This is a 16 foot McKenzie driftboat I built from a Greg Tatman kit. I've used it on the Chattahoochee R., Hiwassee R., Flint R., White R., Norfork R. and several nearby lakes. We ordered the kit from Greg Tatman Wooden Boats of Springfield, Oregon. The driftboat's primary source of propulsion is not a set of oars, but a flowing river. That's where the boat gets the "drift" part of its name. The oars are used to turn a driftboat quickly (because of its curved "rocker" bottom) and to manuever around rocks and obstructions in the river. Rowing also stops or "holds" the boat's progress downstream. A good oarsman can traverse miles of river with very little rowing.
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1). PHOTO #1 (below) -- I have just glued the Akaskan Yellow Cedar frames and the transom using West System Epoxy. One inch wood screws are countersunk and hold the pieces in place while the epoxy "kicks". 2). PHOTO #2 -- The Douglas Fir marine plywood sides are screwed and glued to the 9 frames, the stem, and the transom. Again, the West System Epoxy is used. |
3). PHOTO #3 (below)-- The frames are screwed and glued to the side panels, stem and transom. The oarsman seat has been bolted in to stiffen the assembly. The limber holes have been cut in the lower frames.
4). PHOTO #4 -- Kevin and Jonathan taking a break from the many hours of sanding.
5). PHOTO #5 -- Late at night I am trimming the frames flush with the oak gunnels. The inside surfaces have been stained and painted with Z-spar Flagship varnish. I used Flagship because it is loaded with UV inhibitors which will protect the stained surfaces.
6). PHOTO #6 -- The maiden voyage on the Chattahoochee River. It floats!
Driftboat Links:
Driftboat Plans -- Go here if your contemplating building, buying, or using a driftboat.
How to Row a Driftboat -- Excellent "how to" page published by Clackacraft Driftboats.
Blue Dun Flyfishing Skiff -- If money is no object, visit this site for a custom built driftboat "work of art."
Montana Boatbuilders builds a "stitch-and-glue" driftboat that looks really nice! Visit their web page to see some photos of their custom built driftboats.