Rick Newman

Male

Spokane, WA

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Ellensburg, WA
About Me:: I spent years of guiding and running 2000 lb rafts on Lower Main Salmon, also white water kayaking, solo whitewater canoes,
Boats I own:: Wenonah 18.5 Odessey Kevlar canoe, Bronco XL Pontoon Boat, Framed style 14' unknown manufacter wood boat, 16' 6" Tatman kit.

Comment Wall:

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Jeff Wilson

Hey Rick,
yeah, that was a fun float and a nice day at Randy's. I love it there.
When I got to Spokane my buddy and I went over to West Medical Lake and we fished the day, tuesday. How'd your doc appts. go? Anyways, my buddy caught a couple fat rainbows using a wet fly setup, I didn't get any nibbles on the spin casting setup I was using....no big deal. It was pretty windy at the lake, but I was able to keep in the lee of the hill where the eastern state hospital complex is built on.
As far as the Herreshoff, it's a cold molded(cedar)28' yawl, built in 1997. We've had it since 2007, keep it on a trailer tucked away inside in storage near Idaho Falls. Last spring I had it in a berth in the SF Bay area for a month and sailed out of the Oakland Estuary, Alameda, where I grew up.

Apr 30, 2009
mitchell

Rick,

fancy page man! It was fun to meet you too and a float sound fun...always. I've got summers off. 3 month to be a fish n and float n'. My vacation countdown is on, 6 more weeks. I usually fish and float all summer long. Meeting in the middle or me coming a bit further is fine too. If you might remember, I have a brother in Moses Lake area so that could draw me over your way too. I also follow Corvallis's college baseball wood bat team . The league has a few teams in Washington, another draw me over your way idea.

Keep in touch

May 1, 2009
Greg Hatten

Rick,
Got em... thanks... I just sent you a message. I really appreciate your work with the camera.... well done.
GH

May 3, 2009
Reed Baker

Thanks Rick and Randy,
I'm located in Tampa, FL. Not exactly drift boat country, but I it a place where exotic, shallow-draft flats boats are produced. Unfortunately, almost all are made of composites that don't include wood. I'd like to change that. At least for my own personal use. I think that some of the experience you folks have, especially with combining plywood with high performance core materials, could help me out. Your drift boats show a lot of similarities with some of the hard chine boats down here, especially the Maverick HPX (MBCboats.com). Although they look very different, you'll see the same use of card chine and straight planes that lend themselves to plywood construction. I have some drawings, lots ideas and lots of questions. Hope you're willing to tolerate a flats guy who loves the look and smell of wood.

P.S. One manufacturer make a few wood prototypes See here: http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/thread?id=434972&postid=5112567#5112567

May 22, 2009
Matthew Miller

Hey Rick, thanks for the welcome, looking forward to learning some new tricks for boat work, would eventually like to build another, looks like youve done some nice work. I prefer the fishing on the east side of the divide, but float the bitteroot, blackfoot, and clark fork.
Matt

May 25, 2009
Greg Hatten

I'll start another boat as soon as I finish the Obsession... still tinkering. Let's fish the Grande Ronde sometime.
GH

May 27, 2009
Dan Burr

Rick,

It turned out pretty good, the cleaning was the secret, I guess I was getting some kind of contamination somewhere that was messing it up. I'll send pics when I get the parts added to the boat.
thanks for all your help and problem solving skills.

Dan

Sep 14, 2009
Wil Bake

Been making progress on the boat...a little. Trouble is that it is hunting season so I am torn between two loves. Have still managed to make some progress though. Have the bottom ribs installed and new inside & outside chines cut. I need to dry fit the chines and finish them before I can move ahead. Should be able to get the bottom on this weekend...I hope. It's all down hill from there. I will post some pics soon. I just haven't had a chance to get that done yet. Still waiting to hear from the Corps...

Sep 14, 2009
Wil Bake

That is good that you get to help out the family. Some things are more important than a tight line...although there are times that there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I hear you on the school. That is what is really slowing me down. I have been back to school since late August and it has really slowed the project down. Also, Bird season has opened and my English Pointer has be "hounding" me to go...I got him on some grouse the other day. He did great. It was as if he never quit hunting all summer. Can't wait for chuckar hunting this weekend. I am going to try to make it up to brownlee reservoir area for the opener. Hopefully I can still get some work done on the boat too. My buddy Mack came over today and helped me for 4 hours. We got the chines cut dry-fitted. Added a coat of epoxy for the bottom, and epoxied the chines. Did some touch-up sanding to get ready for paint this week. With any luck I'll have the bottom on and fiber-glassed with in the next two weeks. All that will be left in the final sanding and paint on the upper half of the boat and varnishing the seats, oars, etc. With any luck. I'll be fishable by mid october. I still need to build my new trailer, but I can get than done in a weekend with the help of a couple of friends who have committed to helping me with it. Aren't friends great!!!

