Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Midwest Drift Boat Design - First Time Builder
Getting ready to kick off boat #1. Need some assistance on what to build.
I live in Michigan and plan to float the rivers out here only. I'm looking to carry three people (myself and two people) plus gear for a day trip (translation: beer and sandwiches/grill!). We currently use 8' pontoon boats to float to spots and then shore fish. I expect that a majority of our fishing will be the same method (float and stop) - hence the need (I believe) for lower sides to get in and out easier. I'd also like the option of mounting a motor for the occasional trip up the bigger rivers around me.
I have a copy of Roger Fletcher's book and have read it several times (great book as most everyone else has stated - learn something new every time I read it). I also purchased a copy of Don Hill's 17' Fly Fisher. However, as I read more on this site and elsewhere and study the Hill plans, I'm concerned that the Hill boat is too much of a McKenzie style (high sides and too much rocker) for the rivers I'm planning on fishing. Lately, I've been considering Spira's 16' Yukon design which he states is more of a "midwest" (less rocker/lower sides) design. I've contacted a member on this site who has been very helpful in answering my initial questions about Spira's plans (thanks again Mike) and built a great example of a boat for my area.
With all of that being said, I have the issue of what course to take. Should I try to modify Hill's design to lower the sides and reduce the rocker to better suit the Michigan rivers, purchase the Spira plans (requiring far less modification), or some other solution? While Jason's Kingfisher is a huge drool-inducing masterpiece, I believe it is better suited to be boat #2 for me.
Appreciate any advice provided. I'm anxious to get started.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Kappus on
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Hi doug
I too am a Midwest / first time builder. I live in Ohio and will be floating rivers in Michigan Pennsylvania and Ontario. I chose to build the Montana boat builders guide boat. I have some of the same concerns as you do, but I figured I'd give it a go and see how it works for me. I am coming up on two years build time and am almost done finally. The stitch and glue method was fairly easy to do and I think the boat is turning out awesome, but if or when I build another I think I will do a framed boat.
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For three people, Michigan rivers, and occasional need for a motor, seriously consider the 16' Rapid Robert in Roger's book, or look back at drifting pram at this site for a large pram AJ has in Jackson Hole.
Also, look at the Rocky Mountain Trout boat at Koffler boats. It is aluminum, but very similar to the pram (skiff) AJ has. Depending on your skills you could model, and then construct your own.
The prams have greater displacement than a double ender with transom, lower sides, and less rocker.
There are always trade-offs.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on
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Tatman Boats once offered a 17' X 52" Lowside Convertible that looked to be ideal for Midwestern rivers. Perhap, given sufficient interest, Randy Dersham may make plans for that boat available.
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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on
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True Jonathan.
I'm trying to have the plans available by January. Doug, you can shoot a note to Jason Knight here on the forum. He has one and uses it in the MidWest.
It's a low side 17x52 with reduced rocker and a little extra flair to keep the boat floating high. The front seat and the rowers seat both are on sliders so you can row with two people in front or move both seats forward and put one angler in front and one behind the rower.
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Sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. January is a long time to wait but it may be worth it. Thank you and I look forward to checking out the plans when they're available.
I saw a few pictures that Jason posted on his page....I'm assuming that's the boat. It does look nice!
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Yes, that is the boat. He purchased a kit and did a great job with the build.
I've closed the kit shop for now. Sanderson, my son, is finishing up RT school and doesn't have the time, I'm back to the game business full time. We couldn't keep up but there wasn't enough business to push hard on kits.
I'll keep you in the loop.
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Thank you. For what it's worth, I'm not interested in a kit, just a plan I can use in my area.
Along that line, I may be over simplifying it, but I've been studying several plans (two from Roger's book and the Hill plans). I'm tempted to build a combination of the boats using a strong back to set the rocker and a blend of the hull dimensions from the various designs to serve as a pattern for the ribs.
All of the boats that seem close to what I'm after appear to me to be generally the same shape with side flair being among the biggest differentiators. Since I'm not going to be risking m life on some of the "widow maker" rivers out West, it would seem that a blended design would work on the tamer rivers of Michigan.
17 foot length. Somewhere around 52 inches of chine width at the widest point. A transom wide enough to hold a motor and add displacement to hold a passenger in the back. Give the sides and hull plan the right "look" to my eye and I think I'd have something workable - or a sorry jumble of driftwood in the making!
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Permalink Reply by Dave Barnes on
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All of the above are great. I used the Ken Hankinson Drifter design from Glen-L. I liked the interior without all the ribs. I added a little length to the 14' design and it's very roomy for 3 people with great storage.
db
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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Hi Doug,
I have the 17x52 convertible from Randy. I mainly float the PM, AuSable trophy water and Muskegon occasionally for swinging flies from the drifter. It handles like a dream and can carry lots of gear, including the dog.
I wouldn't run a motor on it though. I am going to build a power drifter one of these days to fill the power river boat role. If I had to have only one boat right now here, I would build a Rapid Robert and run a motor on it when necessary.
What part of the mitten are you from?
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Right on. Keep me posted on what you decide to build.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on
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Jason,
You take that big boat on the PM? That has got to be tight in places right?
I would second a square-ender or drift pram design. lots of payload, room. Knock down the rocker on it or a similar design, you don't need much rocker on those sandy rivers. Keep us posted on your build!
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