Aluminum drift boat build.

[koditten]

True, only 2 oars so far. Granted I only have $55 into the 2 oars, but I wanted to try them out to see if they will work to my satisfaction. I didn't see the sense of building 3, only to find out they work like **** and are to end up in the scrap pile.

It only took about 30 minutes to fabricate what yo saw.

I do intend to round off the blades a bit.

Not sure how to make them float. Maybe drill a small hole near the blade in the shaft and squirt in some spray foam to make a plug. The opposite end will be sealed by the oak handle inserts. I'll be putting the bite on a buddy of mine tonight to see if I can get him to turn me some handle with his wood lathe.

 

[marinusdees]

True, only 2 oars so far. Granted I only have $55 into the 2 oars, but I wanted to try them out to see if they will work to my satisfaction. I didn't see the sense of building 3, only to find out they work like **** and are to end up in the scrap pile.

It only took about 30 minutes to fabricate what yo saw.

I do intend to round off the blades a bit.

Not sure how to make them float. Maybe drill a small hole near the blade in the shaft and squirt in some spray foam to make a plug. The opposite end will be sealed by the oak handle inserts. I'll be putting the bite on a buddy of mine tonight to see if I can get him to turn me some handle with his wood lathe.

If you make them watertight (welding) they will float. Foam will add weight over leaving air. Trust me. No foam, air.
They will work. I just hope the length suits you. However I think you know how to shorten or lengthen them.

 

[marinusdees]

I know you have an old post on building a drift boat trailer. I bought my trailer with the boat from Glen Wooldridge. It had wood bunks for the boat to sit in. I added a 6" roller (piece of pipe) clear across the back. Most trailers around here have such rollers. After I added the Formica to the sole, I covered the bunks with fire hose split and nailed to the bunks for the boat to sit on. The woven cover of the hose would hold sand if the take out was sandy or muddy. The movement of the boat while traveling resulted in the Formica getting sanded away. Same friend who put the first sheet on did the second. Turned the boat upside down, used standard contact cement, and he and his brother walked the Formica down.
Usually I fished with the same friend or friend so there would be two or more rigs, so we could leave at least one at each end of the float. I fabricated an extendable hitch on the back of my trailer so I could tandem two trailers at once. Illegal, but at that time and place we rarely saw many other people, and it was at times a real time saver. We threw a bicycle in the brush, walked, and hitch-hiked. On heavily traveled rivers like the Cowlitz generally you could bum a ride. In the Kalama valley the locals would rarely pass a fisherman in hip boots with his thumb out. The last few years I fished I bought a moped and hung it off the front bumper of my K5. I chained it to a tree at the take out. Some guys had small fold up motor scooters they carried behind the boat seat.
Now, when my buddy takes me in his Alumaweld, he schedules somebody on the internet and some guy you never see moves the rig. When we used to fish the Humptulips, the couple who owned the Humptulips grocery, gas station, post office, were friends who would move our rigs.
Just some old ideas.

 

[altersaddle]

If you make them watertight (welding) they will float. Foam will add weight over leaving air. Trust me. No foam, air.
They will work. I just hope the length suits you. However I think you know how to shorten or lengthen them.

+1 on that. Foam can get waterlogged too, and then you have two problems.

 

[koditten]

So, you guys are saying, no spray foam?

I don't want to SF the whole shaft, just a 1" plug near the blade. The design of the aluminum blade, stiffness and shaft prevents me from making the end water tight with welding.

 

[mike93lx]

Before all that, maybe it is worth trying them with a tether.

Either way, it wouldn't be hard to remove the spray foam with acetone at some point in the future.

 

[ez-duzit]

...The design of the aluminum blade, stiffness and shaft prevents me from making the end water tight with welding.

Then use silicone to seal.

 

[marinusdees]

Glen Wooldridge's welder, whom I didn't meet, was able to seal the oar with his welds. My second set, built by a friend who was a sheet metal worker, were also water tight. I wouldn't be drilling holes in the business end to put in foam. I don't think the foam would waterlog, but air floats higher than foam. Do the best you can, then throw them in the lake or your pool. See what happens. Mine floated. Thank God. No foam in mine.
The reason I didn't build the second set myself was I didn't have aluminum welding capability at the time. I do now. But I have no drift boat. I did weld a new bow eye on it at some point. I had a steel locking pin through the bow eye to secure the boat to the trailer, and over time the steel wore the hole in the bow eye so I didn't trust it.

