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Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on July 8, 2012 at 11:35am

I think the pipe sliding design was a quick and easy way to adjust balance and weight distribution of the drift boats. Two folks in front, you can slide the seat back so you are not bow heavy. One person in front, slide forward so the boat is not stern heavy. If you are backrowing and holding in current fishing pockets, the more balanced the boat, the more effecient it is and the less you have to hump on the oars. Bow heavy feels like the boat wants to drag you down stream, stern heavy makes it squirly to hold in current and hence alot more work. With a balanced boat, a couple or three quick backstrokes, the boat pops up on a plane, holds nicely in fast water and will also move across the river like a spit in a back ferry. So I would think keeping the front seat adjustable is important but it all depends on the rivers you fish and how you use the boat.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher M. Gosselin on July 17, 2012 at 2:57am

Thanks very much, Kurt.....I appreciate your help...

Chris gosselin
New Hampshire

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Permalink Reply by Eric Loudenslager on July 8, 2012 at 4:05pm

You could replace the pipe with a wooden rail.  See the design of the front bench seat for the Honky dory and Beaver Tail at Montana Riverboats.  They are stitch and glue, but the concept would work for a framed boat.  Similar to the Ostrem (sic?) boats or the method Dave Z used in his pram.

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