Hi Mitchell

Ed Portz, former owner of Tatman Boats spent some time looking at it and even offered to buy it untill he scored the same model in showroom condition with the Hindman boat tag intact. It does have 10 ribs. The orginal joinery was very good, and has the look of being perfomed by a skilled craftsman. However there is no Hindman boat tag on the gunnel, and no sign that there had ever been one. Ed took some measurements and declared that it fit the lines of Hindmans boat exactly, Go figure. In my rebuild I've replaced 7 of the bottom frames and have used Rogers book for help on this. with a couple of exceptions all the angles and bevels match Rogers measrurements. My pet theory is that It could be a Hindman kit. I've yet to run into an old timer who has been in this boat. The boat should be ready for the Mckenzie Boat show this year and I would like to camp and row with the group. It is a great group of people who show up.

Mitchell,

The previous owner had posted a flyer at the Caddis Fly. I was really just looking for the trailer as I had just bought plans to build the Freestone Guide model. After rowing this a boat a few times and learning about the history of it I knew I had to restore it.

Bring your boat to the show. I had mine with me when I went to the first show, I was reluctant to show it but Randy persisted and had it off my truck before I could protest. There are lots of boats present that never see the water, but if you have a '68 Woodie that you use hard during steelhead season, it'll be really neat to see.
Brian

What the heck, I grew up in Alsea. I make at least one trek a year there to fish steelhead and keep the wooden boat tradition alive. Bud Lyons

Thought that being 100 was pretty cool, maybe I'll win some sand paper for my boat. Talk to you later. Dan

Mitchel,
Thanks for the comments about the pictures. Boating has always been a great way for me to live. Not only did I guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon but on the Rogue as well. I lived in Forks, WA for a lot of years and some of the rivers there are quite rocky and steep. I was lucky in that I got to boat with a lot of the people who were some of the best in the industry.

Herb

Mitchell, Are you bring that piece of history down to the Festival and Float on the 25th?? Hope so - would love to see it on the water!!
GH

Are you kidding me... a 68 Woodie will turn heads at a show like this. The older the better... it's a pretty good group that turns out for this - you'll have a great time, I'm sure. Look forward to meeting you and your boat.

Bring some of that Steelhead scent with you and please lay hands on my boat... it needs a little luck. We've been a little Steelhead starved this year, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, work keeps getting in the way of fishin & boatin!!!
GH

Yup, the Vida gauge is your key. I was on the McKenzie yesterday chasing the March Brown hatch... it was ripping along pretty good but the hatch came off anyway... pretty cool.
McKenzie will probably be at around 4,000 cfs for the float - my biggest challenge (and yours too, I think) will be the temptation to "fish" instead of "float" and turn a one hour float into a 3 hour fishing outing.....
GH

That's a good plan!!
I did a lot of "trial and error" on my seat rope - I just went to the garage and measured - mine is about 1/4"... wish it was just a little thicker - I may play around with that one myself... it's comfortable but I have to tighten it often - maybe that means I should do some "adjusting" to my eating habits. The more I eat, the more it sags... hmmmmm

Mitch, it was great to meet you and share stories. Your boat looks great. Hopefully I will have a boat on the water this summer. Perhaps we can meet somewhere halfway between Spokane and Corvallis and do a fishing trip. Good luck fishing.

Rick Newman

Mitchell,

It is 1' tubular climbing webbing. I picked it up at a local climbing shop in Idaho Falls call Idaho Mountain Trading, however, I am sure that you can get the same stuff at any climbing shop. So far its great. The tubular design makes is soft. I very happy. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any further questions.

Tight Lines,

Jesse

Mitchell,

Yep that's exactly it. If memory serves I got 39' but don't quote me on that, you may want to get more just to be safe. As for the turnbuckle yes all I did was pinch it, the stuff is really soft so no big deal. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any further questions.

Tight Lines,

Jesse