Don Hill High Side 16 footer

One question:

 

What are the advantages/disadvantages to the Don Hill 16 ft high side model vs standard?

 

I know more plywood to do the sides of the boat due to the high sides and it will weigh more but what are the advantages?

 

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Martin Romano on April 9, 2011 at 8:54pm
Does anyone happen to have pics of these two boats next to each other?  If not I may just have to build both so folks can see the comparison and then I can decide for myself which I want to keep since the wife will not be okay with me filling the garage with boats.
Permalink Reply by Russell Turpin on April 10, 2011 at 7:00am
The high side design is better for whitewater use..and the sides 2-3 inches higher add a bit more weight capacity
Permalink Reply by Daniel Martin Romano on April 10, 2011 at 7:34am

Russell:

 

Why better for whitewater use?

Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on April 10, 2011 at 8:05am

Hey Daniel,

I have a couple of pics of a DH high side next to a standard 16x48 that is not a DH. The smaller boat is a little lower (one inch if I remember right) than a standard DH in the bow.

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Russell Turpin on April 10, 2011 at 8:11am
The higher sides = dryer ride. The late Derald Stewart's first boat was a don hill 16 high side originally built per plans as a framed an open boat. Derald later removed the frames and modified the boat to a completely decked self bailing boat for his personal use.....Grand Canyon trips with big water. The added height on the sides also created more room in the below deck storage hatches. These boats get partially submerged in those big waves.......but if you are using your boat for fishing, why would you want the extra weight, deeper draft and increased wind resistance. I would first consider the way in which the boat will be used the most and then choose a plan that fits that use
Permalink Reply by Daniel Martin Romano on April 10, 2011 at 8:23am

Awesome pictures Mike thank you.  I do like the high side and think that is what i am going to make as the wife and kids will want to remain as dry as possible.

 

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on April 10, 2011 at 9:08am

Daniel, Russel had a great point. What a drift boat gets originally built for often changes as your skills and desires change. As your passengers desires and passions change their activities do too. All of which means you get to build a variety of boats! Good luck with your build and good questions to ask! Your questions and hopefully our answers will help others that eventually read these pages.

 

Happy Waves to you,

 

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Scott Hepler on April 10, 2011 at 9:27am
I think these guys are right on when they say you need to think about the water you are floating. My first boat was a hi sided boat. It was awesome in bigger water, but my version of bigger water was class III since I use my drifter for fishing and not white water. It was very dry and very agile. That is because most high sided boats have more rocker. A couple of tradeoffs is that with that high side and rocker you dont have very good visibility over the bow. You will have to stand or turn the boat to see lines down the river. They also tend to draft more. The major trade off is windage. Those high sides and that rocker makes for some good sails. And the opposite is true. My current boat is a low side version, only 20" at the oarlocks, much less rocker and it has been, in my opinion, the perfect drift boat for fishing. It drafts a lot less, tracks great, much better in the wind, excellent visibility for a drifter. And is still totally dry for the rivers I run.

Good luck
Permalink Reply by Daniel Martin Romano on April 10, 2011 at 10:12am

Thank you everyone, your answers and insight are great.  I am sure I will have more questions as the build progresses.  I will creating a web page of my own to post progress and hopefully help folks that struggle where I end up struggling. 

I do plan to run some pretty big water IV+ but the river 5 min from my front door is flat and slow and wind can blow like a son of a b**ch.  I also want to put a motor on for duck (possibly steelhead) seasons.  Am a bit worried about the rocker being to much on the ends for the motor to reach the water.  I have plans in  mind for a dog ramp so the pup can get back in the boat.

On another topic can the fly line deck be easily beefed up to hold a 65 lb dog.  My thought was that might be a great place for the dog to sit while in the blind.  Oh and does anyone know of any duck blinds or plans for blinds for a drift boat.

Permalink Reply by Scott Hepler on April 10, 2011 at 10:36am
I have always fiberglassed the underside of the front casting deck. Both of my boys like to ride up there, one is 100lbs, the other is 60lbs. I used 3/8 and 6oz glass on both boats. 11 years no problems.
Scott
Permalink Reply by Terry E Walsh on April 10, 2011 at 10:06am
WIND....is the problem if you live in Wyoming or Colorado! Otherwise if not to windy you might not get so wet!
Permalink Reply by Daniel Martin Romano on April 10, 2011 at 10:15am
I live right on the edge of wyoming.

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