Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

All Blog Posts (418)

Needing some help!

I have a beautiful 17' low side driftboat that I need to sell.What is the best way to go about getting this done?

Added by Jeff on July 24, 2009 at 3:09pm — 2 Comments

Hello

Im new to boat building and have started a Rapid Roberts style project. I have collected several plans off of the internet after reading Roger Fletchers Book really hooked on building one myself. I'm not new to wood just wood boats and dont mind doing my homework before getting started. Despite all that I have found the one measurement that eludes me is the width of the frames at the top of the riser ? .. please excuse the lack of correct terms I'm still learning… Continue

Added by Glenn Gaither on July 5, 2009 at 4:30pm — 6 Comments

I met Veltie Pruitt's grandson

I had some plumbing work done on the house and the guy doing the work saw the rapid robert alongside the house. His name is Travis and he said his Granddad was Veltie Pruitt. He even has one of the first boats built by Veltie. I suggested he check out this website. I didn't get any contact info, but sent him this website through the referral service I found him through. I had fun talking with him and I hope he joins this site so we can stay in touch.

You out there yet, Travis?

Added by John Marshall on June 16, 2009 at 3:41pm — No Comments

My first drift

We camped at Nehalem Falls Campground over Memorial day and on Saturday morning I jack-knifed the trailer and slid the boat down the Beaver Slide. I was fearful at first, but with the exception of some green bottom paint on the rocks at the bottom of the 100' bank slide, all went well. My friend Dave went along for moral support and did a little fishing, as well. The drift to Roy Creek boat ramp was slow going. Locals said the water was at Winter levels, but there still was not much water in… Continue

Added by John Marshall on June 15, 2009 at 3:19pm — 5 Comments

The Story of the GEM

What better place then Woodenboatpeople could there be to share a never before told Grand Canyon McKenzie drift boat story and to share the construction of some remarkable replica boats?

Dave Mortenson has a permit for a Grand Canyon river trip with a 2011 launch. Who is Dave? Well, he’s hiked more of the north side of the river in the western Grand Canyon then most anyone alive, having been hiking there yearly since 1961. He first ran the Colorado River in Grand Canyon as a wee lad…

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Added by Tom Martin on June 5, 2009 at 7:00pm — 13 Comments

Weekend Boat Progress (5.31.09)

Hey everyone,

Thought I would post a few pics taken this weekend.

I managed to get the floorboards fit using the barrel bolt method. So basically each floor section can be popped out by simply releasing 2 barrel bolts. I built a mount for the barrel section into the frame itself, and then mounted the receiver section on the bottom of the floor slat stringer. You can see it better in the pics. I still need to sand out the floor boards and get them oiled. Eventually I would like… Continue

Added by Jason Knight on June 1, 2009 at 5:00am — 6 Comments

Just for fun

Click in the water area of this image and you can feed the fish.… Continue

Added by Randy Dersham on May 29, 2009 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

McKenzie Wooden Boat Show makes local radio station!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO KPLU's SHOW ON WOODEN DRIFT BOATS

This year is the 150th anniversary of Lane County, Oregon. As part of the celebration KPLU is doing a series of mini documentaries on local areas and inventions that have make influenced Lane County. One of them is the McKenzie River Drift Boat. Click on the link above this photo of Greg Hatten and Jess Burns on the water… Continue

Added by Randy Dersham on May 29, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

She's Just Old

Think of all the wonderful things that you know of that are old. This list may change through the years so I will start at the beginning. When you're a kid, it's your dad. When you're a teenager it's that senior that you wish you had the guts to talk to. When you get a little older it's the finer things in life, cheese, although I don't drink, wine. I also understand a good double malt is always better when it has aged. For those of us who love the Nation's past time a particular ball park may… Continue

Added by Jesse Ronnow on May 18, 2009 at 8:00pm — 4 Comments

Oarlocks

Looking for a good place to buy oarlocks, etc. that isin Northern Idaho or Washington. Has anyone done business in that area that could offer the name of a retailer?

Added by Richard on May 12, 2009 at 8:06am — 1 Comment

Company Store - WolfPk Outdoors

I would like to announce that we have just launched our company store - www.wolfpkoutdoors.com

This online store is a result of working with www.saracione reels and Anderson Rods, to develop an e-commerce storefront for products Made In Oregon. These men are amazing craftsman, and once you discover the quality and performance of their equipment you won't consider fishing anything else.