 

[marinusdees]

As an addendum to my comments about moving the trailer, I have seen set-ups which allowed stacking one boat above the other on one trailer. Looked like a lot of work to me. Depends on the circumstances, I guess.

 

[marinusdees]

The ends of the tubes on my oars were filled in with Al. I suspect it was all weld, but may have had some sort of plug to help fill the hole. I don't see why you can't seal the end with aluminum, you just use enough wire to do it.

 

[koditten]

Blew this trailer together this morning. Will make it easy to move it in and out of the shop. Like a dumb ***, I took the boat off the hoist and put it on the trailer backwards. Wasnt paying attention at all.

The tires are not what I will be using, those are some junkets that I had laying around.

I do know I was surprised how easy it is to wheel around by hand. I think it may be lighter than I estimated.

I will be incorperating a roller.

 

[marinusdees]

Boat looks good!! Are you planning any dry storage?? Or are you going to wear your raingear?? I'd suggest an aluminum fish box. Mine was under the rower's seat. Or is it all catch and release?? I'm not enthralled by your front seat, but it's not a long term commitment, is low cost, and will work for now. I think you will find that if you're running any tough water, you won't like the way the boat handles with someone behind you. Sets the stern noticeably lower, and increases drag in the current. You can let a third person stand back there in flat water or when anchored. In a rock garden or fast narrow chute, you need agility. In this part of the world, typically the guides let two Nimrods sit side by side on the front seat, put the rods in rod holders angled up and out, fastened to the back of the front shelf. Then they back row against the current so the baits or plugs work downstream. This allows the guide to watch he rods and set the hook with a strong pull on the oars putting the guide in control of the critical action. The lures can typically be left out when moving to the next hole, just quit back rowing and the boat and lures move at current speed, the lures essentially floating until he back rows again. Most of our rivers are relatively short and steep, and I think that in Montana and Wyoming the rivers are much flatter, but I have no first hand experience. I know on the Yakima,fly fishing guides fish one guy in front and one in back, but again, I have no first hand experience. I am not a fly fisherman. I think steelhead, while sometimes hitting a a fly, are best caught by other means. that said, I have caught sailfish on a fly in Costa Rica.

 

[marinusdees]

My friend, with the Alumaweld, fished the Cowlitz with a guide last week in a power boat. AKA a (jet) sled. A euphemism somewhat sarcastic. I stopped to BS with him today(yes.it was afterhours). The fishing was slow, but they discovered a headless body washed up ashore, somewhere close to Blue Creek. Had been in the creek for awhile. That's as much of the story I know.

 

[marinusdees]

If you like to catch trout, the searun cutthroat trout fishery in Puget Sound is outstanding. Catch and release only. Available year round (some will dispute this--I don't think cutts know how to read a calendar). Also, the dictum is you must fish 1 or 2 hours before and after high tide. Again I can say with certainty that cutts don't read a tide chart. This has been a very under fished and relatively unknown fishery. If I must generalize, it is best in the fall, but all winter can be excellent. I will PM some pictures. Judge for yourself. They can be taken on the fly, but in my experience, fish eat fish. The old timers will tell you that they follow the salmon to eat the roe. I do know they are present year round, and are beautiful fish. The standard approach is to walk to a beach known to produce cutts, and cast the fly from the beach. I prefer to fish from a powerboat, trolling. Ultralight gear. This time of year good possibility of hooking an ocean silver, a helluva lot of fun on light tackle, damn good eating. To catch on a fly, troll a cutthroat fly on a fly rod. Pressure me, and I might be willing to offer you a trip or two. It's been awhile, and my partner is in the hospital with heart issues. The boat and all the gear is in the lean-to. Don't have to fish all day, and, to be honest some tides are better than others. That said, we have caught many cutts outside the recommended (by gurus) dates and tides. Jus' sayin'.

 

[marinusdees]

I had a good friend ( now deceased) who told me "If salmon bit like cutthroat, you wouldn 't be safe in a boat".

 

[skrap metal]

nice work.

 

[koditten]

Thanks, guys.

Oddly enough, word has gotten out. I never advertised that I did aluminum welding work.