Sep 14, 2009
Rick Newman

Sounds like you are making progress on many fronts. I think that about thirty more hours should finish the work and "Grampa" will have a 48" wide shower with seats to enjoy. Parkinson's is a frustrating disease for him.

I haven't been bird hunting with a real hunting dog in decades, sounds like a great time.

Rick Newman

Sep 15, 2009
Lew Vaughn

Thanks Rick. I feel like I may be a little out of the "mainstream" as there is not much of a demand for drift boats in North Texas, Come to think of it, although my interests now tend to lean in a more traditional direction, there is not much hand built of anything in this part of the country anymore !! Pity. It just makes me more commited.
P.S. There is some beautiful handiwork represented on this websight LV

Sep 15, 2009
Lew Vaughn

Rant on Rick ! Believe me , I get it !! I'm sure there is a lot going on out there. I just haven't see a lot of it here. Dunno, maybe i'm looking in the wrong places. I've also had to make myself stop buying books and magazines so I can afford stuff like...wood @!!!! I tend do do more reading than actual building if I'm not carefull !! Later, LV

Sep 16, 2009
Wil Bake

Hey Rick! Just wanted to let you know of my upcoming fishing schedule. I should have the boat done by mid october...YEA!!! I may be heading up to the Ronde (WA side) around the end of October. That trip is still tentative. However, I will definately be going the weekend after Thanksgiving. There will be several guys there and we will only have my drift boat so some of us will be floating and some will be wadeing. I am temped to float from bogans to the mouth on an overnight trip. Let me know if you are interested and I'll keep you informed...

Sep 23, 2009
Wil Bake

Hi Rick, sorry I haven't got back to you sooner, but I have been super busy. I have to get the boat done... Well here is what is going on at the moment. I was hoping to head up to the Ronde on the 17th but that isn't going to happen. If I am lucky, I will try to head up the weekend of the 24th, but I just don't know yet. I'll keep you posted. Otherwise, I wont make it until Thanksgiving weekend. If you have a chance to go this month I would say go ahead and go because I don't know what I am going to be able to do. The fishing should be great. My buddy is going up on the 16th, I'll let you know the report. I added a couple pictures of the boat. You should check them out.

Oct 6, 2009
Wil Bake

Finally finished the boat! I'm taking it out this weekend to see if I can pick up some steelhead on the salmon. The weather is going to be horrible, but I can't wait. We are going to be headed to the Ronde the day after thanksgiving. Leaving town Friday morning (really early) and probably fish through sunday morning. They is going to be 4-5 people. Some will just be wading, some floating, so you can do either. We will probably end up staying in Lewiston. If you are still interested, let me know and I'll update you on the particulars next week.

Nov 12, 2009
Wil Bake

Well, the first float went great. My buddy and I had a lot of fun, the weather was nice, and we each caught a fish! The boat was great. We went through a few nice rapids in the class II or III range. Maybe it is just because it is mine, but think that this probably the best handling boat I have ever rowed!

Nov 16, 2009
Will Kimball

Hi Rick, Thanks for the words of welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. I really enjoyed taking them. I checked out your photo album. You've got some really nice shots and details of some fine woodworking. The one that really sticks in my mind is that green Keith Steele boat rebuilt by Woodie Hindman. (What a great name for a boat-builder/woodoworker) with the beer bottles in the holders, cushioned seats and cushioned brace at the front. That is just way more style that I have ever achieved. You might say that my boats have always been very "functional" which is shorthand for pretty spartan stuff! I may need to rethink that and add some trappings to my boat like that. The compass point inlay was great too. Looks like you got some of those photos at a boat show on the McKenzie? Is that right? Anyhow, talk at you later.

Will

Nov 16, 2009
Wil Bake

No prob on the newb. I owe it everyone else here to help out a fellow wood boater! It looks like there may only be 5 in my group, but I don't know yet. I wont know anything for sure until next week anyway. Odds are we would probably just meet you at Bogans on Friday morning the 27th or maybe Saturday depending on when you would be able to make it. We'll keep in touch.

