Hello all,
I recently purchased a drift boat, and want to learn everything I can about caring for them, rowing, and safety. I don’t just want to hit the water and learn bad habits. I want to make sure me and my clients are safe, happy, and I want to become proficient at rowing.
Are there any books out there on the subject? How about web sites? Do you have any advice for a new boat owner? What can I do to keep the boat in good condition? Thanks,
-Jude
We’re having a clinic on floating, rowing, and boat safety taught by Banning Collins at our next Guadalupe River TU meeting here in South Texas (April 22nd). One of your fellow New Mexicans, Asst Atty General Frank Weissbarth will be our featured speaker. Contact me for details if you are interested.
In the meantime, check out two books by Neale Streeks: “Drift Boat Fly Fishing: A River Guide’s Sage Advice” and “Drift Boat Strategies: Rowing and Fishing Skills for the Western Angler.”
The best bit of advice I can give you is to air out the boat completely after each use and before covering it up for storage. Believe me, once that stink develops, there’s no getting rid of it.
The two books mentioned are worth reading. There is also a book by Dan Aslup titled, “Drift Boats, a Complete Guide”. The Clacka site has some decent rowing 101 on it.
The best way to learn is to go on a float with a safe, competent rower. Being safe should always be first, but when you have clients on board you really need to be careful. With clients, even a minor mistake can be taken as a lack of competence on your part.
Keep in mind that even in slow, “easy” water you can get in trouble. On way to get in trouble is to let go of your oars without pulling them up and out of the water. If a downriver oar digs into the bottom you can end up with a dumped boat. Also, when you drop the anchor never short line it. Always let out plenty of extra rope. I have seen a few boats get away when they where short lined. Two times the guide had to swim out to get his boat, once the boat started drifting away with clients in it. The clients had no idea how to row. Never drop your anchor in fast water, one of the best ways to sink a boat.
Have fun with your new boat. BTW, what kind did you get?
Thanks for the replies. I wish I could make it down for the TU meeting, but that is when my season starts to get real busy.
Fullwells, is it a mildew smell you are preventing, and how long do you have to dry out your boat before covering it?
flybop,
Thanks for the advice. What’s shortlining? I got a 17ft hyde drift boat with trailer and all the accessories. What do you do to your boat to protect the pain on the outside? How about trailer maintenence, and oar rights? Thanks,
-Jude
Riverdancer, find a friend that does know about rowing drift boats.
Go out on the river as much as you can with him and row him around.
Pick his brain on any questions that you can think of.
Next spend a season practicing what you have learned. By then you should be ready for clients.
If you start taking people out too soon, they are going to notice your lack of experience and getting them back as repeat clients may be impossible, let alone developing a bad rep with potential new clients.
Mistakes can kill people. Drift boats can be dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced!!
Clean out your boat everyday you use it and don’t forget to detach your anchor before driving off at the end of the day!!!
Rob
Short lining the anchor is when you release the anchor with just enough rope out for it to hit the bottom. When you do this your anchor rope will be vertical.
This is both dangerous and a good way to have your boat go downriver all by itself. Worse, your boat can go downriver with your clients in it!
When you drop your anchor always make sure that you leave plenty of line out, more than you think you need. If you short line your anchor all it takes is a light breeze, or a shift of weight in the boat for the stearn to swing out over deeper water. With a short anchor rope the anchor will just be hanging in the water as the boat floats away.
Also, when you park the boat for whatever reason, pull out a lot of line and put your anchor well up on the bank, preferably behind a rock or log. You will be amazed how easilly a boat can get away from you.
Another, even more important thing to remember, never, ever, ever drop your anchor in fast water.I had a boat get ripped into pieces right behind me on the Yellowstone last summer when the oarsman dropped the anchor in fast water. Gear was lost, the boat was deystroyed and one of the people on board was nearly drowned.
Even calm, slow water can hurt you if you get lazy and not pay attention. Get as much time in your boat with someone who truly knows what they are doing. Learn to be safe, know your water and get to the point where you react instinctively. If you need to stop and think about which oar to pull, you will get into trouble.
As a guide your number one responsibility is to safety. Then you can worry about the fishing.
All that warning aside, owning and guiding in a boat is a whole bunch of fun. Good luck.
Don
I too got to get some rowing in. I do great with my Cardiac, but, I need to get certified in Ashton Idaho to guide there and that requires a small trip down the river with two guests and beaching them.
Oar Rights. I don’t know if you would like them or not. Some people say they’re like training wheels. I’ve been rowing with them for years and I still prefer them as I can anchor, tie some knots, grab the oars and go. I also have a raft though. I think oar rights are just a personal prefrence thing. One reason to not have them on a driftboat is that they limit your range of motion and prevent some manuvers. I would probably not have them if I owned a driftie.
What kind of oars did you get? I like a medium legnth oar. One thing that makes life way easier is good oars, blades and oarlocks. I like the Cataract blades that are hollow, so they float while you’re not using them. I used to have the Carslile type ones and they sink like a stone which can lead to some problems if you’re not paying attention. You can be floating along and your oar on the downstream side sinks, gets wedged on a rock and something is going to give. The Cobra oarlocks are the best thing out there. They are so solid and attractive too. I highly recommend getting them.
Good luck with your boat. They’re pretty self explanatory. Just remember that if you’re going to hit something. Hit it bow first. That goes for waves, rocks, anything. You don’t want to hit anything sideways in a driftboat. Keep it clean and it should be fine. If you wanted something to constantly worry about maintaining you should have got a wood boat.
I use Park all weather bicycle grease on my oarlocks. It comes in a handy squeeze tube and is somewhat water repellent. One tube lasts me years. I grease my oarlocks whenever they start making noise again.