How to row a drift boat.

Discussion in 'Spey Clave' started by fredaevans, Jan 25, 2008.

  1. fredaevans Active Member

    Posts: 3,062
    White City, Oregon, USA.
    Ratings: +90 / 0
    Not a silly question as I have a friend whose on his second (first a 'woodie) and has NO CLUE. Person is dangerous to the point where 'person' ran us under two 'sweeper trees' yesterday and had zero idea how to line up the boat and stay out of danger (as in potentially) killing us both. bawling:

    Is there a web site I can direct 'person' to for a real
    how to?

    (I rowed the boat for the best of the rest of the day.:rolleyes:)

  2. Salmo_g Active Member

    Posts: 7,182
    Your City ,State
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    I don't think he's gonna' learn to row a boat on a web site, altho you may find some information. If he's that dangerous, he needs one-on-one expert instruction. Actually, if he's that bad, he may be one of those odd birds who can never learn to row a boat safely, let alone efficiently. I'm convinced a small percentage of people just aren't cut out for anything involving coordination and manual dexterity.

  3. Skilly Member

    Posts: 194
    Winlock, WA.
    Ratings: +2 / 0

    I don't believe their are any websites that can teach drift boat handling, rowing. If you are a good hand at the oars show him why to postition the boat in a given postion for each riffle and run. A few days of instruction is the best way for him to learn. If your not a good hand at the oars their are lots a guys in Brookings that are and could teach him. Also teach him to read the water and why you go where you do.

  4. Jeremy Floyd fly fishing my way through life

    Posts: 2,509
    Quesnel, BC
    Ratings: +267 / 0
    I would honestly put the guy in a raft for a day or two so the rig he is learning on would be pretty much bulletproof. Even just a 9 foot pontoon boat would teach him a lot of the basics like pointing the nose where you don't want to go, and leaning into the oars to soften the ride and splash less in fast water, and going just inside the seam beside the hydraulic waves instead of down the glass tongue and into them.

    I always make guys park the boat and get out and walk the water, too get a good look at anything marginal before they go through it, when they are learning.
  5. nomlasder Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems

    Posts: 1,297
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    I agree with SG, some people just won't get it. I have fished with one of my buds for several years, and I thought he had picked up the basics. After putting him behind the oars, it was the scariest 300 feet of river I had ever seen. We hit every rock, tree, and gravel bar possible. I sucked it up, and continued to row the rest of the day.
  6. fatguide fish or DIE

    Posts: 93
    Corvallis, Montana
    Ratings: +0 / 0
    The best way to teach someone how to row is to sit behind them. From behind they can hear you better and you can point to spots by leaning forward so your pointing finger is in their perspective. Keep in mind you will not be able to do this safely if the balance of the boat thrown off.

    Most peoples first mistake is trying to dip the oars too deep, then they pull like a gorilla.

    Sitting behind you can coach them, "right oar, left oar, both, etc".

    Point the bow at trouble, and pull back on the oars. Pushing on the oars is seldom used.

    Remember one thing, a boat with no one in it will usually make it to the take-out, it's putting some one on the sticks that gets you into trouble.
  7. East Fork Active Member

    Posts: 1,200
    Vancouver, WA
    Ratings: +2 / 0
    How about a day on a lake?
  8. TallFlyGuy Adipossessed!

    Posts: 851
    Vancouver, WA.
    Ratings: +34 / 0
    Some people have it, and some don't. I attribute my "decent" skills on the oars to all the video games I played when I was in Junior High. The hand eye coordination is a factor.

    Then the rest to people like Don (EastFork) while out fishing in his drift boat....tell you...the first little rapid is called Wapanita, and the next one is Boxcar, Take the sticks, I'm sitting up front.

    A lake would be the first place to go, then I'd take him down an easy section of river to have him get the feel of current and how it plays into the control side etc. It looks easy, so people think it is. That is where most trouble happens I believe.