Nov 17, 2009
Greg Hatten

Hey rick... here's my email address - greg.hatten@gmail.com Hope you can make it down here in a couple of weeks!!

Apr 2, 2010
Jason Knight

Rick,
It was a pleasure meeting you as well. We had a really fun time hanging around and talking with you guys. Learned a lot just looking around and getting ideas. The boat show makes we want to build another boat... we won't even go there right now. ha

I sure hope I get to go fishing again! haha that was funny.
See my angle on fishing is that I will just convince Christine to go with me... some summertime dry fly fishing on the AuSable... cold beverage in hand... haha. Well that's my strategy! sticking with it!

My email is: abstract_72@me.com if you wanted to send anything direct.

Again great meeting you, and hope to see you guys again soon.
Jason

Apr 28, 2010
Robb Grubb

Rick, I was enjoying your photos page and was thinking that you really take great pictures. Lots of detail and focus on the art and craftsmanship of all the boats out there... Cheers, Robb

Oct 14, 2010
justin nicola

barracudas love miller lite. actually, its just cool to see them crunch em. very sharp teeth. they're fun to catch when you're fun fishing, but act just like a kingfish (which i tournament fish for all summer) which can force you to spend a lot of wasted time playing them. a lot of people "gaff release" them, i generally save them for my neighbor who will eat any fish in the ocean.

Jan 12, 2011
Charles Brammer

Hi Rick,

I'm looking into building a Glenn-L scrambler and was looking for some good forms to be apart of to learn as much as I can about small boat building.

Jan 23, 2011
thomas m donnelly

Hey Rick,

Yes I know dale and Larry well. By the Cardwell Inn do you mean LaHood. Steve Wendell's place?

Where are you located?

Tom

Mar 28, 2011
thomas m donnelly

Hey Rick,
Larry took care of me "electrically" many times.
We have a farm in Cardwell down McKewn lane - just wild habitat for the pheasants, ducks and turkeys. We also have a home in the mountains 70 miles north of LA. half the year in each.
My best fishing buddy lives in Liberty Lake - we fish the CW and Snake alot.
Look forward to having you join us drifting the Jeff.
Tom

Mar 28, 2011
Jess Alexander

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the welcome. I posted some pics on my wall and noticed them being shown on the website's main page. They arent pics necessarily associated with a woodenboat website. Is there a way to turn them off? Or would you like me to take them down?

Thanks,

Jess

Apr 6, 2011
hal arneson

Hi Rick- Yes, My wife and I plan to come down and take a look at the boats this Saturday. It will be great to meet you. Since this is our first time at the festival, I think we'll just spectate, rather than bringing a boat.

I'm really hoping to get some tips on repair, as my older boat has some wood rot from water sitting between the UHMW and the original bottom, and I want to remove the UHMW and replace a section without replacing the whole bottom.

I'll be looking for others with similar experience. Can't wait to see everyone!

Thanks,

Hal Arneson

Apr 17, 2011
Bob Simoneau

Thanks, Rick, for the welcome and the tips.

I don't shoot, although T have had some experience with a bow, and I had carried a pistol as a Navy Corpsman, (both the.45 Colt 1911A1 and the Beretta 9 mm.) but couldn't hit the side of a barn. The Profile pic was taken at the New england Pirate Faire in Gloucester a year or two ago. (That's my alter ego, "Capt. Reginald "Rex" Drago.")

Jun 29, 2011
jim walker

Rick...thanks for the reply on my posting problems. I wasn't sure that note I sent had gotten through either. Now I know. I had written it off as being a nontechie and not advanced enough to make things work....anyway thanks! Jim Walker

Sep 3, 2011
jim walker

Thanks for the reply but classifieds still not working...tried three more times....Jim Walker

Sep 9, 2011
Roger Buchanan

HI Rick

Thanks for the inguire I caught the salmon on the pere Marquette Rive in Michigan this fall

I am just starting a Spira International Mackinaw Drift boat project and i have a long way to go,Im afraid the plains I purchased leave a lot for the imagination But i hope to win out in the end, if not i will have a $2000 bon fire to smoke some fish with

Nov 8, 2011
Stewart Cross

Hi Rick Thank You. Everything except the seats got multiple coats of Silvertip sanded with 220, then 4 coats of Epifanes clear gloss varnish with 320 in between.

Jan 8, 2012
Michael Rosso

Now you've done it, Rick.

