Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Hyde on January 30, 2011, 08:25:05 PM

Title: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Hyde on January 30, 2011, 08:25:05 PM: 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?
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: huntergreg on January 30, 2011, 08:27:45 PM: 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. :twocents:
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: walt on January 30, 2011, 09:38:13 PM: 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.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on January 30, 2011, 09:59:47 PM: Any opinion on throwing pieces of carpet in the metal boats to keep the sound down and keep them a little bit warmer?
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: MuleySniper on January 30, 2011, 10:08:10 PM: 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! :bash:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi94.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl89%2FMuleySniper%2Flog4.jpg&hash=02cdf7efb3040e822992c8a6ca746b4a008baa0b)
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: jackelope on January 30, 2011, 10:11:06 PM: 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.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Button Nubbs on January 31, 2011, 05:17:41 AM: The one with a heater!!! :p
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on January 31, 2011, 05:26:14 AM: 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.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Ironhead on January 31, 2011, 05:34:40 AM: 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.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: fishcrazy on January 31, 2011, 07:56:26 AM: 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. :bdid:

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
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Hyde on February 01, 2011, 09:01:52 PM: 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.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Annette on February 01, 2011, 09:40:40 PM: I love our Clackercraft but hubby is stingy and won't let me row :P
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: tmike on February 01, 2011, 10:16:42 PM: 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 :)
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: CountryslickR on February 01, 2011, 10:49:37 PM: 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..
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: jackelope on February 02, 2011, 11:46:46 AM: Quote from: Hyde on February 01, 2011, 09:01:52 PM
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.
;)
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Hyde on February 02, 2011, 05:00:15 PM: Quote from: jackelope on February 02, 2011, 11:46:46 AM
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.
;)

Ask Cy Happy of Ray's River Dories about Whitehorse. He'll tell you his wood boat is the reason he can maneuver so easily though Whitehorse. So many lane changes required. I haven't personally ran the oars through Whitehorse, but have ridden through it in an aluminum boat, clunking and clammering all the way. But don't get me wrong... I'm with you on the future ownership of a wood boat. Love 'em, but never again. I'm liking the idea of one of those pontoon style rafts personally.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: jackelope on February 02, 2011, 08:45:34 PM: I have a small pontoon raft and it rocks....like a little go-cart on the river. I would really like a bigger one one of these days.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: walt on February 02, 2011, 09:20:55 PM: Oh boy don't get me started. :chuckle: I have a 14' cat as well. NRS frame Aire pontoons set up for fishing but pull the front casting platform and thigh bar, reconfigure the seats and hit the white water. It's awesome for low water or stretches with no access. It gets blown around in the wind but it bounces off anything. I'm looking for a raft next. I think I have a problem.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: CastleRocker on February 02, 2011, 09:39:18 PM: We don't have any big whitewater around here where I live and fish, so I'd rather be warm, comfortable, quiet, and happy. For the Kalama, Lewis, and the Cowlitz, wood is the way.

If I was going to go fish somewhere that had some whitewater, I'd go strong, loud, cold, and grey; aluminum.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: fishcrazy on February 03, 2011, 08:51:52 AM: I have a 16' Cataraft that I biult my own frame for. 16'x26"Sotar tubes. It is great for fly fishing in Montanna but to much trouble for local rivers. Thinking about selling it.

