Is there a REAL difference between a Clack and a Hyde?

[Peter Pancho]

Hello, I was comparing a 2001 Clackacraft to a 2001 Hyde drift boat. Both are super clean and price are comparable, but is there a REAL differnce between the two other than one is glass and other is glass/metal?
Would love to get an 2001 Aluminum Hyde but those are rare to find under 4000.00.
I'll be fishing mainly for Steelhead in the Cowlitz,Skagit,Sauk and maybe the Hoh.
Thanks for the help guys!

Peter ><>

John 14:6

[Jerry Daschofsky]

Actually, there used to be. I haven't rowed either in quite a few years. I knew one of the first Hyde reps here in Washington (he lived out in Lakewood). He used to let me "demo" his boats. LOL. Basically free DB usage. Was supposed to make me a screaming deal on one, and my ex screwed me out of that. Dang it. But I have used Clacks and Hydes and they both reacted differently tracking wise. But things have changed, and haven't tried them since 96' or so.

Nowadays, not quite sure. But do know that the old ones did not track well pulling plugs (which most on here probably could care less about). I know they weren't designed for doing that, and it showed. But heard the newer Hydes, especially the aluminum ones are alot better on the sticks for plugs.

[Swinger]

Buy a real drift boat. Buy a Willie.

[Nailknot]

Real northwest steelheaders only float in a real Don Hill custom woody. Whatever happened to tradition? Kids these days! ;) ;-)

http://www.dhdriftboats.com/advHtml/woodBoats.html

[luv2fly2]

gotta get a willie. i heard a lot of good things about them but dont know if i want a 14 or a 16 ft. think i will go with a al.{aluminum} with the coated bottom. other than that there is not much diff. between a hyde or a clack. they are all three good boats and personal preference takes over for what you want. the willie is one boat that is not resold as i have seen no ads for them .

[Jerry Daschofsky]

Well, Willies are sold, but not often. Nicest thing about them, they really hold their value. But, the majority of Willie owners are gear guys. They are awesome plug pulling boats from what I've heard (back bouncing/backtrolling etc). Just never oared one. I've been in one though, and they've fealt good on the water.

Like said above, you can't go wrong with any. Each of them have bennies/faults. Go with which one pleases you most and in your price range.

[luv2fly2]

to be honest i have not oared any except a clack and an alumaweld but have talked to several who have done a willie and they say it is the boat. just looking for the good deal.

[nomlasder]

To make some comparisions;

Wood-Bently
Glass-truck
Aluminum-noisy tank

[Davy]

Heres what to do: Go to Springfield,OR. and see Don Hill,get a boat kit and have his guy Scott throw the sides and bottom on--that takes care of the hard work-then go over to Bakers and get a Baker trailer and haul it all up to a campsite on the Macenzie upriver from Leaburg and spend a couple weeks fishing the Macenzie and building your boat- you get all that fishing time while waiting for rails to soak and stain to dry and a great boat at a great price- all you have to do is convince the wife- mine is very forgiving thank god--TWICE even .Actually I would recommend the old HYde if thats the only choice between the two-- the new Clack-a-craps are pretty good boats but not the older ones they had very weak chines and other problems.But nothing rows like wood-NOTHING-these days I have a 34 year old Birchcraft that I restored,but will probably go build another Hill boat this fall-on that note also-Don Hill's Glass boats use the old Slide-Rite molds and specs- you probably have never heard of Slide-Rite but they were the best-the best darn glass boat ever made-unfortunatly the original owner went bankrupt for many other reasons and sold the molds and the name lost its luster--but Don has the molds.Not cheap,but worth a look.

[luv2fly2]

i do not own a drift boat but someday will. a wood boat is out because we float the grande ronde a lot. in low water lots of rocks are the problem. the kit is a good idea except i am lazy so someone else has to do the work.

