I am considering the purchase of a boat and would prefer to get a drift boat rather than a sled. It seems I would be able to go on a larger variety of rivers with a drift boat. I have a few questions if you guys don't mind helping me out.

First,How difficult is it to learn to handle a drift boat? Starting out on the sky.I have been fishing for salmon and steelhead since I was 14(33 now) but have always fished from the bank.

Second, I have a wife and two kids (both under 6), and would like to be able to take them with me from time to time, what is the capacity a person can safely have in a drift boat and does the drift boat allow for kids to move around safely?

Last, I have read post here on certain types of drift boats being easier to row and handle, What is it that makes one drift boat easier to handle/row over another.

also,thanks in advance for the help

Stadle, on your first question I would say that a drift is pretty easy to learn how to row, my advice would be to float a few times with a guide or a friend who has plenty of experience behind the sticks. As far as taking your kids I didn't take my kids on the river until they knew how to swim. They have to be strong enough to swim to the bank by themselves if you would happen to fip the boat. I've never rolled a boat but that doesn't mean I won't the next time out. I can only imagine that when you do flip that you won't have time to grab your kids so they must be able to get to the bank on their own..... AS far as brand name I'm sure there are plenty of opinions so you might as well read mine to. Look at the Willie's, Fishrites or Alumaweld.. THere are others out there that are probably just as good but I have no experience with them. Hope I helped alittle..Also, just an obvious point with the kids always make them wear their life jackets!!!!!!!!!

Well as for the amount of wieght you can put in a drift boat. That can vary on the size of boat. I have the 17' Willie and I baught it for that reason. it is slightly larger than the 16' and when you have that little extra wieght it still handles very well. I wouldn't consider anything less than a 16'x54" but I would highly consider the 17' if you plan on fishing a few guys or the kids with their gear. As for the brand of boat. That can get very heated like CHEVY vs. ford. But I looked around and after talking and reading I couldn't see buying anything less than a Willie. They have their act together when maken boats. I was able to see a cut away of some different boats. and it was scary to see how much of a difference was between them. the Willie had much more going for it than anything I looked at. Give Steve at Willie Boats a call and ask him some questions and have him send you some info on the boats you are looking at. He was very helpful to me and a few other guys I know that own boats from them. I know one thing right now they are so bizzy that my cuzins buddy got a call from them and they are running behind a few weeks on his Predator. they have a really awsome product!


dcrzfitter

I have had a 16 ft Alumaweld that has been rode hard and put away wet for years. The boat still looks great but am now on my second trailer. The Willies look nice also and correct me if I'm wrong but I think the two companys used to be one way back when. Another nice boat thats made over in Idaho falls is a Hyde. They sell a lot of them. I like aluminum boats. Not saying fiberglass boats are bad just that I feel that aluminum boats can handle a lot more abuse. a couple more thoughts on your questions.

The statement above is a good one about not taking anybody out that can't swim.. and not like out across the pool at the YMCA, like in the river which is a whole different story. The other thing to concider about rowing the boat is that you are not fishing.. you are rowing. Its pretty frustrating to be on the sticks and watch people in the front of the boat bumbling around. I have gotten around this by teaching a few select buddys how to run the boat. They have gotten pretty good over the years and I get a lot of front seat time. One more point to be made here about fishing in a drift boat with little kids. Once you leave that boat ramp at the put in you are commited to the river. You can't just decide at any givin time that the trips over and go back to the truck.. you gotta go all the way down to the take out. Best thought on that is to reserve a day when its nice out to take the wife and kids and don't expect anything out of it. Relax, take a nice lunch and call it quality time. After you get some skills pick a section of river that has no gotcha's in it and take your time. My son caught his first steel head when he was 5 on a trip with my dad and I. One of the best days of my life.

P.S, when you get a boat make sure it has quality oars, no matter what brand it is.

I would highly recommend a good quality fiberglass boat like a Lavro. If you're fishing with your wife and kids, your probably fishing summer/fall which means low river flows. You get an aluminum boat and you'll be pushing it all day across shallow tailouts. Fiberglass boats will skip over most of these shallow spots. As you get more experienced, you might try the coastal streams where again a glass boat will give you an advantage by not sticking on the big rocks and turning you sideways in the current (bad deal). A good fiberglass boat can take every bit of abuse as an aluminum. You mentioned the Sky, you should stop into Lavro's shop in downtown Monroe and talk to Ron. Another point is if you do decide to change boats, resale on a Lavro is about the highest around due to high demand. As for starting out the middle river drifts (below Sultan) on the Sky are pretty straight forward and should be fine for a novice. Just remember to always point the bow of the boat at where you DON'T want to go, or at the danger, and row away. After you get used to the middle Sky try the drift from High Bridge (Big Eddy) to Sultan, this offers some minor challenges but still very doable if your not careless or drunk. Good Luck!

