Drift boat project

[steve04]

So I decided I needed a boat for myself to float the lower yakima river for spring/summer bass. My buddy built A drift boat 2yrs ago which gave me the idea to build one. It's not the biggest(7'4")........small is not always a bad thing.lol I will post more pictures as it is being  completed.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Should be fun. We float the lower Yak late spring and catch some hogs. Biggest is at 5 1/2 lbs. Cant wait!

[KFhunter]

what are the advantages of a small drift boat over something like this (which is what I use)



I've never been in a drift boat

[steve04]

Cost was the factor for me.......not sure of any other advantages. I've never built a boat before so its kinda exciting that I can say I built it and if I decide to build another I have the skills/know how to build an ever better one next time.

[KFhunter]

I've never built one from the ground up, but referb'd a few. 

I re-did an old galvanized row boat with wood gunnels, steel ribs, wood transom and seats...that sucker was heavy but it rowed fast and tracked super well with a 5 inch wooden keel.  It was an old resort boat from a small resort at Pierre Lake up north in Stevens County - I think I gave 25 bucks for it.   got a lot of fishing out of it in Pierre Lake once I rebuilt it.   Some of the old timers up there used to get a kick out of seeing that old resort boat rowing around the lake again.  It was a father/son project I'll remember forever - wish I had pictures.   Dad wasn't really for doing a build on it but I was determined so he helped out, I was too young to drive yet.

A joy to row over these newer alum row boats for sure.  We had fun though, great way for a youth to spend time (when not lifting hay)

[RadSav]

Nothing better than making that shakedown journey all by yourself in a boat you built with your own two hands.  Especially when it's made of wood.  I can still smell the cedar ribs, and feel the splinters in my finger tips from the first one I built.  You can not explain the advantages over a store bought boat regardless of size and construction.  It has to be smelled, tasted and felt by the soul.  You will only ever understand after completion of your first.  Godspeed.

[steve04]