[jeffly85]

The newer Clackacrafts are great boats. My friend and I have really beat his up on some rocks and it is fine. Tracks well, and I think the anchoring system is better than in the Hyde. In the Clacka you release the anchor with your feet, so you can still be on the sticks, which is a huge advantage in quicker water. In the Hyde you need your hands to release the anchor, so you pretty much need to be in ver placid water.

[luv2fly2]

jeff, is the anchor feature on all clacks or just the new ones? that is a great idea. can it be put on any boat?

[Davy]

Low water, a problem in low water with wood boats?== Wood boats float higher than any other kind of boat and if you put a UHMW bottom and chine rails on it --really no worries- best advice is to not hit rocks--I know some boaters who will tell you that to get down a river you bounce off rock "A" into rock "B" in order to hit rock "C" but thats not how I row.

[sinktip]

I will second the vote for a Willies. I have rowed a few of them and they are great boats. Go for the 16, you will wish you had if you don't. I have an old Alumaweld when Willy was still making them. It is a much better boat in my opinion than the post-Willie Alumawelds. Hyde makes a nice boat but I have not rowed one enough to comment. The only Clakacraft I have ever been around was one found broken and wrapped around a rock below a rapid on the Deschutes.

[jeffly85]

The anchor feature, as far as I know is on all newer Clacks, but I'm not sure. My friends boat is a 2000 or 2001 I am pretty sure and it has the foot anchor. I believe that you probably could put it on other boats, but I dont know much about that.

[luv2fly2]

some very good info. i am learning great stuff. i understand the concept of avoiding rocks but on the ronde in low water you can not avoid them. keep the info coming as that is why we are here.

[Davy]

BO's foot release anchor systems are made and can be put in any boat I believe.If you ask Hyde I am sure can.

[Mike Colagrossi]

I run a 2002 16.8 WF Clack and have to agree this feature is awesome, my buddy rows a older Hyde and it can be cumbersome at times to release the anchor and take your hands off the sticks but not a huge deal. My boat has the new tunnel hull and I must say it tracks awesome and holds a line great. They have been great with regards to warranty ( I broke a oar and they just said send it in and sent me a new one overnight ) and the people down in Oregon were great. They even shipped the boat from Idaho Falls to Clackamas, OR so I could buy it there and not have to pay sales tax (saved us around (450-500 bucks ). We bought a used boat and they refinished the entire bottom and provided all accessories needed.

I have never run a wood boat or a aluminum boat all I can say is that I am a very satisfied owner of a Clacka, we were looking into Lavro's but their Fly Fishing boat was to expensive for our budget.

Good Luck!

Mike

[Calvin1]

I have a 2002 Hyde, and have no complaints. It tracks, turns on a dime, handles the rocks just fine, etc. Having said that, if I were able to get a similar Claka for the same price, I would do it in a heartbeat. I feel that the Claka's just have some additional finishing touches and nice to haves that are absent on the Hyde's. The rod storage is better, the under the seat storage in front and back is better, the Claka's are a bit wider and feel roomier than they Hyde's, I like the fishers station in the back that I believe come standard on the Claka's and are optional on Hyde's of similar length.

Again, I love my Hyde, just my two cents.

Calvin

[YAKIMA]

MY .02 CENTS WORTH.... ITS THE FLOOR UNDER THE ROWING AREA THAT SELLS ME ON THE HYDE. I HAVE HAD BOTH, AND BEEN IN A LOT OF ONES OWNED BY OTHERS. YOU SEE, I HAVE M.S., AND THE FLOOR ON THE CLACK IS A SINGLE LEVEL, SO YOU FEEL THE ACTION OF THE WATER. WHEN YOUR A LITTLE OFF KILTER LIKE I AM USUALLY, THAT ADDED OFF-BALANCE FEELING IS NOT COMFORTING. WITH THE HYDE, YOU HAVE THE SOLID FLOOR UNDERNEATH YOU THAT MAKES IT TO ME, A LOT MORE STABLE AND SECURE FOR THE ROWER WHEN HE STANDS UP. YOU HAVE THE SAME FLEXIBLE BOTTOM UNDER THE PLATFORM/FLOOR OF THE STICK MANS FEET IN THE HYDE. I ALSO LIKE THE WAY THE HYDE GETS THE WATER OUT FROM YOUR FEET AND INTO THE CHANNELS ON THE SIDE. DONT KID ME WRONG, MY M.S. IS NOTHING IN THE SCHEME OF LIFE OR ANY FISHING SITUATION, BUT I DID NOTICE IT WHEN ON THE STICKS IN THE CLACK AND HAVE TO STAND UP TO FISH, OR HELP ONE OF THE KIDS. EITHER WAY YOU WILL BE IN LOVE WITH WHAT YOU GET...
GREG

