Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Maiden Voyage...
Well it's official... the boat has made her maiden voyage!
I am quite pleased to say she was everything I expected and more.
Christine and I made the trip - and it was important that she be with me the first time out - she encouraged me to undertake the project, and was super helpful all the way through. Thanks Christine!
Also a big thanks to Randy and Sandy at Tatman... I appreciate all the help! I really do think this is the prefect boat for what I want to do... thanks for taking the time and being patient. I was hooked after the boat show - glad we could make it happen.
We had the best time camping, floating and fishing. We floated some sections of the Big Manistee river here in MI. We managed some smaller trout - but our fishing was hit and run because we were testing the boat and more or less just pleasure cruising most of the days.
We arrived up at our camp site in the evening and relaxed a bit in anticipation of the next days adventure. Needless to say I was excited and had dreams of epic trout fishing and drift boating into those hard to reach runs to get after them... The morning came fast, and after some breakfast and final preparation we were at the boat launch looking at the river... I backed the trailer down and the boat slid quietly into the current - almost as if she couldn't wait to get off the trailer and get to work. It was a good sign. After a couple words of blessing and a splash of good Michigan brewed Pale ale across her bow - it was official. The boat was christened and in service.
I popped the oars in the locks... Christine gave me the all clear and we pushed off the gravely shore into the swift current. I looked back at the launch as we drifted out and knew there was no turning back. Boat building is a sickness. I put the chine into the current on the ferry angle, a pull on the oars and we sliced across the current. A wood boat is the sports car of drift boats.
The rest is history. We floated and fished, ate drank and were merry - basically the best time I could have imagined. There are few things more satisfying than floating down the river in a boat you built. Anyone who is on the fence about building a boat - Do It!
Here are some pics of our float and launch. Enjoy.
Thanks for looking.
The entire photo album is here (there are some random pics - but lots of boat/river pics too.)
http://gallery.me.com/abstract_72#100218
Let me know what you guys think.
Jason
I am quite pleased to say she was everything I expected and more.
Christine and I made the trip - and it was important that she be with me the first time out - she encouraged me to undertake the project, and was super helpful all the way through. Thanks Christine!
Also a big thanks to Randy and Sandy at Tatman... I appreciate all the help! I really do think this is the prefect boat for what I want to do... thanks for taking the time and being patient. I was hooked after the boat show - glad we could make it happen.
We had the best time camping, floating and fishing. We floated some sections of the Big Manistee river here in MI. We managed some smaller trout - but our fishing was hit and run because we were testing the boat and more or less just pleasure cruising most of the days.
We arrived up at our camp site in the evening and relaxed a bit in anticipation of the next days adventure. Needless to say I was excited and had dreams of epic trout fishing and drift boating into those hard to reach runs to get after them... The morning came fast, and after some breakfast and final preparation we were at the boat launch looking at the river... I backed the trailer down and the boat slid quietly into the current - almost as if she couldn't wait to get off the trailer and get to work. It was a good sign. After a couple words of blessing and a splash of good Michigan brewed Pale ale across her bow - it was official. The boat was christened and in service.
I popped the oars in the locks... Christine gave me the all clear and we pushed off the gravely shore into the swift current. I looked back at the launch as we drifted out and knew there was no turning back. Boat building is a sickness. I put the chine into the current on the ferry angle, a pull on the oars and we sliced across the current. A wood boat is the sports car of drift boats.
The rest is history. We floated and fished, ate drank and were merry - basically the best time I could have imagined. There are few things more satisfying than floating down the river in a boat you built. Anyone who is on the fence about building a boat - Do It!
Here are some pics of our float and launch. Enjoy.
Thanks for looking.
The entire photo album is here (there are some random pics - but lots of boat/river pics too.)
http://gallery.me.com/abstract_72#100218
Let me know what you guys think.
Jason
Views: 374
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Great job all around, on the boat building, the documentation, the sharing and the credit given to your best supporter! Keep us informed. By the way which of the boats boats did you build?
Rick Newman
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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This is a 17x52 McKenzie Inline
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Permalink Reply by Mark Griffith on
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Congradulations Jason, what a beautiful boat. It's been great following your progress and seeing the finished product. I only hope my boat can come close to turning out as nice as yours.
Tight lines, Mark G.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Finnell on
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Thanks for letting us come along from start to finish. Great job she's a beauty !
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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on
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Yeh!!! Very well done. The boat looks better in the water than it did in your garage... and it looked really good in the garage. I'm glad you left the natural finish, too... the grain is so nice on your wood - would've been a shame to cover it up...
Can't believe the "dog" didn't make the float, too. Glad Christine joined you... she looks like a natural on the sticks.
See you on the river.
GH
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What dog are you talking about Greg?
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Haha - Yeah Greg... what dog are you talking about?
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Permalink Reply by PATRICK M CLEAREY on
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Jason:
Great pics, great job. Can't wait till I'm at the launch. Unfirtunately my first mate is a girly girl. But she may humor me on the maiden voyage.
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Permalink Reply by Jesse Ronnow on
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Jason,
Looks like a great time and what a beautiful boat. Enjoy the rest of the summer with her. Since I know you are already thinking about it.... what' the next boat? ;) Oh wait maybe that's just me... I'm jonesin for it.
Jesse
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Thanks guys... it has been a fun process... another boat?!?! hehe - I will need to log some hours with this boat and decide what the next logical addition would be... and of course stay out of the dog house in the process. ha
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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on
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looks good brother.
We'll be bringing an armada of wood boats your way this fall. Heading up to Grayling for some cast and blast mid October. Three wood boats in tow.
Might you join us?
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I would be up for that... Keep me posted!
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