I'll be bothering for information all the time, now. ;)

Feb 7, 2012
Ron Fritzke

Hi Rick, Thanks for the welcome. My wife and I plan to get to the Festival as well...I figure I may as well start out right. So many of the details of the boat are swirling around in my head; it will be nice to see a lot of boats and how different builders tackled them. I hope to see you there.

Apr 1, 2012
Ron Fritzke

The pictures are beautiful. I can't wait to see all of the boats in person. When you pull into the festival on your recumbent trike, give a honk on your horn so I know you've arrived.

Apr 1, 2012
Mike Falconer

Thanks Rick. I have used the all of craigslist thing, but interestingly enough I have found that it really doesn't do a very good job of finding all the listings. If I go to each city that I'm interested in and look up drift boats, I turn up twice as many as the all of craigslist listings. I don't have a clue why, but that's what I've found.

Anyway, the reason that I'm looking for an 18' boat is because I want to also use it for some crabbing and I guess that I'm thinking that bigger is better. I have a brand new 10 hp Nissan four stroke (weighs 88 pounds) to get aroun the bays with. I don't know...maybe a 16 foot would work. do you have an opinion on that?

Apr 9, 2012
Stewart Cross

HI Rick, The porter worked pretty well but i needed some help back up the hill,so i'm building #2 in my head and its electric, not sure how well it would work on bigger boats but we will see you then.

Apr 16, 2012
Michael Matthews

Hi Rick, thanks for the kind welcome. I will try my best to show up on Saturday. I too have done a lot of sea kayaking around the waters of B.C. It is a great way to see things. I don't know if my wife would be too keen on me building another boat. She gets sea sick just looking at a boat! I settled for wistfully looking at a fiberglass half hull of a McKenzie drift boat that I turned into a flower planter for the yard. It looks great and always keeps my mind on boats. A guy should keep his mind on the important things!

Apr 25, 2012
Chris Pickens

Hi Rick,

Wow, small world! I found this site and am on it all the time. I just bought my first drift boat and it has been quite a learning process. More then I bargained for really, but I have certainly gained alot of knowledge. I just fished the Kootenai for the first time back at the end of March. I floated in my pontoon boat, after shuttling myself by bike through an early morning snow. Beautiful, but no fish. Nada. Did come to some risers. Switched from my bugger to a Griffiths Gnat, and promptly put them all down in one cast. I wont base my judgement on that though. Hopefully, at a better time and with a newly restored boat! If it floats.... I added some photos.

May 6, 2012
Chris Pickens

Yeah, ran into some trouble. The CPES I injected into my drilled holes ended up leaking out of the seam on the outside. I think there may have been a repair there on close inspection. I was pretty downcast, but have come around. Maybe it was a good thing. Still a bit spongy, so I am waiting for it to cure completely. We'll see. I left my camera at work, but will update phots. I would love to float with some other people. My big planned trip for the summer so far is a walk/wading trip I am taking with my sister on the Selway. And of course, trying the boat out. I have been thinking of a "camping" trip on the Clark Fork.

May 9, 2012
Andrés Ramos

Thanks Rick, my english is very poor, but i`ll do my best to make me understand.

someone I know and I are developing plans to build a drift boat, more exactly a 16´ Mckenzie. Probably he is one of the new members. His name is Pablo Berninzoni.

Once I finalize the plans, I'll start to post the construction process.

Andrés Ramos

May 18, 2012
Pavel Filin

Dear Rick! Thank you for warm welcome! I'm gothering info on the types of boats used in Russia and trying to understand the routes of technology tranzition. So my goal is somewhat scientifical... May be someone will help to identify this or that type in other countries and places.

Jun 2, 2012
Pavel Filin

Dear Rick! Nice to hear some Russian! Hope your visit to Russia hasn't been a struggle...

You're wellcome to Saint-Petersburg! I'm working for the museum Icebreaker "Krassin" which is one of the most honored Arctic ships in the World and you're wellcome on board of "Krassin"!

As for the boat on the photo I'll be thankful if you post it on another blog! Send me the link when you post it please.

I think the boat is from Finland as well. This boat was used by the Tzar family.

Best regards,

Pavel

Jun 2, 2012
Pavel Filin

Dear Rick! Thank you for the invitation! It will be great to visit your country and I love fishing!

