Drift boat what is

So careful here. Narrow canyon, high gradient rivers can be suicidal in a drift boat or at the very least only done once. Some rivers have a very short floating season for drift boats like the Gunnison, due to depth, width and flow, so advantage raft. Like going to the back road rivers, wilderness multi day floats, think Smith River Montana, advantage raft. Big western river with hoards of goretex and wide open runs and riffles, and you want to take your quiver of ultra fast graphite rods, think Missouri River near Craig, advantage hard bottom.

The obvious advantage goes to raft — they are almost indestructible. If you go the hard bottom route, fish and float the easy stuff first and get those skills down rather than destroying your ride. Drift boats are tough, but can sink surprisingly fast, rafts will never sink. Both styles of boat come in a variety of lengths and widths. Aluminum, fiberglass, rubber, framed and un-framed, high side, low side.

You can get them used or new with a trailer ready to go. There is plenty of walk-around space, two-way foot rod trays on either side to fit more than enough rods for three anglers fishing assorted rigs, and the line keeper for the front angler is the best on any boat I tried. One of the downsides is the lack of built-in dry storage, but on my last trip in the Adipose Flow we comfortably fit three anglers, a dog, Yeti 45 cooler, Patagonia boat bag, and a large dry bag without issues.

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Get Digital Access Not a Subscriber? Subscribe Now. A drift boat is a variation of an ocean dory boat that has been modified for use on inland waters. It is a rowboat with flared sides, a flat-bottomed and shallow draft with a distinctive curved hull and pronounced rocker. There are different variations of drift boat available for specific uses. For example, the Rogue River Dory drift boat has greater carrying capacity than normal while the McKenzie Dory drift boat is better able to ride rapids.

A dory boat was used as a cod fisher in open waters and was launched from a mother ship. It was notoriously unstable in challenging open waters due to its flat-bottom hull and shallow draft. For more information on the dory boat read this article. A drift boat, which is often still referred to as a dory, has the classic dory design features but with modifications that make it better able to handle river use. It was first used on the the McKenzie and Rogue rivers in Oregon.

Historically it was widely used as a fishing and hunting boat and as a river runner. Flyfishers will brave rapids using drift boats, sometimes navigating their way on rivers in convoy formations. You can see a drift river running in the video below. Drift boats are also used for hunting and boat camping though it is not as popular for these activities as it is for fishing. Using a drift boat offers the angler good vantage and better reach, something that wade fishing simply cannot recreate.

The flat bottom hull design of a drift boat means it is exceptionally stable in calm water. It is easy to stand on the boat to cast-off without losing any stability. A drift had similarities with a Jon boat see our article on Jon boats here , but unlike a Jon boat, a drift boat has elevated seats like a bass boat and is a different shape.

Unlike a Jon boat a drift boat can handle choppy water fairly easily and can be used for river running. The shallow draft of a drift boat means it can be used in very shallow water without losing stability and without running the risk of damaging the bottom of the boat. If the water is deep enough to use oars in then it is deep enough to use a drift boat.

However, the curved, upturned bow allows the boat to also cut through choppy water and ride rapids unlike a Jon boat. The Pavati can be plumbed for heat and I've even grilled on the bow! I would have to say it's nearly the perfect boat right down to doors in the sides for my "less than athletic clients". This is not any kind of sales pitch this is real world experience from a Master Maine Guide who has run drift boats since on a nasty, rocky little river At some point, all of us have to make a strategic retreat.

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