Question about drift boats?

[MadisonBoats]

OK, my dad would kill me for posting this... Anyone remember the great Budweiser Inner Tube Race on the Clinch River? I was amazed from the stories that no one drowned. However, it sure sounded like one heck of a good time!

This is my dad preparing his raft in the fields right below the dam. He told me that he gave a guy a ride back to the dam and when they pasted the guy's car; he just jumped out of the truck while it was still in motion and tumbled down in to the field. He got up and walked on down like nothing happened...

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by Rodonthefly

Ok I have a question, not about types of boats but about drift boats. I row and don't use a motor.

As far as safty stuff what is required in a drift boat? i carry life jackets and have some small first aid stuff. But am I required to carry throw coshins, horns whistles and so on?

I have no idea, I have never been checked, but think it is just lifejackets. I carry nothing, and will deal with the citation when it happens. Call me a law breaker, but that is the truth. If you pitch in the Clinch with the water running with or without lifejacket, your life is in peril. Of course a lifejacket would help, but I don't plan on ending up in it, and rarely if ever am on it during high water periods.

[Wilson10]

Anyone have experience on a Hog Island Drifter?

[Troutman]

Originally Posted by Wilson10

Anyone have experience on a Hog Island Drifter?

Have a friend that used to own one. They are very comfortable, quiet, incredibly tough drift boats. I liked all the room it had also. floated some trout and smallie rivers in it. Nice boats.
Wish HI would build a flat bottom wide jon boat style boat with the same materials as the drifters.

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by Wilson10

Anyone have experience on a Hog Island Drifter?

I have never rowed one, but do not like their design. The chessy and cheap front leg brace is horrible in comparison to the Clacka and Hyde design, and I had heard there was some issues with the boat warping when left in the sun. The latter could be false.

Overall the interior layout is just not to my liking.

[Rodonthefly]

Ok I have a question about drift boats......


WHO IS GOOD AT GLASS WORK

[Troutman]

Originally Posted by Rodonthefly

Ok I have a question about drift boats......


WHO IS GOOD AT GLASS WORK

There is a shop just down the road from me on Boyds Creek Hwy in Seymour/Sevierville called Norwoods Fiberglass repair 865- 429-9664
I've never personally had to use him but he works on a lot of bass and ski boats and must do good work because he stays pretty busy.

[DarrinG]

Originally Posted by Rodonthefly

As far as safty stuff what is required in a drift boat? i carry life jackets and have some small first aid stuff. But am I required to carry throw coshins, horns whistles and so on?

Not sure in TN, but NC requires us to have a PFD for every person on board. Under 13 years of age must have the PFD ON! We are also required to have a noise-making device, (ei: horn, etc). I spoke with a local Wildlife Officer here and he stated to me that a referee whistle would indeed qualify for me in my 13ft Outcast cataraft. So that's what I carry in a boat bag, a small sports whistle! I believe TN requires the same if I'm not mistaken.

[Wilson10]

Originally Posted by waterwolf

The chessy and cheap front leg brace is horrible in comparison to the Clacka and Hyde design

Yeah, I thought that leg brace was sub-par to say the least. Pretty stupid looking


Wolf - are you going to Alaska with J.Curtis and that group?

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by DarrinG

Not sure in TN, but NC requires us to have a PFD for every person on board. Under 13 years of age must have the PFD ON! We are also required to have a noise-making device, (ei: horn, etc). I spoke with a local Wildlife Officer here and he stated to me that a referee whistle would indeed qualify for me in my 13ft Outcast cataraft. So that's what I carry in a boat bag, a small sports whistle! I believe TN requires the same if I'm not mistaken.

TN does require the same except the noise maker.

Originally Posted by Wilson10

Yeah, I thought that leg brace was sub-par to say the least. Pretty stupid looking


Wolf - are you going to Alaska with J.Curtis and that group?

No, I am grounded here, I travel so much during hunting seasons that my out of town fishing trips are very limited anymore.