Randy Dersham

Male

Vida, on the Mckenzie River

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Vida, OR on the Mckenzie River
About Me:: I'm hooked on helping people build their own wooden boat for white water. I live at Eagle Rock Lodge bed and breakfast on the McKenzie River which is run by my beautiful wife Debbie. I also co-own Tatman Wooden Boats with my son Sanderson.

My day job is as an executive in the computer games industry helping great games get made by very talented people.
Website:: http://www.mckenziedriftboat.com
Boats I own:: Five or six wooden drift boats

Comment Wall:

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Jim Rubino

sure thing, I'll get some canyon rounded up and post a few. great site, thanks for putting it together. talk soon, Jim

Dec 7, 2008
Packard Phillips

Thanks, I did begin the blog. I will add some pics and I really think this is a neat deal! great site! Pack

Dec 10, 2008
Craig Simon

Hi Randy. I actually finished it in June of '05. Pic was taken a few months ago while in the process (still ongoing) of re-finishing. The re-finishing is not nearly as enjoyable as the initial building, I'm finding! A whole lot of sanding and heating the garage to keep it warm enough for varnish - it was 11 degrees this morning.

Dec 16, 2008
Jonathan Clarke

Thank you! I first put the boat in the water in 2006 and have had nothing but tremendous fun with it since.

Dec 16, 2008
Mike Baker

Het Randy,
Thanx for the the comment. Yes this boat is for sale, I just put it on Craigslist but I don't expect much until spring. I would love to bring it to your show.
Are you guys still selling Plywood?
Mike

Dec 21, 2008
Mike Baker

Good to hear about the Meranti. I will probably check with you in a couple of weeks to get some.
Mike

Dec 28, 2008
Andrew Mentzer

Hey Randy,
Andrew Mentzer here....I signed up on wooden boat people...thanks.

Dec 31, 2008
Robb Sipler

Ain't that the Truth

Jan 1, 2009
Jason Knight

Here is a pic of what I mean.

Jan 11, 2009
Jason Knight

Randy,
I forgot about how you used ammo containers... I really like that idea.
Maybe I can find something that works at my local military supply store.
Where did you find ammo containers that fit?

Thanks!
-jk-

Jan 12, 2009
Mark Heskett

Randy
Thanks for the welcome. Looking at building a tateman to drift up here.

Jan 12, 2009
Tom Burton

Thank you Randy. I am building a 10' still water pram of my own design. It is kind of a cross between a pram, a sled and a jon boat. I am using 1/4" AC for sides and bottom. The only concern I have is the bottom needs make an 18" bend in 36". The sides and transom are 18" high. The bottom is flat and the bend starts 36" from the bow and needs to rise 18". I am waiting for the weather to warm a bit before I glue up the scarfs. I just tried to add a pic of a cardboard model not sure it worked. tb

Jan 12, 2009
Greg Hatten

Thanks Randy... is a 1/4" bottom going to be sturdy enough?? guess it depends on the water - suppose it would be OK for still water - but I'm not sure I'd want to take it on moving water over rocks... that don't move.... ??

Jan 12, 2009
Chris Flaccus

Hi Randy,
Thanks for the welcome. Yes, Flagstaff is the home of the GC Dories. My goal is to build one of those things this year...or maybe a driftboat. Being a boat building neophyte, I have many questions about designs, building techniques and materials, so I'm looking forward to any insite and advice I can get.

Chris

Jan 13, 2009
Sandy Pittendrigh

RE> plywood with Okoume core and mahogany (sepele?) faces
sounds interesting. I went to the world panel website and
didn't see it there. I'll have to call I guess. I'd like to buy some.

With your annual boat show, which brings so many people together
all in one place, I wonder if it wood make sense to try a
group order......If we could get 100 sheets of plywood delivered
to one spot, and then divied up to a dozen or more builders
who brought trailers with them, would we save any money?
Maybe not. I don't know. But plywood sure is getting expensive.