Beezer

[This message has been edited by Beezer (edited 06-19-2000).]

Lifetime guarantee on the hull, (Hyde and Lavro).

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Tight Lines!!

Side note for Dick. I will be in your town in the next few weeks staying down at Diamond point. A buddys dad has a place there and we are going to go up there and do some fishing with him. What type of fishing I do not know

If you are planning on hitting the costal rivers after a while, get an alum boat. They will hold up better. I agree that you don't want to skimp on oars, get Cataract if you can afford them because if your oar breaks you'll likely be in trouble, no matter how good you are. I would also agree that a 54 inch bottom is a great option. A 16 foot boat should be ok, and there are alot more of them around to find one used. Unless you are planning on hauling the 2 kids and wife when the kids are 14, a 16 foot boat should be pleanty. Be sure that the kids have been instructed on how to self rescue and how to swim to shore (feet down river in rapids etc) an hour or two spent teaching some basic saftey stuff could prevent a disaster. Also don't take them the first few times you go. You'll have pleanty to pay attention to. You may want to look into getting a trailer level indicator (avail at any RV store) to put in the front of the boat. New passengers, and espicially kids, have a tendancy to throw the boat out of trim by shifting their weight. This can screw up your rowing big time. The level indcator can be used to help them keep the boat level. As a final note teach them about watching out for heaters, a Mr. Heater can burn alot of skin in a hurry if one isn't careful. Good luck!

Stadle,
I am in the process of building a wood drift boat. Just for the fun of it and I think that they can be a work of art when completed and stained/varnished properly. They can't go where a good fiberglass or aluminum boat can go but I don't plan on using it in hard water to drift anyway (local rivers like the Nooch' and Satsop. I already have the sled. What I was going to tell you about is that I am reading a book that might help you out. It is called Drift Boat Strategies, written by Neale Streeks. So far it has been good reading and will give you the basics before you get on the water. I picked it up at the library. Another idea you might persue is taking a lesson from one of the local guides, they run around $100-$150. I did this when I first bought the sled and it was money well spent. I will probably do the same thing when I get the drift boat finished. Send me an e mail if your interested and I will send you his name and phone number.
Tight lines, Jeff

Beezer has a good point about low flows. The wife and kids probably aren't going to be real into the winter steelhead hypothermia sessions so you'll be fishing rivers in a lot of low-flow conditions. Stopping and pushing the boat through low spots w/ the family looking on isn't fun. I'd recommend a fiberglass one...you can't go wrong with a Lavro.

Kevin

Beezer,

You make some good points about the advantages of a glass boat in low water conditions. But, you aren't really saying one will take a rock collision like an aluminum boat, are you? Sure they're tough, and who can argue with a lifetime hull warranty, but I don't think you'd want to tangle with the rock the previous owner of my '72 Wooldridge found on the Sol Duc if you had a glass boat. The lower chine must be dented in a good 2 inches, and that's pretty heavy gauge aluminum at that location on the boat.

But you're right, a glass boat does have many advantages over an aluminum boat, I'm just not sure that hull strength is one of them. Then again, I've never personally hit anything hard enough to damage either one, but I also tend to avoid bouldery water in low flows. At least with a glass boat you don't have to worry about all your crap sticking to the boat on those frigid mornings!

Beezer, what's a good glass boat going for these days? I haven't priced aluminum or glass boats in a while so I'm a little out of touch.

Everbody's right, though, whatever you choose get Cataract or other composite oars (Lavro makes nice ones). Superior strength, changeable blades, etc..... You can't beat them.


Fish on........

Hey guys, thanks for all the information.. as always, great information and education. I guess for me the real question is to decide the type of river and conditions I will be fishing. thanks again I just purchased a book and am going to take a lesson and after that I will start my shopping, if the good old nasdaq keeps its upward trend

As far as abuse goes, I feel that a glass boat will take anything a tin boat will. Tin boats over the course of years will get a tunnel bottom where glass boats flex back to original shape. I've floated coastal streams in low water conditions where instead of trying to avoid the rocks, it becomes which rock do I hit. The chines take some big hits and will chip but the tin boats dent. Glass boats can be repaired at home easily. As far as the dent that Dan S. referred to I think that would be a problem for any boat. You can get a low end 16' Lavro (Lazy Drifter) for about $3,500. If you want a top of the line "outfitters model" you can spend $7,000 plus. He makes each boat to order so you get what you pay for. I bought a plain jane low end 16' Lavro and spent $3,000 for it four years ago and wouldn't part with it for the world. This can definately get into a Chevy/Ford topic but I think a new boat owner should consider a fiberglass boat. Try visiting Lavro's website at lavroboats.com

Beezer

[This message has been edited by Beezer (edited 06-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Beezer (edited 06-21-2000).]