drift boat size?

[Commando]

What size drift blat would you guys recommend ? I will be using it mainly on the forks rivers. Ive been looking at willies website and cant decide what one would work best for me. The 16×54, 16×60 or the 17×54, or 17×60. Im leaning towards the 17 ft one but cant decide on the bottom size

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Mines 16x54 and works great. I would imagine if your guiding full time the bigger would be better? I'm sure a guide can chime in on this one.

[Commando]

His many passangers do you take with you? I'm not exactly a small guy and neither are the guys I would take with me that's why I was leaning towards the bigger size

[Antlershed]

17x60, but I know some of the Forks guides run 17x54 simply because a 60" boat won't fit between the boulders   

[_TONY_]

Go with a 17x54.... There's a lot if spots, definitely on the calawa and 'duc that a 60" wouldn't be ideal.

Most guides run 16x54's.... Though, there are some that run 20's too 

[wildmanoutdoors]

If your not running the Duc or Calawah then a 17 x 60 is nice! If you know them very well, then the 60 will fit just fine at average too high flows.

16 x 54 have plenty of room though.

When I had my last Willie made I did the UHMW bottom. What a dream that was. So slick it just slithered over rocks.

Typically just 3 in the boat. There are lots of "BIG" guys in driftboats in Forks drifting 16 X 54's....

[TheHunt]

Following this.

If you put a 10 horse motor on a drift boat with the worst case of three fatty's how well will it push the boat around?

[bowtech721]

Following this.

If you put a 10 horse motor on a drift boat with the worst case of three fatty's how well will it push the boat around?

I had a 16x54 with a 9.9 on the back and it would push it around ok. It didn't really matter how many were in the boat though it performed about the same. Worked great for back trolling on bigger rivers or for putting around a lake. Theyre not really built to run with a motor so it would only go about 5 or 6 mph... beyond that you were doing a wheelie and couldn't see over the bow.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Following this.

If you put a 10 horse motor on a drift boat with the worst case of three fatty's how well will it push the boat around?

I had a 16x54 with a 9.9 on the back and it would push it around ok. It didn't really matter how many were in the boat though it performed about the same. Worked great for back trolling on bigger rivers or for putting around a lake. Theyre not really built to run with a motor so it would only go about 5 or 6 mph... beyond that you were doing a wheelie and couldn't see over the bow.

 

Your only going to go "hull speed" with a 10 hp.
Thats the length of boat in the water squared and multiplied by 1.34.

Dosent matter the weight, as it acts as a displacment hull much like a sailboat.
It may go hull speed at half throttle, increasing the throttle makes more noise, burns more gas and plows water more. But dosent go any faster. 

[_TONY_]

if your contemplating putting a kicker on a new drift boat, just do yourself a favor and buy a sled...

[TheHunt]

I have been looking for a sled.

[JimmyHoffa]

Most of the guys I know that have their own for the Forks rivers use the 16x54.  Don't know if they researched the size or just got what was available.  They can go down the Sol Duc fine in them.  Most are big guys.  The boats seem fine to hold two of them and an elk on occasion.  Last few years with low water the ones that are more fish minded were switching to rafts.

[Forks]

Willie 16x54 here.

[Commando]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. Does anyone have info in koffler drift boats? I found these boats recently and really like them. Them or Willie

[_TONY_]

Koffler are nice boats! If you're planning on fishing a lot in the winter months, I'd be looking at a glass boat... Much more warm on those fridged winter days, and they slide really nice over rocks... Plus, no need to redo the coating on the bottom, and they don't DENT!!

[RELV]

When you talk to Willie Boats, they will custom make it (all their boats are "custom").  Ask them for the Sam Windle Rocker.  The Forks boats, at least the people I know, have that rocker.  My willie has that rocker.  Its a little more rocker and the flare is a little larger than a "stock" willie.  Get the UMWH bottom.  I may drag my boat down just for that bottom.

There process is a proprietary bonding process but I know 2 things:

1. What they described is state of the art.  I should know, this is my forte as a researcher in adhesive bonding.
2. The guides I know that have had this done have yet had a failed bottom or bond.

[_TONY_]

I know a guide up there that had a piece of UHMW come loose in the front of his boat and it catapulted his boat 


 

[TheHunt]

When you talk to Willie Boats, they will custom make it (all their boats are "custom").  Ask them for the Sam Windle Rocker.  The Forks boats, at least the people I know, have that rocker.  My willie has that rocker.  Its a little more rocker and the flare is a little larger than a "stock" willie.  Get the UMWH bottom.  I may drag my boat down just for that bottom.

There process is a proprietary bonding process but I know 2 things:

1. What they described is state of the art.  I should know, this is my forte as a researcher in adhesive bonding.
2. The guides I know that have had this done have yet had a failed bottom or bond.

The Rocker... Can you get the flat level floors with The Rocker? 

[wildmanoutdoors]

When you talk to Willie Boats, they will custom make it (all their boats are "custom").  Ask them for the Sam Windle Rocker.  The Forks boats, at least the people I know, have that rocker.  My willie has that rocker.  Its a little more rocker and the flare is a little larger than a "stock" willie.  Get the UMWH bottom.  I may drag my boat down just for that bottom.

There process is a proprietary bonding process but I know 2 things:

1. What they described is state of the art.  I should know, this is my forte as a researcher in adhesive bonding.
2. The guides I know that have had this done have yet had a failed bottom or bond.

My boat had the Uhmw but it was plug welded to the bottom with many, many tapered aluminum washers. Not bonded with adhesive. It was slick as snot!