January 03, 2016
By Fly Fisherman
A drift boat may be the most expensive piece of fly-fishing equipment you buy this decade. Like choosing a spouse, it pays to look around, as the wrong choice can be costly. Drift boats aren't just fiberglass or aluminum anymore, and more than materials, it's the design, features, and rowability of the boat that matters. If you're spending your recreational time in the boat (all day for weeks every season) it should be both comfortable and appropriate for the water types and the seasons you prefer to fish in.
Choose Your Ride The best drift boats are made from high-density polymer, inflatable PVC, fiberglass, or aluminum.
Boulder Boat Works CRT $6,000 Boulder Boat Works uses a high-density polymer (plastic) instead of fiberglass or aluminum to mold its boat hulls. According to general manager Steve Ehredt, the hulls are stronger than fiberglass, and quieter than aluminum, which also sticks on rocks. Ehredt says the polymer hulls are virtually indestructible and that while Boulder Boat Works has a lifetime guarantee on the hull, they've never actually had to repair a hull due to regular river use. Our tester said 'this boat is responsive enough to thread through even the tightest rock garden, but tough enough to take a big hit when your newbie buddy is on the sticks. ' When the company first produced polymer boats, they had wood detailing that thwarted the low-maintenance of the rest of the boat, so Boulder Boats Works created the Convertible River Taxi (CRT) — an all-polymer boat that's also available with built-in Yeti coolers under the seats.
Beam: 74"
Length: 15'10"
Weight: 360 lbs
boulderboatworks.com
Clackacraft Eddy $9,000 What's different about Clackacraft fiberglass drift boats? The hull. While most glass boats have a smooth, flat bottom, Clackacraft's Tunnel Hull has a large funnel that starts at the stern of the boat and tapers to a smaller diameter as the tunnel moves forward. Two smaller tracking channels along the outside also help the boat track straighter in the water. Clackacraft's newest boat — the Eddy — also has Clackacraft's GulfStream hull, with dimples like those on a golf ball. The dimples create a layer of turbulence that envelopes the hull and reduces drag through the water so you can row more effortlessly. Our tester rowed the new Eddy 16 in low water on the Madison and said 'the boat is nimble and maneuverable in skinny water. Inside, the rod holders are slick and easy to use, and everything else is smartly arranged so it's right at your fingertips. '
Beam: 78"
Length: 16'
Weight: 320 lbs
clackacraft.com
NRS Clearwater Drifter $6,000 There's something to be said for thinking outside the box. NRS is attempting to do exactly that by combining the comfort and rowability of a drift boat with the high-floating packability of a raft. The result is the new Clearwater Drifter. Shaped with the profile of a conventional drift boat, the Clearwater is the world's first self-bailing, inflatable drift boat. It inflates to about 9 psi so it is completely rigid, and it draws less water, rides higher, and slides through shallow boulder gardens better than a standard drift boat. It has a collapsible, portable frame, so you don't need a trailer like a regular drift boat. It's easy to transport via car, plane, or even USPS. It takes two people about 45 minutes to set up and inflate the boat.
Beam: 82"
Length: 17'
Weight: 315 lbs
nrsweb.com
Pavati Legacy $10,000 Would you buy a car where you have to jump in through the windows? That's how Bo and Luke Duke (The Dukes of Hazard) used to do it, but when you are getting up there in years, it's nice to have a working door. The Pavati Legacy is an aluminum drift boat with front and rear latching doors to solve the problem of getting in and out of a high-sided boat while wearing waders. For rowers, there is an extra-sturdy adjustable foot brace, and a quick-adjusting seat system that helps you easily distribute the weight in the boat for easy rowing. The Legacy comes standard with a motor-ready transom for big West Coast steelhead rivers, and has rod tubes that can hold 14' Spey rods without breaking them down.
Beam: 61"
Length: 17'
Weight: 365 lbs
pavatimarine.com