My neighbor just hit me up to repair his pontoon boat. 2 year old boat, been in the water 5-6 times. Managed to puncture one of the pontoons. I'll patch it Sunday. Pressures check and send it on its way.

I don't want to do aluminum welding repairs, I'd much rather do iron repairs. I told the neighbor a case of beer and to not brag my name up.

I'll try to snap a couple pics. It's my thread, I encourage all sorts of random entries.

Keep the comments coming

Kirk

 

[madoc1]

the boat ooks great! there is a nice article in the latest Wooden Boat mag about wooden drift boat fishing and their builders on the macenzie river.

jim

 

[marinusdees]

No posts for awhile. Must be the garden is taking precedence. Or, the list from Mrs.

 

[koditten]

You ******* just keep reeling me back

You are correct on all of the above. I still found time to build a proper steel trailer. Unfortunately I got sent the wrong wheel pattern. Not sure what the return process for tires and wheels thru Amazon is. All I know is the bolt pattern I was sent is one, crazy size. I've never used this bolt pattern before. Very odd.

On the plus side, in hitting the Au Sable river tomorrow. Should be a good day for wading for trout.

 

[cre73]

Fifteen pages and not one action shot including a fish. I am so disappointed. Nice job on the boat, you do amazing work.

 

[koditten]

Tell me, how does it feel to want?

Lol, it is embarrassing that this thing is still in the progress stage. People keep showing up wanting **** fixed.

I'll load up coupler pics tomorrow.

Thanks for watching...even if it includes a ration of abuse. I love it and am having loads of fun!

Keep the comments coming. I might not have time to work on the thing, but I can enjoy all you guys questions and interest.

Thanks, brothers
Kirk

 

[marinusdees]

What happened on the AuSable?? Fishing from a boat is more fun than walking the bank and gives access to much more water. Or, maybe my prejudices are showing.

 

[koditten]

Played around wading the river. Absolutely perfect weather. Caught a few finger sized trout, which was pretty much what I expected.

I've been trying out a phone based GPS app for the last year or so. I really like this one. It beats all the dedicated hand held units I've use over the years. Its amazing at the different maps that are available.

$10 for the Back Country Navigator GPS app. They do have a free version, but I liked it so much, I ponied up the cash to get the add free version...and it has a bunch more maps as well.

It is only available for android phones at present, sorry, Apple crowd.

I won't lie, there is a pretty steep learning curve on getting proficient with the thing. I think I have a handle on it.

This section of the river is pretty much kayaks and canoes, or like me, just wading. A drift boat would be way too much boat.

I had with my a friend that has a mild form of MS. He just wanted to watch safely from shore. I had told him earlier that it might be hard to find a section of shore for him to sit at. I would do my best try to find something safe.

The location on the river is adjacent to Gates Au Sable resort. I stopped in to grab a handful of flies from their Orvis fly shop and ask what hatch is going on.

I asked the person behind the counter if there was an easy and safe shore section that would help my friend get near the river? They told me that the section behind the shop was privately owned, but I could use it. I was told it had a small dock and easy access to the river. So we (I) fished there.

Rick was just amazed at the process of fly fishing. Watching me cast and just enjoy the afternoon made him so happy. Rick is not retarded, but he has bit of mental deficiency from a head wound in a car accident when he was very young.

He asked, kinda timidly, if it would be possible for me to teach him how to fly cast? He seemed to be under the impression that fly fishing was an elite form of fishing.

Of course I said no problem.

Rich told me on the way back to his house, that he was embarrassed that he lived within 500 yards of the Au Sable river his whole life and never thought to try fly fishing.

I do need to give a huge thank you to the people at the Gates Au Sable resort and Orvis shop. They made myself and my friend Rick very happy by allowing us to access to the river via their river front.

On the funny side, the wife told me I need to make sure Karma is considered. Gates Orvis shop was so nice to you, you need to buy something from them. Her words

Man! That Hydros II is looking good!

Thanks for letting me ramble on about that day on the water. It was the 1st time out this year!

 

[koditten]

A quick shot of the river.

 

[koditten]

I did get an hour to play around with the drift boat project. Decided that the seat base was too tall. Made a tray that insets the cooler base.

 

[koditten]

Here is the base getting fitted in. I was shocked! It fit the first time!