  9. fredaevans Active Member

    Posts: 3,062
    White City, Oregon, USA.
    Ratings: +90 / 0
    Appreciate the info fellows, keep it coming. I don't want him/someone else to end up as a 'statistic.':eek:
  10. Panhandle Active Member

    Posts: 4,103
    Selkirk Mountains, Idaho Panhandle
    Ratings: +23 / 0
    Southern Oregon rivers (N. Umpqua, Rogue, etc.. are no place to learn.

    Fred, my question is, what are you doing in a boat with a guy who can't row and has the potential to kill you? I would be so anxious that I wouldn't even be able to enjoy myself. Grab the sticks, or tell the dude go down the river by himself.
  11. fredaevans Active Member

    Posts: 3,062
    White City, Oregon, USA.
    Ratings: +90 / 0
    PH, you ask a good question. Reason is 99.9% of the Chetco could be run in an intertube ... but there are, like all rivers, where things 'change.' The sweepers weren't there a week'ish back.

    New to me, but one look and an instant OH SHIT! "He" doesnt take instructions well ... and usually 'connects, too late to be of much good. 'Boat butt' away from 'danger?' A concept 'he' hasn't gotten through his head.:confused: PULL!! PULL!! PULL :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:..... a concept that's not in his brain set .. yet.
  12. Salmo_g Active Member

    Posts: 7,182
    Your City ,State
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    That being the case, don't even think about letting him on the sticks in the 0.1% or however much more is necessary to ensure everyone's safety.

    Maybe he's like a mule when it comes to taking instructions? Whack him on the head with the spare oar, then say, "listen up Numbnuts!"

    Stay safe.

  13. BDD Active Member

    Posts: 2,167
    Ellensburg, WA
    Ratings: +143 / 2
    That is a great quote!

    Fred, There is a book written by Neale Streaks called something like rowing drift boats that might be a useful resource. Other than that, all of the other advice is good...start in a lake and pratice until it becomes comfortable and continue to SLOWLY keep challenging and improving his skills.

    Unlike some of the rest, I believe almost anyone can row class 1 and 2 waters with some practice and coaching. The one real problem can be sweepers. As long as he is comfortable rowing away from danger, anyone should be able to grasp the skills. Now class 3 and above, the guys are spot on and only experienced rowers should attempt.
  14. shawn k Member

    Posts: 697
    buckets worldwide
    Ratings: +19 / 0
    clackacraft has a good video that they put out about how to row a drift boat. there is also a book that amato put out about driftboat fishing.
  15. Jason Decker Active Member

    Posts: 2,625
    Issaquah, WA
    Ratings: +1 / 0
    Fred - this could be what you're asking for

    There are a few places such as clacka and hyde that offer "drift boat school" I think you should enroll your buddy and stay out it yourself
    he may be too embarassed to "listen" to you
  16. fredaevans Active Member

    Posts: 3,062
    White City, Oregon, USA.
    Ratings: +90 / 0
    BINGO! Exactly what I was looking for; better yet the boat 'he' has is a Clackacraft. Many thanks Jason.:thumb:
  17. buford Member

    Posts: 136
    City, State
    Ratings: +0 / 0
    Like Shawn K said, Clack has a FREE (at least it was when I requested a catalog a year ago) DVD that has good info. on rowing a driftboat.
    Sounds like you had better get the DVD AND get your buddy enrolled in the rowing school!!
    Stay safe.
  18. FlyingLines Larry Benitez

    Posts: 6
    Issaquah, WA
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  19. fredaevans Active Member

    Posts: 3,062
    White City, Oregon, USA.
    Ratings: +90 / 0
    Even looks like they have a rowing class of 2-7 .... too bad it's about 500 miles north. Not to mention the hellish drive it would take to get there.:eek:
  20. Shortpole New Member

    Posts: 14
    Kirkland, WA
    Ratings: +0 / 0
    Dave's Dad, Mike McCoy also teaches rowing classes in Oregon. I took a class with Dave last year and it was great. I no longer put a dent in my boat each trip.