Drift boat build

I needed to fab up a roller for the rear of the boat. this assists with loading and unloading at unimproved launches.

Side story time:

I mentioned to one of the contractors that I work with that I needed a piece of 2 1/2" pipe to make the roller. His name is Tom. He told me he would look thru his scrap pipe pile. He asked for my address and told me he would drop off a piece in the next few days.

Anyways, a day goes by, while at work I get a call on the radio from a coworker wanting my location to meet up.

Mark (coworker) shows up with a "100 watt" grin tells me "Tom called and wanted me to tell you that he just got done laying some pipe at your house". "Want to tell me about that"? I guess you had to be there. He thought he was some funny shit, and it was.

 

Working on the rowers seat/bench. I didn't like the way the walk thru style looked. I decided to hack off the walk thru side and just bolt it to the floor. I just looks cleaner to me. The main reason I constructed it previously was for side to side rigidity. This boat does not need it. It is plenty rigid and strong. In addition, we don't have any white water rivers in this state.

I cheated for the seat bottom material. The usual material is plain old rope. I used a 20' winch strap. I can make it tighter or looser...and you never know when you might need an extra winch strap.

 

Installing the floor for the rowers portion of the boat. Trying something different. The front floor section is attached via stainless steel screws. T his section I decided to try plug welding the sheeting to the supports below. After grinding flat, I really like it. I hope it stays put.

 

The rear section is getting the same floor style as the front. I plug welded this sheet down as well.

Another screw up. My sheeting was not wide enough, so I had to make edge trim extensions. No big deal, again, its getting carpet or some heavy coating.

 

Fabbing up the thigh brace. The idea is you place one of your legs into the cut out. This enables you to maintain balance while standing. They work very well.

The radii of the edges matching the beer can was completely coincidental.

 

Nice work. Are you going to integrate some rod holders in there as well? I floated the Colorado on Monday.

 

Eventually. The customization's the best part.

Lucky bastard. Our salmon run is in full swing. I'm stuck at work for the next 8 midnight shifts.

 

I wanted to know what the boat weighed. I picked up a cheap game scale. The boat is balance between the 2 chain falls with the scale supporting half the boat. I was happy. It came in under 400lbs.

 

And this is where it sits. I won't get a much of a chance to work on the boat for some time. Thanks for playing along. The video is my first take. It is what it is.

Kirk
Out

 

@Pigpen Check this out!

 

Yeah, customizing the boat is definitely the best part. Our brown trout should be spawning soon. Here is a picture of my rig. Most people run rubber out here because of the rocks.

 

Nice!! Have you tried using shallow water drift oars? Very good to use in shallow, fast riffles. Easy to make, too. They are simply a bent blade set at an angle to the shaft so more of the blade is in the water than with a traditional oars in shallow water. We used to just bolt a rectangular board to a used oar blade at an angle to make our own, but they are commercially available now- flycraft and several other vendors make them.

 

I haven't tried any of the shallow water blades. I'm currently using Sawyer Duramax blades. Had some Cataracts before that. I usually don't get into the boney stuff too often. This was just a little shoal that I back into to fish the run right next to it. Always a trout willing to eat in that hole.

 

What river and run was the pic taken on? Wish I was there!!!

 

...and there was the point my thread was jacked...

Just kidding, I could give 2 shits what you guys want to talk about as long as its river fishing related

Please continue. Loving the river pics.

 

project is looking nice and clean. Good Work & keep pics coming.

 

This years' salmon run is pretty good.

 

Nice boat, good work!

 

It's on the Upper Colorado in between State Bridge and Two Bridges. The run is just this little 15 ft run that most people row past. I personally call it the bottom of the ninth because it's right next to the take out.

 

It sort of took a turn there for a minute. Wasn't trying to hijack your thread, just sharing my passion for floating. Glad to see there are others on here as well!

Are you going to put a rear casting brace on it as well?