I have been storing a DB at my shop for 4 years and it hasn't been out. I can use it but have no experiance with one. It is a beautiful hand built wood boat with a UHMW botom on it. I would love to give it a try on some begginer water. ? is. Is there any such water on the Sky or Skagit where I may find a late Silver or a chum or two. I have spent time in sleds and on rivers. I just want a stretch of river to get a feel for it and promis not to head for the OP without spending time with a guide or someone else learning how to do it correctly.

Sultan to Ben Howard or Monroe is good beginner water and will have chums.

Great idea! I would say that MOST of the Sky below high bridge is pretty easy water for a beginner. Just remember to point your bow towards the trouble spots and if you aren't sure about the water get out and look!

BTW: If you want a novice to go with you I'd love another ride in a drift boat! I'll be up on the sky with the sled next Saturday with some friends. Running a sled is a bit different than a drift boat as I'm as concerned about having enough water to keep going as I am about avoiding obstructions. In a DB if the water gets too thin you just get out and pull. Can't do that with a 3500lb beast of a sled! So typically I will go upriver to start with on the sled and then return the same way I went up.

I don't agree that the High bridge drift on the Sky is good for beginners....you can probably do it your first year, but I wouldn't try it on the first couple of runs, while you're getting the feel of the boat. Marblemount to Swift Creek or Rockport on the Skagit is another easy run if you get bored with the lower Sky.

Jam,

That is why I emphasized the word "MOST"

BTW: My first drift with my pontoon boat many years ago was from High Bridge to Sultan. However I had a whitewater guide with me in his cataraft to follow and instruct me where to go. I also left the rod at home that day and just concentrated on running the river. I never once felt intimidated by the water we had to travel.

I also found out that the 9' Steelheader Pontoon boat is a pig in the river compared to his 16' Puma Cataraft! Where he could sit on a wave with only slight corrections with the oars my boat needed constant rowing to stay on the wave as there was so much more drag from the tubes being deeper in the water.

Gary,
I just didn't want him doing that on his very first run since the first coupla drops are probably the most difficult of the whole drift, (except for maybe Summer Runs favorite spot, the "three fingers" near startup).
And BTW pontoon boats are a lot more forgiving than driftboats, so with a guide I'm not surprised you did ok.

Interesting point about the larger pontoons....my 'toon is only an 8 footer so is probably even worse. Only use it up there in the low water of late summer.

Thanks guys that s what I hoped to hear.

Gary If I have a chance to get out I will try to PM you.

When you're ready let me know! Sounds like fun!

Maybe we can get Summer-Run to tag team with us in his DB.

You guys talking about me behind my back, huh!
Jam Session nailed it perfect!
I hate that boil with passion when the river is flowing 6 feet and above.
I'm gonna start walking it thru during high flows, I've had enough of side to side hip dancing on the rower's seat going thru that boil.

Achewter, You may already know all of this but I'm going to mention it anyways because it doesn't hurt.
if this will be your very first time rowing a db on a river then make sure you have all safety equipment on board, check the boat is in floatable condition along with good oars, oar locks, anchor rope, anchor, and extra rope for bow rope.
If you've never rowed your db in the past then take it out on a lake for couple of hours to get the feel for it.

As jam session mentioned, I highly recommend you do from Sultan down to Ben Howard for your first float.
This time of year with frequent freshet you don't want to mess with upper Sky @ 8,000 CFS and 7 feet high for your first float.
Do a few Sultan to Ben Howard trips until you get familiar with the Sky flows then wait until the Sky drops to about 3000 cfs and 5 feet to learn the upper Sky.
Upper Sky is beautiful when she is flowing gin clear.
As Gary mentioned, I can tag team with you no problem.

All good info SR.
I have spent my life in boats of all types. I have a couple of fishcats that I have floated stuff like the Walace in, do a lot running around duck hunting on rivers in the dark with jon boats or my bro's jetcraft , Try to fish the sound a couple times a week from July to Sept and I try to make at least a couple of trips a year out to the deep blue in 18 to 28 footers but drifting a river in a DB I have never been down does have me concerned. It wouldn't bother me at all if I was in an inner tube and shorts durring the summer but after a close friend lost his life steelheadin down at ringold a couple of winters ago I think a little more about what I do.
I will try to get the riteful owner of the boat out with me for some lessons but he has let this boat sit for four years now and getting him to take the time might be tough. I had it stored in my wharehouse for the first two winters but last year it was left out with a custum cover on it. I am concerned with the boat and the trailer for that reason but both look fine. A trip to a local lake will be first before I waste anyone's time. Look forward to meeting both of you soon ...,Art

I'm very sorry to hear sad news about your friend.

Art,

Sorry to hear about your friend also.

Let me know when/where you want to go! I'm ready. Another float that would be good would be the upper Snoqualmie down to Fall City. Very easy float and good water along the way. Although the last bit you may have to row a bit to get to the launch.