[Jerry Daschofsky]

Hey Sinktip, what year is your Alumaweld? I miss mine. I had one as well. Loved that boat, and was excellent for any type of fishing I used it for. Cried the day I sold it (was a wife thing, should've gotten rid of the now exwife instead of the boat). Agree they don't make em like that anymore. You're right, I was gonna say that as well, go with the 16'. You won't complain having that extra length.

One thing to remember if you do go aluminum. Either find someone (or can do yourself) to apply UHMW to the bottom, or make sure use coat it/gluvit on the bottom. Will help sliding over those rocks. You will encounter them, no matter how careful you are. Unless you're on non "glacial" rivers. But most of the Westside rivers are strewn with rocks. And after a flood, usually a rock or two in a spot they normally aren't. I'm very careful with my boats, but occasionally will run over a rock (not actually hit one on the side).

[Steve Buckner]

I know that you've been mulling the idea of a new boat around for well over a year. The only thing I can say is just pick one and enjoy the hell out of it!!!

(You better have a boat of your own the next time you post ;)!!!) Seriously though, you can make yourself crazy thinking about it. Just pick one, go with the best info that you've got, and fish! I doubt you'd make a mistake with either boat. For me, I'm happy with the Aluminum Hyde 16.8 guide model, but I'm sure if I bought a Clack, I'd be happy too.

The only advice I could reallly give is to make sure that you get the 16 ft. + boat. Don't go with anything shorter.

Steve Buckner
www.northwestflyfisherman.com

[Fishbait]

Get a Willie. $3995 brand new out of the box with a new trailer. Two coats of Gluv-it and your in the water. Tracks great, rows great and it's brand new. It's a basic 16X54, not fancy, but you don't even have to grease the wheel bearings. Call Tyler at 1-800-866-7775

[Davy]

What Skinny says above is gospel-- just about any boat you choose for your first you will love- just fish- if you trully love driftboating it will "only" be your first-over the years you will probably have many, its like flyrods-- why do we keep buying another?

[sinktip]

Having a brain freeze right now. It is either an 84 or and 86. Truth in advertising it is actually not mine, I just house it, row it and use it. The owner uses it once or twice a year with me on the sticks. I know, I know but someones got to do it :)

You are right on the Glovit or other coating. Aluminum does not slide well by itself.

[Jim Wallace]

Went for a drift on the Satsop yesterday with Fishbait in his Willie. Not having any experience with driftboats, other than a float down the Grays River in a glass 10' "mini-drifter" (almost cramped for two guys, but fits in the back of a full-sized pickup), I can say that I was really impressed by the roominess and stability of a 16 footer.
I volunteered to row whenever, and Fishbait finally let me row toward the end of the float. Sweet handling! (Although I have nothing to compare it to). I now have a reason to buy a lotto ticket!
By the way it was an awesome day, the water low (for the Satsop) and clear, and thanks to Fishbait's
generosity and skillful boat handling, I caught and released a beautiful 6-7# native hen. (We were using gear at the time, "side-drifting," but we would pull over on bars, get out and swing flies when we could--no luck there, unfortunately).
Fishbait, if you are reading this, thanks again for an incredible day on the Satsop!

