Dave Z Drifter - Hitting the Water

Thanks to everyone here, especially Dave Z.  Boat isn't complete but it is going in the water anyhow.  I still want to add the shelves on the sides of the seats like Dave did in his.  I also have to finish mounting my Bo's anchor release.  Just needed to find what works best for the seats before adding that in.  Notice the cooler is under the rower ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on June 29, 2012 at 4:37pm

Beautiful little boat!

You did a great job, & I really appreciete the functional approach to the seating & soon to be shelves.

What are the boats dimensions?

You guys are inspiring me!!!!  I did an assetts list, & it seems the only things I am short of for boat building are money (materials), time, facilities, & skills.  I think I have the rest :-)

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on June 29, 2012 at 6:24pm

That's a good looking boat!  Great idea with the cooler and storage tub.

Permalink Reply by Dave Z on June 29, 2012 at 9:24pm

Nice work Ron.  I like the cooler idea, makes use of otherwise wasted space.  Really nice.  I like what you did with the outer trim on the transoms at the top.  nice look.

Where and when will you have it out?  We're in a heat wave as you know, rivers are SKINNY right now. 

Vance- you can see full specs of the boat here:

http://www.thtchronicles.blogspot.com/p/zs-drifter-pram.html

Permalink Reply by Ron Shealer on June 30, 2012 at 4:37am

Just the lake so far.  Actually scoots around pretty good on the flat water.  Got a nice chain pickerel "trolling".  Threw the lures in and started rowing around the edge of the lake.  Going to put it on the main stem of the Juniata this week for some smallmouth.  I need to get it in some moving water so I can learn to row.  Delaware or Clarion will be next.

Permalink Reply by Ron Shealer on June 30, 2012 at 4:56am

I was checking your blog again.  That picture of your friend with the trout and the dog next to him is awesome.

Permalink Reply by Vance Wonser on June 29, 2012 at 10:21pm

Thanks Dave.  Beautiful & practical little boats!

Permalink Reply by Eric Loudenslager on June 30, 2012 at 8:18am

The pictures suggest you build using hybrid technique.  The inner chine and transom seams look to be an epoxy fillet rather than standard frame construction.  Is that how you constructed the pram?

Permalink Reply by Ron Shealer on July 3, 2012 at 5:17am

Yes that is correct.  It is sort of a stitch and glue along with frames.  The plywood is covered with epoxy and cloth.  The black on the hull is an epoxy graphite mix.  The fillets were done with the epoxy thickener and then glassed over. 

Permalink Reply by Dave Z on June 30, 2012 at 3:09pm

Ron,

let me know if you head over to the Clarion.  We probably can double date a couple of those drift prams.  I'd like to take a few photos of yours. 

That was a big fish.   If I recall we got two like that on that day.   Somewhere around 24".

Dave

Permalink Reply by Ron Shealer on July 3, 2012 at 5:18am

Sounds good dave.  I will check the water levels.  That would be a cool trip.

Permalink Reply by Roger Fletcher on June 30, 2012 at 8:37pm

Very nice job, Ron. She will bring you considerable pleasure, and with luck you will hook up her designer before too long.

Permalink Reply by Ron Shealer on July 3, 2012 at 5:23am

Thanks Roger.  I have this feeling that this boat is just the beginning of an addiction, I am already thinking about a Rapid Robert as I have been exploring some places where a motor would be nice.  I really enjoyed building it, it was almost therapeutic going out a hour here and there to work on it. 

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