Jan 15, 2009
Greg Hatten

Randy,
Thanks for the nice comments on picture sequence of the Wild and Scenic. I like that last picture too because it makes me and my little drift boat look soo small in the grand scheme of the "bigness" of that run. It was truly a thrill to do that stretch in a wooden boat. I'm looking forward to a return trip - hope it's with you. GH

Jan 15, 2009
Jeff Wilson

Hi Randy,
We're looking forward to coming back to the Mckenzie, Cathy has a business trip to San Antonio on the 26th of April, so we're looking at flights for her from Eugene, but we hope to see you and Deb.
On another note, any time I try to upload a pic to the site, my computer locks up and barfs. I'm using Vista here on my laptop, is that the problem?
Cheers,
Jeff in Jackson

Jan 26, 2009
Jason Cajune

Thanks Randy, Unfortunately I won't make the show this year. I am taking a break from Livingston and myself and family will be moving to Glacier Park for the summer and running a boat tour location there. These are the boats I grew up on, built by the Railroad in the 20's; they are great old carvel planked larch on oak frames 45-63'. So I'll be going up mid may to do some work on the boats and get them ready to launch and will miss the show.
Here's some links to the boats:
http://www.glacierparkboats.com/
http://www.jpbellphotography.com/

Jan 29, 2009
Jeff Wilson

Hi Randy,
I'm not even getting to the screen to download, when I click to begin, the screen goes dull and locks up and I have to close the browser....probably something with wonderful Vista; I can upload pics when I leave replies to others, but I cannot load pics to my page. We'll figure it out eventually, no biggie. Hope winter is going ok for you. Cheers, Jeff

Jan 29, 2009
Sandy Pittendrigh

All good things must pass. My local lumber yard told me they
could get AA Marine Fir for 45 bucks a sheet, delivered.
I used to think fir was fine. If you were going to paint anyway,
who cares about all those plugs?

But then we heard about the guy who recently bought AA Marine fir
and it only had 3 pies.....and it broke when he bent it.
I think I'll buy a sheet of that stuff, just to see what it is.

Jan 30, 2009
Tony Cyphs

Thanks Randy! I have a 15' aluminum boat I fish for Springers/Steelhead in the Willamette below the Oregon City Falls, but would really love to build a wood driftboat for the lower Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.

Wooden Boat People looks like a great place to learn and enjoy the hobby. I'm looking at many plans right now, but will definitely be asking questions.

Thanks again,

Tony

Feb 11, 2009
Chris Patterson

Thanks for the welcome! You have created a very cool site. I loved wooden drift boats and it has been a real treat looking and the pictures and reading the posts. Nice to find similar interests.

Feb 12, 2009
Mark Heskett

Hi Randy
I' still pondering my drift boat. I live here on the Rogue at Griffin Park. I'm looking for a boat I can use as well will accomadate two other anglers if I needed to. I also want to be able to put a small outbord on it so I could motor to Finley bend and drift back to Griffin or Hog creek at those times when that is the happing spot and I wouldn't need a shuttle. It would be used for fly fishing out of and I would like it to be low sided so getting in and out in waders is easy. I would want knee locks in front and back. I like the look of steambent ones. i also like the folding chair you show on the blog site. If I ordered from you I would also buy a trailer and come up and pick up the package.
Mark Heskett

Feb 28, 2009
TJ Weiss

Hi Randy,
Thank you for the nice compliment. I'm getting to be an old hand at this sort of work.
;o)

I really like the forum page so I decided to join. Tons of great information from like minded folks. I appreciate that!
Cheers!
Tom

Mar 4, 2009
lhedrick

Hi Randy,

I have been around boat building for most of my life. Like you I made my living in the software business for almost 30 years. Network and server software.

Your (this site) is quite extensive. I have a few question if you are willing to share a bit of information.

What content system are you using and does it use MYSQl as the data store?

------
As for boats. I have designed some kayak hulls using some free software called free ship. Kayak hull panels are very complex compared to the straight lines of a dory. Free ship is a bit limited and the support is tough. I am hesitant to pay for the software license if I don't know what support I will have.