Jimbo:thumb

[jonc50]

>BO's foot release anchor systems are made and can be
>put in any boat I believe.If you ask Hyde I am sure
>can.
I'm using an older Clack and have the anchoring system that you need to use your hands to release. How does the
foot release work? How do you retrieve the anchor while on the oars.

[nomlasder]

The argument is like blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

I prefer the wood boats because of the history, tradition and "feel". The glass and metal boats have their attributes.

I spent a couple very fine days on the Grande Ronde this winter, and very easily steered around the rocks. Awsome acres of boldered pocket water.

My latest drifter is 16"-6" 54" wide with a 6'-6+ beam. Created a bit of a flatened area in the center to gain about 1 1/2 inch on draft. (The last one only draws 7")
Marine plywood , white oak, and epoxy. I am also putting on a HDPE 60mil over the bottom. I'll let you know if I pull it off.

What ever you fish in, or catch. Just enjoy the fact you get to.

[willieboat]

I got my Willieboat new at the 97 Sportman's Show. I paid 4000.00 and change. Since then, I've floted lots of rivers several times, with the Cowlitz being the main one. Easy row, I agree. I've banged it off of Queets rock, dodged Wynoochie rootwads, and rowed all over Hood Canal. No complaints. Every couple of years I coat the bottom with Gluvit. Never gear fished from it though. I usually just use it to get to the gravel bars, hop out and fish. :7

[Coho]

Hey Peter:

Two Time Hyde owner and long time drift boat fisherman.
Hydes are awesome boats - but the arguement between Hydes and Clackas are like the Ford truck versus Chevy truck arguement - they are both great boats.

I personally prefer the interior set up of my Hyde to the Clacka - but that is personal preference.
A couple of thoughts for you;

1. A huge advantage that Hyde has is the new G3 coating system that you can get as an option for their fiberglass boats. It is a polymer that they bond on to the bottom of the boat and it makes the boat basically bullet proof. I guide part time and have had many low water trips down the Yakima as well as other rivers - and not a bit of damage or wear and tear to show for it. The G3 coating makes a glass boat (at least the bottom) as durable or close to as durable as an aluminum boat. And glass is far more comfortable. If you fish the tougher rivers of the OP or the Deschutes - aluminum is nice, but the rivers you mentioned, Cowlitz and Sauk, are fairly easy rivers and glass would work great on both.


2. Row both of them - (Go rent a new Clacka at Red's on the Yakima for $125/day.)

PM me if you want more thoughts or opinions. By the way, if you do get a Clack - I love their "bumblebee" color pattern!


Coho

[luv2fly2]

i have a computer question. how did this topic get called up when the last message was in february and the list goes back to june 5?

[Peter Pancho]

Uh, how did this topic get brought up again? It wasn't by me, I already got my Clack almost 3 mos ago.

PS: Hey Coho, I remember you wanting to sell you Hyde long ago, no biters huh?

Peter ><>

Heres my 2001 WF Clack...

[Coho]

Nice looking boat - looks like you have been frequenting the Rock Garden too!

I sold my 2000 Hyde quite a while ago (the boat in the picture). The new Hyde is white with yellow and blue stripes and Pro-Staff logo on the sides.

I'll look for you on the rivers!

Coho


Hope you will have a fishing experience like the one in Luke Chapter 5:6-11 ! :)

[Richard]

So, THAT'S the Hyde that you keep promising I'll get to ride in and fish out of, but somehow never happens!

Great looking kids, W.G.!

Richard E.

[speyfisher]

I heard a horror story the other day about Hyde's coming apart at the joints between the alum & glass just from bouncing around on really rough roads. Like on the Deschutes. Has anyone had any similar experiences? How has Hyde responded to this?

I kind of like some of the design features on those boats. Being able to reconfigure the boat for different applications by un bolting and replacing seats, and lean bars sounds like a good thing. But only if the intregrity of the hull and all of the components remains intact.

Comments?