Watercraft

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

There really isn't a forum dedicated to just watercraft, so I thought I'd try asking here, as well as in the thread in Crowsnest.

I have a feller wants to trade a boat for some welding. I really don't need anymore projects right now, but this looks like a solid craft. It is a McKenzie Drift Boat, these were developed in the 1940's for drift-fishing the whitewater of the McKenzie river. They're getting more popular here in Missouri among the trout anglers on our swift rivers. I don't know enough about hull design to decide if I can make her sail without some massive leeboards. I don't have a photo, but did some search on-line and found the general history and specifics. Anyone know anything about these boats? Thanx

(forgot the link) http://www.mckenzieriverdriftboat.com/

Bo

Edited June 26, 2009 by Capt. Bo of the WTF co.

[theM.A.dDogge]

There really isn't a forum dedicated to just watercraft, so I thought I'd try asking here, as well as in the thread in Crowsnest.

I have a feller wants to trade a boat for some welding. I really don't need anymore projects right now, but this looks like a solid craft. It is a McKenzie Drift Boat, these were developed in the 1940's for drift-fishing the whitewater of the McKenzie river. They're getting more popular here in Missouri among the trout anglers on our swift rivers. I don't know enough about hull design to decide if I can make her sail without some massive leeboards. I don't have a photo, but did some search on-line and found the general history and specifics. Anyone know anything about these boats? Thanx

(forgot the link) http://www.mckenzieriverdriftboat.com/

Bo

you lookin to trade her?..sell her?...or modifier so you can use her??

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

I haven't decided on whether or not to do this, as the welding project is pretty intense, (a boat dock/slip damaged in the last storms) and I still have work to do on the septic, the fireplace, etc. If I do this, I'd want to fit her for sail though. If anyone with knowledge of boat design could give a thumbs up or down, that will help me decide if it's a reasonable thing to do. Thanks.

Bo

[silas thatcher]

in my limited experience opinion, it may be more trouble than it's worth and a very limited sailer even if you got everything you could out of the boat for a conversion, the end results may not be satisfactory...

just my opinion :)

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

I went and looked over the dock this morning, and I just won't have time to do it. It pulled lose from the shore mooring, drifted sideways bending the walkway, then it flipped over and twisted the frame. I told him he needs to forget trying to save that one, and get ahold of his insurance company to replace it, this one is scrap. Maybe he will find someone willing, but I think it's trashed, and I'm a white-trash scavenger/recycler from waaay back.

Thanks.

Bo

[Joe Pyrat]

Aye Cap'n, unless you be in love with her boats be a might big project. O'course I should be the last one talkin', but in my case it was love at first sight.

[capn'rob]

FYI! Wooden Boat Mag has a forum on, you guessed it, wooden boats that has a world wide network for just such issues as this.

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

I already waste too much time on this damn machine, I sure don't need another forum!!! LoL

Anyway, I read some more on the design, and I think that if a sail is used, it will just spin in circles as it is designed to do drift-fishing in swift current. The rocker is way too extreme without a deep centerboard/daggerboard. Leeboards wouldn't help that much.

I'll wait til the right one comes along.

Bo

Edited June 29, 2009 by Capt. Bo of the WTF co.

[D B Couper]

My experience with boats is that they are built for one specific purpose or another. Those that are built as multipurpose are less than desireable at each. A boat that is built for one purpose and used for another is inferior to a multipurpose boat.