at the Goldbar station to comfortably float from Sultan to Ben Howard? (cfm or stage, either is fine)

The boat is a 16'x54" aluminum drifter, new, and I really don't want to bang it up needlessly just to get it wet for the first time. I'm sure I'll have plenty of chances to bend it when there IS water in the river.

Is the bottom coated with UMHW or Gluv-it? You won't be banging in that stretch, but at this height you'll scrape bottom a bit and you'll probably have to walk it through some shallow spots. No danger though.

Aluminum boats are made to use. What would you save it for?

Jeez, yeah, get it out there. Be ready to wade it trough a couple of riffles, maybe, but get it wet!

At about 1200cfs I think you can make it down without having to do any dragging or touching bottom. Below that its questionable.

At 560, the current level, you will definitely be dragging it a couple places.

If it was my brand new boat, I'd probably wait until there was more water or the prospect of nailing a fish was higher.

Sultan to Ben Howard isn't really the bang-em-up thumpfest that your boat will see if you float technical rivers. Geez, it's a driftboat, dude. As beautiful as mine is...heh heh....was new in 2000...now it's getting beat like a hatchery steelie on the Reiter opener. Drift boats are tools that are meant for abuse.

The lower the CFS, then the slower you will hit the rocks. The high velocity whitewater stuff that has hidden boulders will be something to worry about. Smack a rock when you're rippin in class 3's and it's could be dent city.

Gluvit bottom coating is cheap and relatively easy to reapply. If it's a new drifter, there should be a fresh coat and it's probably slicker than the slime on an upper Sky humpy.

Just ask Bob about the old-school Kasilof launch where they dragged boats 50 feet up the concrete not once, but twice a day for a couple months straight. See my point? Get out there and give it hell. Low water like this is the best time to learn the sleeper slots and buckets.

Also, I know you aren't the biggest fan of sleds so get out there now before the horde of tiller jockeys has enough water to run with ease. My buddy just picked up a sweet new sled, now I can see myselft turning towards "the dark side".

OK, OK, you've talked me into it!

I really was more concerned about dragging it through 100 yard riffles than bending the bottom, although at these levels I'm sure I'll see rocks I've never seen before. It is gluvit coated so I shouldn't need a come-along to get it over the shallow spots.

Hadn't thought about the hidden sweet spots, OR the lack of sleds, Justin. NOW I've got the urge get out there!

I may have to reassess my gut feeling on sleds in that river myself, eventually. I seem to have inherited my Mom's arthritis.

skywalker took my new drifter down the solducon my first run . got the first dent outta the way also. that was at 300 cfm drifted the hoh the next day at 1800 cfm. the hoh was a smooth ride. therefor flow rates can be deceiving. your doin the right thing by asking. GO FOR IT.

SkyWalker,

Floated that stretch last night (8-15) in a boat the exact same size. Rubbed some, had to get out once for about 10 feet of dragging. Three of us in the boat.
Tom