What software do you use to work on you hull designs?

Do you use shopbot CNC systems or something more high end.

Larry

Mar 11, 2009
Brad

Randy, the fact that you have this site available is great. It is a wonderful resource for people like me that know very little. kudos.

Mar 19, 2009
lhedrick

Randy,

Thanks for all the information. Before this site came along I had thought of using an open source content system for dory builders which I could host on my own server. But, open source software is almost never fully baked, the install process is usually a pain and I no longer have the energy for software after fighting it for 30 years. The pimpmydory site is just a raw HTML based site and takes too much time to fool with.

I had not heard of dyna cnc or pro chine. I will make some time to dig into them a bit. A while back I started evaluating Rhino but, didn't get very far.

Larry

Apr 9, 2009
Tom Martin

Hi Randy, thanks so much for your note. We were lucky to be able to capture the original boats lines right off the existing bulkheads. Since the decking was blown off somewhere on the ghost run from above Lava Falls to Lake Mead in 1958, we have a birds eye view of most of the inside of the boat. Drawing a set of plans for the GEM was straightforward. A lazer tool for cliff dwellings? How about that! Take care, yours, Tom

Apr 9, 2009
Reed Baker

Thanks Randy,

I just left the same reply to Rick:

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.

May 22, 2009
Steve Sobba

Thanks Randy for the welcome, will send photos as soon as I can. Steve

Jun 2, 2009
Steve Sobba

Randy added a few of last years construction. Will ad more soon. I am in the process of clear coating with System 3 epoxy . Steve

Jun 18, 2009
Steve Sobba

Randy, Steve Sobba again. Have my triaxal glass from Fiberglass Supply. We are having some warms days here... over 100 My shop stays mid 80s. What is the best way to apply this to the bottom...work time is limited just applying it not because of the temperature. I can't get it all applied in one work session. Using System 3 with medium hardener ... The bottom has 2 coats of clear coat and sanded. What is better... one coat over entire bottom and attach cloth....Come back later and fill in the weave with more epoxy, maybe a day or two or more before I can get back to it? Do I need to wait and pick a day when it can all be finished at one time? Or start at one end coat a small area, attach and wet out move on to anther small area come back when I can and continue until finished? What would you suggest. Thanks Steve

Jul 14, 2009
Molly Keener

I finally got some photos up! Turns out she's a '66 Cruisers! She is a project..

Aug 11, 2009
Kristina Graham

Hey, thanks! I'm a complete novice at woodworking but my husband can help. I'm sure it will be easy for Roger (the husband) to cut the piece. I've ordered a book, Drift Boats and River Dories: Their History, Design, Construction, and Use (Fletcher & Manning), that I hope will give me some basics, even if it's just learning the terminology.

Sep 21, 2009
Robb Grubb

Randy,

Have you come to any conclusions on the UHMW with the cloth embedded into it for adhesion to wood bottoms yet? I am still looking for ideas for a bottom for my new boat...

Cheers,

Robb
www.RiverTraining.net

Dec 11, 2009
Sean Watson

Thank you Randy.

I just aquired a wooden drift boat and I'm very excited to get it into the water. First step is trying to figure out how to add the UHMW to the bottom. I figured I could probably get a lot of advice on this forum.

Cheers,
Sean

Dec 30, 2009
Mary Mackenzie

I didn't get started... :>(. Will try again this summer...can't do much extra during the school year (I teach)...Dad and I examined it. No rot that we could find, but a broken board that man need to be replaced or compounded somehow. Somewhere along the way, someone painted the inside RED, so getting that out is going to be fun. I want to varnish it again.

Feb 13, 2010
Brad Dimock

Yeah, it looks like fun. Roger has mentioned you often as well.
Dopn't know if you can answer this, but...I was going to put my picture on the page but although it lets me chose a picture to upload, I'm damned if I can find a way to make it upload. Do you know how this works?

