-Jet]

Glass boats tend to do this because there is no defined chine area. Aluminum bots dont because there is a defined chine. This is where the sides meet the bottom. Glass boats hold a smooth line from side to bottom, thus nothing to hold the boats line when in the water. To reduce this, keep most of the weight in the bow of the boat. If more weight is in the rear it will drop the boat lower in the water line, thus making your boat track harder. Use the oars, blade tips in the water to help hold the boat. Wood oars float better than the fiberglass ones! Nothing like trying to fish a slot and have the boat skip around.....its enough to make you go crazy! Is your anchor run straight out the back or on the side? Anchor mounts not directly run out the transome can make the boat sway also.

[andy-ap emerger]

I agree w/ T-Jet.
My older handmade aluminum 16 footer doesn't sway at all and if so (crazy weird current) it doesn't do it much. I also tend to think this is because my boat is so old & bowed at the bottom creating two deep chines which gives a "trampoline" effect. Clackacraft now uses this as a Marketing Point advertised as the "New Tunnel Hull" well...It happened to my boat from 30 years of rock-wacking. I lose manueverablity & quick pivots but I gain a nice straight tack & stable platform. Important of broad rivers like Willamette (shad), lower Clack & WS-TC run Deschutes, mellower coastal streams etc. But, because of this I wouldn't take my boat down the Upper Clack, Mac & upper Trask etc.
I'm thinking of selling it this spring...


[img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[Buck50]

My 16X54 Alumaweld does it too, mostly in moderate to heavier currents. It's worse when the kicker is on the boat (extra weight in the stern?).
Grant, have you tried this with the Oar Rites? It sounds intresting but I've never liked the idea of using them.

[willierower]

All drift boats will sway in the current. There is 2 ways to stop it from happening, The first, Like Grant said. Use oar rites. The oar rites will keep your blades verticalin the water when at anchor. The blades act as rudders and will hold your boat straight in the current.
The second. Balance the boat properly. And dont over load it. I usually just put one guy up front in my 16x54 Willie. If I run 2 guys, both of them stay up front if I anchor up. If they dont like it, they dont have to go with me again. Needless to say I dont usually have a problem with the boat swinging around.

[Grant Scheele]

Buck50, I have never been in a boat that I couldn't cure the sway with oar rites. They are also very useful when using a gas or electric motor.

I don't recommend them as rowing crutches.

Grant

[ 01-20-2004, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Grant Scheele ]

[Buck50]

Thanks Grant, I'll give it a try.

[Buck50]

Thanks Grant, I'll give it a try.

[Mad Mikey]

>>>I don't recommend them as rowing crutches<<<

Whew! You were getting me worried there for a second, Grant. :grin:

[spinner53]

Grant's correct, I do own and use the crutch to get about. They were on there when I bought the thing and let me concentrate on where the boat was headed as opposed to angles, etc.

At anchor they do work to keep the boat straight. Un-knowingly I fashioned dandy loops of cord to hold the oars outta the water, them puppies are gone once I do one final test. ( No offense meant to dog owners / lovers)

[finclipped]

Thanks for the responses. I will give the Oar Rites a try.