Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
wood vs aluminum
Here's a question; Is there a different feeling in rowing an aluminum dory vs a wood dory? (Specifically a briggs.) There certainly is a different feeling between rowing wood oars vs aluminum oars. I realize that we are all feel a bias toward wooden dories. I also realize that each individual dory has its own personality in rapids... lets just say generally speaking.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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How about comparing a 3/4 ton heavily sprung truck versus driving a Corvette? Having rowed, glass, aluminum, wood, non-self-bailing rafts and self-bailing rafts that's my opinion. Rowing my Tatman is wonderfully freeing, when I am in it with a light load I can move all over the river and can almost play with the waves like I used to with my Perception Dancer kayak or my Dagger Encore single whitewater canoe.
Wooden oars, even heavy Smoker's are much more lively than aluminum in my opinion. Aluminum is simply a lever, wood is an artist's brush with which I can manipulate the water. I don't run pins and clips and I am able to rotate my oars as needed. I can use them to brace my boat or scull my boat sideways if needed. Your mileage may vary!
Rick N
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Permalink Reply by David Jensen on
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I an biased, owning 2 Keith Steele woodies. That being said, I agree with Rick's comment. I wouldn't want to row aluminum in Class III or IV water if I had the option of the more responsive wood boat. At home on the McKenzie, I row my best fishing friend's aluminum boat probably 4 times a year for half the float, on some Class 1 water. Just no comparison; he loves my boats more than I! That being said, wood has its deficits v. aluminum. Hitting rocks is one. The most significant in my experience is in refinishing. Actually, I get 6-10 years between refinishing. If you can keep a woodie out of the rain and, more importantly, out of the sunlight, the refinishing is a minor deal. Just build a boat shed, or move your partner's Suburu outside and store your boat in the garage.
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Permalink Reply by lhedrick on
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Aluminum drift boats are very tough. Very stiff and a bit heavy.
They get cold and they got hot in a way glass and wood dories don't. Hit a rock and it wouldn't hurt anything but people will hear it a mile away. Park it on top of a rock and it won't want to slide over it. You can float and aluminum boat all season then take it home, park it all winter, let it get filled with snow and leaves and next season it will be ready to go and you don't even need to hose it out if you don't want to. It will never develop rot.
Would I want one, no but thats just my opinion. If all you want to do is fish and the hot/cold issue doesn't bother you, you can live with it sticking to rocks then an aluminum boat will likely serve you well and last for as long as you will and then for 5 more people.
Aluminum drift boats are great for a lot of people.
Aluminum oars, I have rowed those things thousands of miles on boats owned by my friends. I hate those things.
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