Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Launching a DB down a steep hill

My drift boat trailer has a roller to aid in launching and recovering the boat from a standard launch site. But here in Michigan, many of the launches are down a steep bank with steps made of 8 X 8's. This means sliding the boat down the steps with a winch strap for control and winching it back up again. I built a Don Hill 14 foot plan and used epoxy and graphite on the bottom. It will probably be OK sliding up and down the launch steps but will get scratched up a bit. At least it is reparable with a little more epoxy. Anyone else have any experience launching wooden boats down similar type ramps?

Bill

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on December 25, 2015 at 8:40am

I haven't launched a wooden drift boat down this ramp, I would bet that the Helfrich Outfitters have. Google "Middle Fork Boundary Creek launch" to see a substantial ramp and a few rafts being loaded.

As far a graphite and epoxy on the bottom of drift boats in my experience it seems to be quite bulletproof at least on rocks and gravel. We haven't had as much water as we would like in Washington and Idaho so the rocks are more frequent. It is also easy to add more before the next season.

Rick N

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Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on December 25, 2015 at 9:24am

I hope to be getting to check out some of that action this next year. Might not hurt to carry a couple narrow long strips of some thin indoor/outdoor carpet. 2 pcs would work great, slide on one, set the next pc slide on that, then rotate.I think I`ll plan to do just that. Ya, we can do repairs, but less is more!! Ive also seen some nasty looking launch spots where they laid a couple runners down steps like on the Betsie, but thats a pretty good idea really.

Hey Dorf and myself are gonna put together a 2016 wooden boat outing and float here in Mich sometime next summer. Starting some planning now. We have a post set up on the Michigan Sportsman website

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/threads/2016-wooden-boat-ou...

Meet and greet, cookout, float, should be a good time. Need to get the word out. Might be a smaller outing the first year, but it should take off after that. Looking for input for locations, times etc. If your not a member sign up and post, if you are already just chime in :)

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Permalink Reply by David Jensen on December 27, 2015 at 1:12pm

I know the Helfrich clan has many times. About 30 years ago, Dave Helfrich invited me along on a Middle Fork trip where we rowed wood Keith Steele boats. Dave, his son Ken, JC Johnson, and I rowed boats, and there were several rafts. Ken Helfrich (Helfrich River Outfitters) and Jeff Helfrich (Tightlines) are still offering drift boat trips where some of the guides are rowing wood.

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Permalink Reply by Clay W. on February 1, 2016 at 1:16am

I know launching a new drift boat over rocks, gravel, or even sand is pretty nerve racking after you put so much time and work into it. But the epoxy and graphite bottom is really boomer. After one season, I could barely tell that anything had touched it.