If you row, what is your preference...?

[Hyde]

Drift boats... aluminum?  Wood?  Glass?  What do you like and why?  I've owned aluminum and wood, like both.  Never rowed a glass boat but fished in a few.  In the old days, it was said a glass boat didn't track well.  Anyone care to comment?

[huntergreg]

I have been in alot of wood drift boats and have owned 2 different ones. I loved them. I was in a Hyde glass drift boat with one of the guides from reds fly shop and it seemed to be a good boat. Made a lot of noise going over rocks in a shallow spot but did great. 

[walt]

I have an aluminum willie.  I went with the aluminum because it is basically zero maintenance.  It's loud when you hit rocks and cold in the winter but it handles well and can hold a lot of gear.  I also get around and fish a lot of different rivers and like it in the bigger water.  I have rowed a handfull of glass boats and I really like them on some rivers but not so much on others. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Any opinion on throwing pieces of carpet in the metal boats to keep the sound down and keep them a little bit warmer?

[MuleySniper]

Had a 11' glass Lavro. It was barely a two person boat. Could take it anywhere though. I think glass boats are "warmer" then aluminum. Traded it and now have a 16' alumaweld "potbelly" . Awesome boat. Not noisy, easy rower and fishes three perfect. Just wish I could use it more!

[jackelope]

I row a 16' glass Lavro boat...older boat. I think the way they track has everything to do with the hull...the tunnel hull s on the Clack boats make those boats ride awesome.
If I was gonna do a lot of big water I'd prefer aluminum. It just dents if you hit something hard enough and it's lighter than glass so easjer to maneuver with a couple guys and a few days worth of gear on board. I did a 4 day trip with all our gear and 4 people in a 17' aluminum Willie boat and that thing did the job on big whitewater and then some.

[Button Nubbs]

The one with a heater!!! :p

[wildmanoutdoors]

I,ve had 2 woodies, I have a 91 Clack and a 2000 Willie with the UHMW bottom. Ill take the Willie any day. I do want to row a new Clack with the tunnel though. But pluggin the Willie cant be beat. The Clack tracks ok, but you still have to manipulate it a bit to keep it going straight down a run.

[Ironhead]

I like a tin boat myself but I can also see some nice qualities in a glass boat. They slide over rocks alot easier than a tin boat, warmer and quieter.
I can bounce mine off a root wad or rock and not worry about it. I can throw it over the side of the HWY to launch it or drag it up the bank to put it back on the trailer with no worries. I think glass is more comfortable and aluminum more durable.

[fishcrazy]

Never rowed wood but like the looks of them the best. But for all around use metal can't be touched. I can't imagine hitting a big rock in a wood boat.

Not all metal boats are created equall. The grade of metal is more important than thickness.

I have a 17' Willie DB and love how it fishes. IMO glass don't hold a candle to them.

Kris

[Hyde]

Some will argue that wood is the best if you are extremely experienced on the oars.  I am not, but used to fish a stretch of the N Santiam when I lived down that way years ago.  There was very little in the way of obstacles or whitewater.  The wood boat was way more fun to row all day, man you just touch an oar and that thing will spin or dart with minimal effort.  Sort of like comparing a sports car to a caddy.  I do admit though, I sure felt more secure in the aluminum boat. 

[Annette]

I love our Clackercraft but hubby is stingy and won't let me row 

[tmike]

1968 Eastside for me. I've rowed plenty of others but it's the only one I've owed. Keeping things balanced makes the world of difference no matter what you row. Actually now my favorite is one that someone else is rowing 

[CountryslickR]

I own a 16ft alumaweld for the reason of maintenance...im not afraid to take it in bigger water either, but nothin rows like a well-built wood drifter..

[jackelope]

Some will argue that wood is the best if you are extremely experienced on the oars.  I am not, but used to fish a stretch of the N Santiam when I lived down that way years ago.  There was very little in the way of obstacles or whitewater.  The wood boat was way more fun to row all day, man you just touch an oar and that thing will spin or dart with minimal effort.  Sort of like comparing a sports car to a caddy.  I do admit though, I sure felt more secure in the aluminum boat. 

Seen enough wood boats piled up at the end of the Whitehorse Rapids run on the Deschutes(the big one) to know I will admire the beauty and craftsmanship of a nice wood boat from a distance.