Hello perch, great post, thank you. Well, this is just an idea and the way i do things sometimes but if money is no object, i'd hire a guide that uses the type of boat you're talking about and watch every move he makes from launch to take-out. An overnighter would be good too i'd think. You might even be able to get a lot of drift boat instruction if you mention that learning about them is a large part of your reason for the trip.

Best case scenario i'm thinking, would be to do the float trip on the Upper Missouri, that way you'd know what it takes to safely navigate the waters of your fantasy. Remember, this is just my idea of how i might go about it. I have been in driftboats too btw and even did some of the rowing, but not so much as i'd shove off from the bank of the Mainstem Umpqua and go for a few days float. There's just so much more to it than meets the eye of the observer. Hope this helps some and i'm sure experienced drift boaters are going to chime in.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose