Alas big dreams die hard. Definitely would appear that a cataraft is the way to go, even out in Va. Thanks guys for the feedback, probably for the best to have put the drift boat dream to sleep before dropping some hard earned dough.
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 4:29:48 PM UTC-4, Rob Snowhite wrote:
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 4:29:48 PM UTC-4, Rob Snowhite wrote:
ATB is not rock friendly. I dont take mine anywhere where rocks stick out of the water. Mostly lakes and tidal estuaries.
Sent from my iPhone--Hey All,This post is a bit of a retread but just wanted to get people's advice.I've been on a few drift boat trips now and have really come to enjoy the experience. I'd heard the adage before that the challenge of navigating a river in a drift boat can be as, if not more, fulfilling as actually fishing the same water, and I can definitely see why. With that said, it appears that the general wisdom for DC area floats is to go with a raft or pontoon. I plan to keep the boat out near Charlottesville and use it primarily for floating the Shenandoah for smallmouth and the Jackson for trout. I may bring it out here in the spring for a month and strap a 25-30hp to it for the shad run rather than get to fletcher's at 6:30 am for a boat, but it'd primarily be for fishing in western Va.Reasons for a drift boat:1) I would like a boat that can comfortably fit 4 guys. I play golf at a resort near Charlottesville alot (which is also the location where I would keep my boat) and would love to do one day on the water, the next day on the course. The rafts I've seen appear to only allow for two passengers and one guy working the oars. Sure, I could bring two friends everytime but golf and guys weekends are more fun with a full group.2) While drift boats are obviously primarily meant for fishing, one that allows for a decent sized motor can also serve as a reason to hangout on the water and just crack a beer.3) It's superficial and not the best reason, but I just like the look and feel of drift boats far more.4) I don't plan on going on any kind of whitewater beyond class I (maybe class II but doubtful).Reasons for a cataraft or pontoon:1) Safety. If I ram into a sharp rock on the upper Potomac, a raft is better equipped to not hurl me and my passengers headfirst into the water.2) Versatility. It appears that rafts afford access to more water and can float in really low flows, like the Shenandoah in late summer.3) Cost. While I've found some used drift boats for <4k, rafts appear to be more reasonably priced.All of the above information was just gleaned from conversations with proponents of one style or the other, as well as online research. So if I'm off, definitely let me know.I'm primarily interested in the so called "power drifters", especially the Stealthcraft ATB. I rowed one a few weeks ago in UP Michigan and had a blast. Love the versatility of the easily removable engine and the boat maneuvered really well for a hybrid. Not looking to break the bank (I know Boat stands for "break out another thousand"), so probably gonna buy used, either way I go.
http://www.tpfr.org
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