Added by Joe Palanuk on May 11, 2009 at 12:26pm — No Comments

New Progress Report 5.11.09

Boat progress from the past week.

Thought I would post some progress this morning... took a few pics yesterday as I was cleaning up... Probably would have moved a little further yesterday, but it was Mother's day so I called it early.

The horns are on the kneebrace and rough sanded to take the hard edges off.

The flyline deck is fit and about ready to be varnished.

After carefully measuring and re-measuring I drilled the frames to accept the seat pipes for the… Continue

Added by Jason Knight on May 11, 2009 at 6:33am — 6 Comments

Progress Report 5.5.09

Been mixing steelhead trips in with my boat building so progress has slowed a bit.

During the next few weeks I plan to get after it pretty good. We saw lots of boats on the river producing fish - which motivated me to get to work!

Here are a few pics of the latest work done on the boat. I have the transom and stem cut to the shape I want.

The casting deck, horns and knee board have all been fit into place. I used a slightly different approach to how the fly line deck goes… Continue

Added by Jason Knight on May 5, 2009 at 6:00am — 3 Comments

Henry's Fork Browns

The action is picking up on the Henry's Fork of the Snake, It ought to be great fishing the same time as AJ's boat show in Wilson. The Salmon flies should be out and the big fish too.

Added by Dan Burr on April 30, 2009 at 6:17pm — 6 Comments

Photo preview of the 2009 McKenzie River Boat Show and Float.

So many people helped pull this years show off. We had our best press coverage ever with KLCC doing a mini documentary on the influence of the McKenzie River Boat and our local newspaper covering the event in this mornings City/Region section. This awareness will go a long was to spark a wider knowledge of the importance of the McKenzie River Drift Boat and get us started on a historical museum.… Continue

Added by Randy Dersham on April 26, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

Thanks for a wonderful time!

Greetings everyone!

I just wanted to thank all that helped make the boat show on Saturday such a great time.

From the float down the river, to the barbeque and beer.

The conversation and cameraderie were a delight to participate in.

(Oh yeah, and the boats! Almost forgot.... way cool...)

Thanks especially to Randy and Debbie for their wonderful hospitality as well as for all of the work it took to arrange the event. You guys are really… Continue

Added by TJ Weiss on April 26, 2009 at 8:56am — 3 Comments

Webbing not Rope

Hello All,

So I decided to go with Webbing instead of rope as some of you suggested (Thank you). I was able to use the all of the same dimensions on the seat as were used with the rope which was nice. So far I have noticed that there is less "flex" in the webbing which makes for a nice tight seat. I have not put "a lid on it" yet for the boxes on either side of the seat, but there are coming... need to get some hinges. Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

Jesse…

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Added by Jesse Ronnow on April 19, 2009 at 6:39pm — 5 Comments

Steele boat shop, 72357, Drift boat

My brother-in-law has had a drift boat sitting in his driveway for a few years. Today he told me I could have it if I wanted it. I hooked onto it and made it to the first tire store and had to replace one tire. I did not get much of a look at the boat until I got it home (four hours later). I looks identical to the boat featured on the 2009 McKenzie river Festival cover. It has a plaque with the name Steeles Boat Shop and the stamped number 72357. A quick examination of the boat shows it will… Continue

Added by Dale Mickelsen on April 13, 2009 at 9:33pm — 6 Comments

Progress Report 4.11.09

Happy Monday fellas...

Well had some time the past week to work on the boat.

Finally turned her over and started working on the rails and stem/transom angles.

As of the now the rails are glued on with the holes drilled for the bolts to pass through... I will install the bolts after the rails are varnished. I pre-varnished the one side of the interior rails because it seemed impossible to get at the area after it was attached. I did not want to varnish before assembly… Continue

Added by Jason Knight on April 13, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Self bailer

has anyone put a self bailer in there ribbed boat. Am I screwing my self on wieght by decking out my ribbed boat (boat to be) construction has just resumed and this is a question I am pondering

Added by chris bissonnette on March 30, 2009 at 1:45pm — 10 Comments