Aluminum Drift Boat Plans?? Other than Glen-L

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Finman, May 5, 2004.

  1. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Bangor, PA

    Finman Junior Member

    Does anybody know of any resources for plans for an aluminum 16'-17' river style drift boat other than Glen-L.com? Looking for something with a wider bottom than the 48" that are in his specs. Preferrably a 54" wide bottom. Thanks for any help or info.

    Finman
     
  2. duluthboats
    Joined: Mar 2002
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    Location: Minneapolis,MN, USA

    duluthboats Senior Dreamer

    Most drift boats have single plank sides and are designed to be maneuvered with oars. If you increase the beam on the floor, the beam at the shear will also. To get a 54” bottom the sides would need an extra chine to reduce the flair a little so you could still use the oars. I don’t know anyone who is drawing such a beast.

    Gary
     
  3. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Bangor, PA

    Finman Junior Member

    Thanks for your reply. Do you mean noone is drawing a beast like that for the "home built" guy? Cause most brand name drift boats have a 54" wide bottom. My question is then, if most, if not all other brand name manufacturers (Hyde, Fish Craft, Fish Rite, etc.) are designing and crafting their boats with at least a 54" bottom on a 16' and 17' boat, is it just a fact that the "build your own" guy doesn't have the necessary tool and/or machinery resources to build a structurally sound boat to those specs? Or is there something else that I'm missing? Thanks.

    Finman
     
  4. Specmar.Aus
    Joined: Jan 2004
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    Location: Queensland Australia

    Specmar.Aus DREDGIE

    Hello Finman

    Aluminum Drift Boat Plans?? Other than Glen-L

    At 55.125 inches this should May intrest you

    http://www.specmar.com/adobe/609views.pdf

    The This is the direct link to these drawings.

    Cheers Specmar.Aus
     
  5. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Bangor, PA

    Finman Junior Member

    Thanks Specmar!! That definitely got me salivating. 18' centerline length is just a bit too big for the rivers I want to use it on. Generally most 16' and 17' drift boats that I'm familiar with have a true centerline width of anywhere from 15' to 16' 8" and a gunnel measurement around 16' 4" to 17', pending on the manufacturer specs of the beam of course, and a bottom width of 54". Scale that baby back a little bit, and now we're talking!! If you have a bit smaller one, please let me know. Thanks!!

    Finman
     
  6. Specmar.Aus
    Joined: Jan 2004
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    Location: Queensland Australia

    Specmar.Aus DREDGIE

    Hello Finman

    Aluminum Drift Boat Plans?? Other than Glen-L

    This will definitely get you salivating.

    There are a few models at the Main web site for Speciality Marine Contractors.

    This is the Product page.

    http://www.specmar.com/products2.html

    Get ready to go Fishing!

    Cheers Specmar.Aus
     
  7. Specmar.Aus
    Joined: Jan 2004
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    Location: Queensland Australia

    Specmar.Aus DREDGIE

    Hello Finman

    SORRY FOR THE PREVIOUS LINK THIS IS THE CORRECT ONE.


    This will definitely get you salivating.

    There are a few models at the Main web site for Speciality Marine Contractors.

    This is the Product page.

    http://www.specmar.com/products1.html

    Get ready to go Fishing!

    Cheers Specmar.Aus
     
  8. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Bangor, PA

    Finman Junior Member

    Now that's what I'm looking for!! So you folks can supply me with what exactly? I saw on your website that the plans are CAD based for an automated cutting process. Can these be translated to patterns for the home builder/welder, or must I take it somewhere to be waterjet or laser cut, or what? I have been kicking around a lot of things concerning drift boats here on the east coast for quite some time, because I have property on the Salmon River near Lake Ontario, and the nearest location that any guide can get a drift boat is at Hyde's place in Michigan. Next to that, the nearest location is further out west from Colorado to Oregon, Washington state, and Vancouver and B.C. Canada. The only place in Hancock, NY that had drift boats has now closed, so there is nowhere to get them except used. The Delaware River watershed, the New York side of the Lake Ontario river watershed area and some other areas need someplace to purchase drift boats. I'd like to get a boat built, get it shown out on the river and in certain areas get the buzz word out, and then see if there is enough interest generated to possibly make marketing them feasible. With the rising fuel costs, shipping boats from Michigan and out west is getting astronomical. Let me know whatever other info you can provide me with, or if we should speak on the phone. Thanks so much!!