 

[koditten]

Cooler fits quite nice. A very snug fit as I was hoping for.

 

[marinusdees]

You're gonna wanna cover those gunnel rails with something kind to that $1,500 Orvis fly rod when you lay it on the gunnel. And you will. If you're the oarsman.

 

[koditten]

You're gonna wanna cover those gunnel rails with something kind to that $1,500 Orvis fly rod when you lay it on the gunnel. And you will. If you're the oarsman.

Most definitely. I can get 4 x 8 sheets of black HDPE. I was going to rip 2 1/4" strips and aluminum pop river to the face of the gunnels.

Should be a lot warmer as well as easy on that H2 that's calling my name

 

[koditten]

Well on the way to having the trailer done. Found these cheap, plastic fenders. Should help with reducing scratches while loading or unloading.

 

[koditten]

Need to figure out a rear roller system next. Any ideas team?

 

[marinusdees]

Need to figure out a rear roller system next. Any ideas team?

We used lengths of 6" pipe length equal to trailer width. Welded plugs in the ends with a stub of stainless to serve as an axle. Angle iron 4" x 4"?? Also zinc
locked fastened to trailer for mounts. A little higher than the rear bunk. Covered with carpet, rubber, or just use it bare. Mine was zinc locked, courtesy of J M Martinac Shipbuilding Company. In use, unlock the winch, raise the boat a little by the bow, and away she goes. Still tied to the winch by the cable. This assumes, of course, that you have not built a 650 pound drift boat and/or you have it balanced on the trailer. Ease of launching should be the hallmark of a good driftboat and a good trailer. Don't overthink this.

 

[marinusdees]

Boat looks damn good sitting on the trailer. Now you need to see how it handles on the river. If you have given a technical description of what kind of welder, shielding gas, wire size, are you using a spool gun, etc. I missed it.

 

[koditten]

I did a quick description quite a while back. No biggie. I can do another.

Using a Miller 250 as a power supply to a the 30A spool gun. Using strait argon gas to shield the weld.

I had a problem with the spool gun gear box when I first started this project. I was going thru tips at a ridiculous rate. Something like 17 tips were smoked before I learned that the gun was malfunctioning. It was nice to learn that my skills were not the issue...this time. After replacing the drive gear box, the wire welding became a dream. Big, big difference. I don't think I've gone thru 3 tips since.
Here is a bigger picture. I removed the back floor section so I could vacuum up the sand blast media. Shooting the welds with sand gets rid of all the soot that is trapped in the crevices of the the welds. really makes the thing look a bit more professional.

 

[marinusdees]

Is that transom wide enough for an outboard?? You mentioned at one point the next owner may want to use one. I have seen drift boats which were true "double-enders", pointed on both ends.
I have never used a spool gun, mainly because I don't have one. I have an old wire feed with a short welding lead and a teflon liner that I manage to push Al wire thru, but I have had some spectacular bird's nests. I just leave it set up for Al, have a couple more MIGs for steel, and have done some cast iron repair for a friend who owns an electric motor and pump repair shop. Mostly **** pump volutes, sometimes I preheat with a torch and cool with a blanket, mostly I don't. The one I took the most pains with, a **** pump the owner picked up and didn't secure in his truck (after Mike had rebuilt the pump) so it fell out in the road and broke, wouldn't weld. After I (thought I) fixed it, he came to pick it up, kicked it where it was lying on the ground and said, "Who fixed this thing?" and it fell apart. Mike wasn't going to tell me about it because he thought my feelings would be hurt, but after he sent it to two other professionals(I am NOT) and they couldn't do it he told me about it. I'm not proud, I'm not professional, sometimes I'm lucky.

 

[koditten]

Not completely sure if wide enough. Should be wide enough for an electric trolling motor, though.

 

[hobie1dog]

Keep the pictures coming, especially when you have it in the water.

 

[-Brent-]

I love this thread.

The boat looks great. I'm eager to see more.

 

[marinusdees]

The problem with a motor on the transom of a drift boat is you need a very long shaft and you are almost forced to steer using a tiller. So, you have to stand in the back of the boat, not so good. I have a friend who used to clamp an electric trolling motor on the side and sit in the oarsman's seat. At least that's what he told me, I never actually saw it. He was a pretty good steelheader and used the motor to go up and down in the holes, not to go back upriver.