Nothin like a wood boat on the river... particularly if you built it yourself. Good luck - let me know if you get "stuck"... be happy to help.

I'm so excited about a new boat for Ivy! She'll need a life jacket before she goes on her first real fishing trip.

I like your photo album!

Tomorrow is B day!

Actually, let's say tomorrow is DB day! I am very excited!

Hi Jason, nice to see another Michigander, indeed. This is my second DB. Finished if a few years ago and am in the process of refinishing - which isn't nearly as exciting as the building phase. Perhaps we'll see each other on one of our fine trout streams this summer - should be easy to recognize! Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Hey Jason - thanks... it was a pretty cold and wet winter & I couldn't get the epoxy to set up right in the garage, so I had to "expand" the shop a bit. Not sure I would recommend it - I kinda asked for permission "after" I had the first coat of epoxy down.

I would love to have a "proper" shop as well - it's on my Christmas list, but I don't think it will fit under the tree. Just as well - I would probably never come out... but I'd have a whole fleet of Boats!!

Hi Jason,
Yes, I am in the early stages of building a 16 foot Tatman McKenzie drift boat with my son. We are still putting epoxy on the sides, and doing the other preparatory steps. I have already made several mistakes but I am optimistic about the project. We hope to finish in time for winter steelhead fishing on the Olympic Peninsula.
I am figuring out this interesting but complex web site. Are you building a boat at this time?
Dan Paull

Hi Jason,
I just found your pictures. Nice work on the boat and the pictures. They are very helpful to me in preparation for assembling the passenger seat which I hope to do today. I am sure you will enjoy your Forester. I picked up my kit and a new Baker trailer in Vida, OR and towed it up to Seatle with my old Subaru Legacy wagon through a bunch of snow and ice. Except for acceleration I couldn't tell the trailer was there. The unusual amount of snow we have in Seattle at the moment has really made me appreciate the Subaru. You have motivated me to take some pictures of my boat construction.
Dan

Hi Jason, The Penobscot and the Kennebec are the two primary rivers that I float. They are both great for salmon & trout. If you plan on coming out , let me know and I'll steer you in the right direction. I built the Rapid Robert last winter and I am now going to build another, but make a double ender out of it.Pete

Hey Jason... thanks for the comments on my new album. Those pictures were taken by a friend on this trip & he did a good job capturing some of the excitement. Running the river was almost as fun as catching bunches of half pounders... (immature Steelhead).
Greg

Hi Jason, Sandy and I are at the San Mateo boat show this weekend. I'm on my iPhone and can comment on this message but not get to my WBP email. I hope you see this.

I can send you pieces to fill in that space. I designed my seat to allow a large water proof ammo can to sit down into that open area. That allows me to takey stuff from the car to the boat and back quickly and keeps my phone dry on the river.

The Tatman seats did not rabbit the shelf bottoms. I think it would be cleaner if you did.

Jason,

I've fished all of those rivers at least once. The Ausable gets tight for a drift boat on the holy waters until you get to MIO. It's great at MIO. You'll have alot of fun. You are right about the wider boat and more gear and the ability to fish both ends. You made a smart move there. The low side is nice, especially at places like MIO where the wind is the worst! You'll have fun on the Muskegon in that boat.

Good move on the finish. Keep the photos coming, we all look forward to how it is going to come out (great, of course).

What kind of trip are you planning? If you plan on fishing, let me know. I may be able to steer you in the right direction. I live near Bangor and am starting my second boat. Trying to design it for the river I fish.
Pete

Jason,
Thanks for the note. Hope all is well. I have had 3 of the 17X52's. It is a great boat. I have run class 3 and class 4 in it and have not had a problem. It carries the weight well and pivots and stops as quick as you can pull on the oars. I used 8 1/2 ft. oars on my boats but 9 ft. would probably work just as well.

Jason, Regarding your question.-- With the cutout I use a 8 HP Yamaha short shaft that works great. I mostly fish stillwaters in the Bend area with the boat.
Have fun on your project!
Andy

Jason,

I quick, I just noticed said hello when I joined. Thank you, how is your boat coming?

Jason,

Yea I wasn't going to because I am planning building a new one in a year of so, but I started working a few things and one thing lead to anotherband her I am. It's been great though. Is this your first boat?

I found an unbuilt kit on Craig's List. The guy bought it and isn't going to build it. So...I will. A little trading, there goes the Dancer kayak and some cash and I will be starting on a boat! The older boat will be reapired when it warms up and sold. Too many surprises, I don't need two more major projects! Three years of kitchen and house remodeling is enough inside work. I am very jealous of your generous work space! What specie of fish eggs is your picture of? I have spent some time using a turkey baster sucking dead eggs from trays at the local hatchery and wondered what they were. Thanks for making me your friend.

Rick Newman.

Jason,
I am getting close to wrapping up my paint job on my 16 footer. Now that it is almost complete, I am seriously considering building the exact boat you are completing. The 17X52 will work great on our rivers over here and I can make convertible. How long has it taken you thus far? Did you epoxy/varnish everything prior to construction? Looks good...I hope mine turns out that well.

From the kit of course! When I finish painting my 16' I will have a better idea of how the paint works. Do you think it would be easier to paint the plywood before assembly? Do you think I would run into issues or have to apply another coat at the end?
It looks as though you will done fairly soon, no? Chat with ya soon....
Craig

Hey Jason,
I noticed your identification picture. Salmonid eggs? I used to work as a fisheries/fish squeezer biologist out of college in the late 90's and early 2000's for the US Forest Service. I performed the basic stream survey/snorkel survey stuff...MUCH FUN. Just checking to see if maybe you had done the same?
BTW how is the fishing up your way? Always wanted to give your region a 'looksy'.....'looksy' its a word I promise.....just dont look it up:) I hear good fishing reports from your area but the whole career thing now keeps me from major travel, but I do love to hear stories and reports.
Your project is incredible. Seriously. I plan to pick your brain a little for info and to re-read your blogs. Post pics when you are finished....I am most interested in all comments and resourceful information. Thanks for blogging.
Craig

Jason, I didn't catch that you left a comment, sorry. Yes I found a 2006 16'6" Tatman kit that had never been assembled. The previous owner just brought home it and stored it in a barn. Traded my old Dancer kayak and $750 cash for it. Meranti plywood, UHMW sheet and stainless fittings. Now I need to get the previous boat repaired and sold to afford the epoxy and such. Took the boat trailer from the older boat, removed the winch post and at the Home Depot in Bellingham made a flatbed trailer with two 16' 2 x 6's and two seets of 3/8" plywood. People thought I was crazy, but it worked well.

Will keep people informed on my progress.

Rick Newman

Jason , Thanks for the return information. This is the first time I have finished on a project like this. I agree about having it flat and pre finished ,but also did not know what I wanted when I started last year.. I got in to using System # products and decided to use their products. Clear Coat x 2 sand 150 grit and their spar varnish... unknown coats 2? 3? or more in some circles. Right now I am on hold for 2 weeks minimum for the epoxy to cure? with the 90s plus temperature one would think only a few days. Yes that was a long winter fly by the seat on my pants projest on the passenger seat . Thanks steve

Jason, Thanks for all the pictures and info on your build. I'm building two Don Hill 16' boats and was wondering what size (diam.) carriage bolts you used. The plans call for 1/4" but they look very small in relationship to the rails, are these the same size you used. Thanks again for the great follow through on your build.

Some Koi FIsh for you Jaybo!

Cool. Ask her to give me a call.

307 732 BOAT(2628)