    Finman
     
  9. Specmar.Aus
    Joined: Jan 2004
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    Location: Queensland Australia

    Specmar.Aus DREDGIE

    Hello Finman,

    Perhaps its time you contacted Stephen Pollard direct as he will no doubt be in a better Position to advise you, also in his book he has an alloy drift boat lofted with construction details ECT Free.

    We have found that the CAD based files are value for money here in Australia. Our suppliers also cut the Plate, and we are able to purchase the material in kit at a better commercial rate, that what we have normally paid for the material in the past.
    This and also the labour saving have proved a real winner.

    Hope this is of assistance, keep me posted

    Cheers Specmar.Aus

    Contact Details
    Stephen F. Pollard
    Specialty Marine Contractors
    503.543.7562
    specmar@opusnet.com
     
  10. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Finman Junior Member

    Thanks for the info.. I will contact him and hopefully he can answer the many questions that I have.

    Finman
     
  11. Dave Zilch

    Dave Zilch Guest

    Steve Pollard at Specialty Marine. If he doesn't have a stock plan he can design a boat to your specifications.
     
  12. Finman
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Bangor, PA

    Finman Junior Member

    Thanks Dave, but I talked to Stephen Pollard himself a while ago and he will only let you purchase the ability to have your boat cut by a company that has a computerized cutter. You pay him, he sends the CAD cut file to whoever is going to cut your boat, and you end up with the pieces for your boat. I saw the pdf's of the aluminum drift boat plans he did for Ken Hankinson, so I called Ken, and he won't sell aluminum plans anymore either. He wasn't nasty about it or anything. He just gave me a brief explanation as to why he won't do aluminum plans anymore, and I understood and don't blame him either. I don't know of any companies near me or even not so near me that have a computerized plasma cutter or a big water jet cutter. Does anybody else know of any companies in the eastern states??
     
  13. Arrowmarine
    Joined: Jul 2004
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    Location: Southern Oregon

    Arrowmarine Senior Member

    Beast????


    Hey Gary, thought you might be interested in this.
    Saw this post while browsing and was interested in your comment about a 54" beam drift boat being a beast. Over here(Pacific Northwest) 54" bottoms are the norm and anything smaller is just not roomy enough. My personal design has a 95" beam and has no need for an extra chine or reduced flare. It can easily be controlled with 9' oars tho I personally prefer 10'. Now, when you get a chance, check out fish-rite boats (www.fish-rite.com) Mckenzie drifter. Offered in 19' centerline and 66" bottom. Thats right 66"!! Now that's a beast! How you row that I couldnt tell you. Carve down a couple of telephone poles I guess. Anyway, thought you might enjoy.

    Have fun, Joey
     
  14. duluthboats
    Joined: Mar 2002
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    Location: Minneapolis,MN, USA

    duluthboats Senior Dreamer

    Joey,

    OK, I’ll take a bite and swallow hard; all my experience is in narrow boats, mostly canoes. I have studied many drift boats and I can find no early oar powered examples that have such a great beam on the bottom. I can think of no reason to make a drift boat with such a wide bottom. If you want to increase the volume, keep the bottom narrow, and stiffen the sides, simply put in an extra chine. Having rowed a boat 72 inches at the shear and 16 inches above the water line, I did not like it. I can not think it enjoyable to maneuver the boat you speak of, or why one would ever be built.

    Gary :D
     

  15. nevd
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Australia

    nevd Junior Member

    Australian kits

    Hello Specmar.Aus

    Do you have any of these kits available in Australia?

    Regards,

    nevd
     
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