It's funny but the last time I had great fishing was in the USA! Two years ago I've participated in the expedition on the footsteps of Russian traveler Lavrenty Zagoskin in Alaska who described the life of Eskimo and Athabaskan peoples in mid 1800s when Alaska was Russian territory. We navigated the Yukon river from Tanana to the mouth and then to St. Michael on our kayaks. It was great adventure for about 800 miles and one month. Great great wilderness and amazing traditions of peoples in small villages impressed me! It was very interesting to find lots of Russian impacts on the lifestyle of the locals, lots of rus words, Orthodox traditions, log houses of siberian types etc... Fishing was very specific. Yukon is very muddy and it's impossible to catch something in it. But practically every small river which falls into Yukon is pure clean. It forms the line of clean water in muddy Yukon and this line is the Mekka for fishing!!! Lots of big sheefish, pikes and salmon! I used twisters lures. Several minutes was enough to feel our menu with delicacy. You can look for some photos here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.172038159479986.45378.1000... This expedition was the part of the project on creating the Russian America museum in Russia in the home estate of Zagoskin http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=172038576146611&set=a.17... who lived in Ryazan city 100 miles from Moscow. The project is in progress...

As for the Franc Josef Land I'm the member of the science commetee of the National Park "Russian Arctic" and FJL is the part of the the Park. But to tell you the truth I've never been there... Hope I'll visit it sometime. It'll be interesting to watch the film you've mentioned sometime. Thank you for the info on Tegethoff replica - It's very interesting for me! Do you have their contacts by chance?

There's some problems with the e-mail you've provided me... "Comcast block for spam"...

Jun 3, 2012
John Homer

Thanks Rick for your comments. As for the boat, It took about 6 months to build not sure how many hours. I built that one in 2009, it weighs about 70 pounds without the oars, yoke and middle seat. Its based on a design from a builder in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The design originated in the 1840s and was used by hunting/fishing guides to take the "sport" to get game. A great web site to tell you more about them is at www.guideboats.com/construction/ . These boats were originally planked with beveled laps and clinched with copper tacks. It normally takes about 500 hours to build one. I am currently working on building a 12 foot guideboat that will weigh about 45 lbs. I build 12/14/16 foot boats. If your interested on taking one for a test drive let me know.

Jul 10, 2012
John Homer

Thank you Rick, I was taught my a great craftsman in upstate NY. I owe him many thanks for passing his experiance on to me. As for the ribs I used spruce for those. The boat I am doing currently I am using Port Orford Ceder. The over lap for the ribs is how the original boats were built and works very well.

I hope your recovery is speedy and your back on the water soon. I would like to see your progress on your next drift boat. I am thinking of building one myself. Maybe we can go from a row sometime.

Jul 10, 2012
Paul Price

Thanks Rick for the welcome. I look forward to participating in future events.

Nov 10, 2012
Josh Bizzle

Thanks for excepting me on this forum. Yes I live in Lynn Haven Florida and bought the plans from Don Hill for my 16' standard. I've read a lot, watched a lot of video's and talked to a lot of people on wood boat building in general. I'm a carpenter by trade and always wanted to build my own boat and the McKenzie River Drift Boat is a boat with a very nice look and usability for this area. I have two sons almost grown and my wife and I wanted a boat with no loud motor and I knew this boat was the one I wanted. I'm almost finished and am at the stage of glassing. If I can figure out how to post pics on this site I'll do so. Thanks again.

Apr 9, 2013
Bill Craig

Hi Rick:

I saw the post on Project Healing Waters about your four vets from different conflicts. I am the Program Lead at Daytona PHW in the Winter and then head for Michigan and my drift boat in the summer. Thanks for being a part of PHW and helping the vets.

Bill Craig

Feb 1, 2015
Rodolfo Miguel Serra

Estimado Mr. Rick Newman: Ante todo quiero aclararle que si bien he remado por muchos ríos de mi país, Argentina, pescando en varios puntos del río Parana en busca del Dorado, pez muy combativo, no poseo un bote todavía pero quedé maravillado con el de Mr. David Payne ! Actualmente estoy viviendo en Joao Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil y quedé fascinado con Wooden Boat People, la cual descubrí por pura casualidad y en ella he encontrado el modelo que me agradaría construír, casualmente parecido al que tiene Mr. David Payne. Mr. Rick Newman, hermoso ejemplar de pez tiene su foto! Mis felicitaciones y lamento no poder escribir en su lengua, pue mi inglés deja mucho que desear. Ha sido un placer recibir este mensaje de bienvenida. Muchas gracias y hasta otro momento.

Rodolfo M. Serra

Mar 13, 2015