Kris
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: fishseeker on February 03, 2011, 09:29:08 AM: I ahd a 17' wood Eastside in 78. It had a motor well that caught water bad.Was a bear to row.Had a 14' Clacacraft.that rowed nice. Presently have a 16' glass I built Myself. its never seen a river. Just lakes.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: BLR 243 on February 03, 2011, 09:44:03 AM: My first drifter was an old Eastside bathtub went over rocks well but tracked bad next was a Fishrite 16' rowed good and my last drifter was 16 ' willie guide boat with all the trick stuff. Only fished it 3 or 4 times then sold it too much work never anybody to go with bought a Lowe 16' Roughneck 45 jet Merc runs in as little as 2" of water.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: YoterHunter on February 03, 2011, 08:32:04 PM: i have a custom built 16 ft glass boat wouldnt trade it for eany other boat. they slde over rocks alot easer then alum and wood boats plus when you hit a rock its not as load.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: bowtech721 on February 04, 2011, 09:08:15 AM: I have a little 13' glass Lindstrom boat (built up in canada) that is nice for what it is but im in the market for a new 16 or 17x54 and am 90% sure im going with a willie. After all the guys ive talked to and all the makers... like literally all the makers that i could find im sold on the value that the willie seems to be. For the quality of boat they produce their drifters are reasonably priced if you stay away from all the bling.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: fishcrazy on February 04, 2011, 06:19:21 PM: Quote from: bowtech721 on February 04, 2011, 09:08:15 AM
I have a little 13' glass Lindstrom boat (built up in canada) that is nice for what it is but im in the market for a new 16 or 17x54 and am 90% sure im going with a willie. After all the guys ive talked to and all the makers... like literally all the makers that i could find im sold on the value that the willie seems to be. For the quality of boat they produce their drifters are reasonably priced if you stay away from all the bling.

Good choice. some good deals on used Willie DBs lately. I personally like the 17'x54" the best.

Kris
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: SkookumHntr on February 04, 2011, 06:27:40 PM: Quote from: bowtech721 on February 04, 2011, 09:08:15 AM
I have a little 13' glass Lindstrom boat (built up in canada) that is nice for what it is but im in the market for a new 16 or 17x54 and am 90% sure im going with a willie. After all the guys ive talked to and all the makers... like literally all the makers that i could find im sold on the value that the willie seems to be. For the quality of boat they produce their drifters are reasonably priced if you stay away from all the bling.
-Is your boat that little green one?
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Bullistics on February 04, 2011, 10:57:44 PM: Old Boat 1984 16' Clackacraft
New boat 2009 17' Wille boat
I love the way the willie boat tracks and responds, but I do miss the way the glass boat slid over the rocks in skinny water.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: Angus on February 05, 2011, 11:48:50 AM: I've had all 3 wood, glass and aluminum. The wood boat was what I learned on and it was fun but too much maintainance for my liking. The glass boat was a late 80's Clack, long before the tunnel hull and I put that boat through hell, handled all the peninsula rivers no problem and was nice for launching where there was no launch or dragging across rocks and gravel bars. It didn't however track very well (IMO) and wouldn't be my 1st choice if I did alot of plug pullin.
The Aluminum (Riverwolf) was the cadillac of the fleet, had all the bells and whistles. Awesome rowing boat, handled great, pulling plugs was a breeze. That being said, A few times either dragging it through shallow water or across gravel bars to get around downed trees, I wished it was plastic. Even with Coat-it on the bottom aluminum will never slide across rocks like the plastic boat did.

Next fall I plan on buying another DB, I would like to test drive a tunnel hull Clack to see if it actually performs as advertized, if it doesn't or I can't take 1 for a spin, I'll definitely be buying aluminum. :twocents:
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: bowtech721 on February 11, 2011, 09:06:18 AM: Quote from: SkookumHntr on February 04, 2011, 06:27:40 PM
Quote from: bowtech721 on February 04, 2011, 09:08:15 AM
I have a little 13' glass Lindstrom boat (built up in canada) that is nice for what it is but im in the market for a new 16 or 17x54 and am 90% sure im going with a willie. After all the guys ive talked to and all the makers... like literally all the makers that i could find im sold on the value that the willie seems to be. For the quality of boat they produce their drifters are reasonably priced if you stay away from all the bling.
-Is your boat that little green one?
yup :) Any of you guys ever been in a steensen? I know they arent made anymore but theres a few floating around on craigslist and i was maybe gonna go look at one out of curiosity but i cant seem to find much on them other than that they were built in woodland.
Title: Re: If you row, what is your preference...?
Post by: klickman on February 11, 2011, 09:39:12 AM: The best rowing boat I have ever rowed was an old beat up wood boat. The next closest to that boat is a glass hyde. They are definatley the sports car of drift boats. You can't beat how comfortable a large metal boat though. I have an aluminum hyde and an aire superpuma. The raft will go anywhere but not nearly as comfortable as the aluminum boat. All my friends have glass hydes and they row a lot better than the aluminum boats but I don't feel as bad hitting rocks in a aluminum boat as I do in a glass boat.

KLICKMAN