Feb 13, 2010
Brad Dimock

Randy-
I sent the Music Temple (Susie Too) blueprints to your personal email yesterday. Let me know if they arrived. I printed out a set for myself and they are about 30" x 43", at a scale of 1-1/2" to the foot. The second page has fine detail of the placement of all frames and decks, so this should cover your questions. Todd Bloch at the San Francisco Maritime Museum drew them, so it think they are spot-on. I would guess you could contact him there if you had questions.

It is a mighty strange design, neither a classic McKenzie nor a Rogue.

Oct 5, 2010
Chris Anderson

Thanks for the welcome - I have been watching this site since the development and have since been amazed and ecouraged. I agree that this site allows a lot of knowledge to be centralized and will surely help me in getting my wooden boat back into fighting shape. Thanks again.

Oct 11, 2010
justin nicola

great site. thanks for allowing me to join. hope i can answer half as many questions as i ask. just getting into boat building but this seems like a great forum.

Jan 11, 2011
justin nicola

also, i just wanted to say the aesthetics on this forum are top notch. i frequent four or five other web forums on boats and fishing and this one is far and away the most professional looking ansd easiest to use. the ability to load pics from my computer instead of some online account is great. no doubt it helps get more shots on the page, as we all know a story is more interesting w/ photos to back it. keep up the good work.

Jan 12, 2011
Bert de klerk

Hi Randy, this is a awesome site, great job, looking forward to the show April 23rd.

Mar 10, 2011
Chris Shadrick

Thanks for the welcome Randy!

I have been watching this forum for a while and thought it was time to join. It has already helped me out greatly. I just recently purchased a Don Hill Drifter and have been working toward restoring it.

Aug 3, 2011
Stewart Cross

Thanks Randy for the welcome and the advice. The boat is done and I will post some pics as soon as I can.

Jan 7, 2012
Jerry Sweat

Took this of you at the 2012 festival!

May 3, 2012
Brian King

While I was up in the woods cutting fire wood with a friend this very big young guy dress up like a policemen drove up in his Chevy pickup and started checking us out to make sure we were legal. Everything was going along great until I said that I could have been home working on my driftboat. That changed the whole tone of things. I said driftboat, he said driftboat? I said yes and the talk was on. You have a very nice son, very big nice son. He wouldn't even help us pack out those big pieces of wood, said something about having to go arrest someone for cutting wood without a permit. You came up in the conversation and the thing is I had just watch your YouTube video. Small world.

Mar 11, 2013
Hilary Hawken

Thanks Randy. I've been trying to contact you to see if I could buy some uhmw from you. I need 3- 10' pieces for chines and a 2'x2' piece for my stern area, are you selling any of it? Best, Hil Hawken

Nov 14, 2014
Chao-ying Wu

Hi, thanks for this forum. It's been quite helpful as my friend and I build our boat. Not sure where to post this question but will try here. If we tend to be careful people who treat our boats well, would it still be unwise to go with a very simple bottom, like Coat-it over epoxy finished 1/2 inch meranti? I wonder if lighter weight and careful rowing might be as good as more structural reinforcment? Thanks for your thoughts.

Jan 15, 2015
Craig

Randy,

My name is Craig Jacobsen and I am about to do another restoration on my 16x48 tatman.

First of all it has a plastic shield on the bottom which I want to replace with the graphite/mesh method that I have seen others on this site use. Where do I find it? At your shop in Nimrod?

Second I may end up breaking my white oak chine caps and mahogany rub rails while removing them to add some epoxy to some of the stress cracks in the plywood. I purchased these from Sanderson back in 2009 I believe. Finally I will repaint with Toplac.

Basically do you guys still sell chine caps, rub rails and the graphite/mesh bottom coating system that I am referring to. I live in Eugene and have no problem swinging by when I'm floating Blue River to Finn Rock or Finn Rock to Silver Creek. Or just drive up to chat.

Thank You for all that you have provided for me every time I feel my boat has taken too much punishment and I need it to look sharp again.

Craig W Jacobsen

Eugene, Oregon

541-852-6794

cjacobsen0@hotmail.com

Feel free to call or text or email.

Apr 19, 2016