I am planning on purchasing a drift boat this spring. Actually I have had my heart set on a Clack for a while. I was wondering what your thoughts are on both Hyde and Clackacraft boat.
was in your shoes last year. there are a lot of old posts on this topic. personal choice is the final decision. don't take someone elses likes and dislikes as gospel. i went with hyde for a few reasons. one is the solid elevated floor under the rowers feet, it gave me much more stability as i'm always standing up. just felt more secure in my mind. others were the way i felt the clack tracked and rowed. may get flamed on that, but there again it is the way i felt about it, and after drifting a hyde, it felt more sharper and quicker to response. also the rear casting brace was a lot easier to get around in the hyde. my sons like to bounce around from front to back and they felt that the hyde was much easier to get in and out of the back.also the rowers foot brace differences. it was all big personal differences to me. these are just a few that i can recall at 6:00am half asleep at work. still though, no matter what one you go with, you will love it. this thread may get long, and debatable. like ford vs. chevy. greg
I was making the decision between a Clacka and a Hyde as well. Steve Joyce of Reds has a fleet of Clacka's, so I called and tried to get from him if he believed there was a distinction which caused him to go exclusively with Hyde. He said they were both good boats and that ultimately, it was personal opinion. I went with the Hyde as I like their G4 shoe. Avoid the frequent application of Super Mend. Calvin
I have a 2002 Clack 16.8 WF and love it, my buddies have Hydes as well and they are nice I really don't think you can go wrong either way...My advise would be to buy used from Clacka in OR/ID and or Hyde, in my opinion there is no reason to buy a new clack/hyde when you can get a year old boat for nearly half the price. They also can double as excellent sleds: http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1724&sort=1&cat=500&page=2 Good luck and you will love having a drift boat ! Tight Lines, Mike ++++++++++++++++++++ www.gofirstrate.com Providing the Right Loan for You!
I don't know dudely bout drift boats except one thing I learned at the boat and it seem to make a lot of sense if you going with aluminum you should get Welded seams instead of rivets because rivets will come loose and then your constantly dealing with leakage. just my .02 cents..
Steelie, I row a 2000 Hyde LP -- My boat has been great -- I spend a lot of time on the Yak and other Northwest trout streams -- I have also rowed Mike’s Clack and it performs equally well; I totally agree with most of the posts – it is personal preference. The nice thing about buying a used boat from Clack or Hyde is that they refurbish the boat completely (most of the used boats are guide returns so they have every option on them) redone bottoms, new oars, new anchor, new trailers and the stand behind them with a warranty. Tightlines, Secretfly
I have a 16' widebody Willies. It's welded aluminum. It's the most bullet-proof drifter I've ever been in. Pros: will not puncture, can take on boulders, easy to clean, etc. Cons: can be a little noisy when running over shallow riffles. That's it. I'd definately recommend a Willies or other welded Aluminum boat over fiberglass or wood.
If you plan on buying a used boat, I would go with a ClackaCraft, just for the rod storage. Clacka has tube rod storage on the sides of the boat which Hyde has only recently added similar rod storage. For me this was a bit of a pain in my old Hyde, because you run the risk of your rods popping up while you're getting in and out of the boat. Obviously, not an issue if you only string up one rod per angler. No jokes please about "rods popping up" comment above. Calvin
clackas are definaately more fishign friendly, and stuff seems to be organized better through out. They also typically last longer. Hydes manueverability is easier with their round back. when it comes down to it is personal preferrence. My .02 cents: I spend alot of tiem in a clack and they are great boats.
I have been on the sticks in a Clack quite a few times but have only been in Hydes while with guides. Maybe I should find someone locally that has a Hyde.
Hi, I've guided out of both the Hydes and Clackas and like my RO. Check out http://www.rodriftboats.com/ My 2 cents. David
Well I am a SW Washington boy and wityh my work schedule Bellvue would be a little to far. Thanks for the offer though. For that matter thanks to everyone who has added their two cents.
Mike, I have rowed and guided out of both Hydes and Clacka's and have found the Clack to be the better boat in terms of quality and fishabilty. I do not personally know of anyone who has punctured or worn out a Clacka but I personally know of guides who have destoyed Hydes, this includes but is not limited to holes in the chines, broken deck fore and aft, and cracked gunnels. I suppose that it is a ford chevy debate, but for the money, a clack is hard to beat. Is the intent of the boat just to fish the Yak? or do oyu have ambition of runnig on coastal water as well? I also advise that you look at some of the Lavro boats as well as some aluminium models....
... go with what your heart tells you, and you will NEVER look back, and not say something like: "Man, I should've gotten a Clackacraft" . Good luck my friend!
I agree with flyfishsteel on this one. In the end, go with what your heart tells you. Chances are if you do opt to get a Hyde, something in the back of your head may keep telling you "I wish I had the.....". Also, like nympher mentioned, it's a ford/chevy debate. It's funny to hear anyone talk about sleds or driftboats on a gear board (let alone hooks, OMG it's terrible). Just like rods, some boats are more made for some people then others. Yes, I have seen clacks with punctured hulls. A person who lives down at the end of 54th Ave in Fife used to be a guide (was a guide when damage happened) and saw a boat he had just punctured. So it can be done. Hell, any boat can have it's problem. Have even seen aluminum boats who have snapped a weld on a hit. Just depends on defects, which can happen to ANYTHING man made out there.
Sounds like your set on a glass boat. If you break a Clack (you won't) they guarantee it. I bought a 16 foot Clack a couple years ago and thought I would never buy another boat. Turns out the low sides and lack of rake made overnighters and BIG water just a little more precarious than I liked. I filled it with water 2 seperate times and it scared the heck out of me. That being said it was a great boat to fish from. It's not Ford V Chevy, it's finding a boat that meets your long term needs. If you are a day float guy it's not going to matter one way or the other...they are all nice. My $.02
I'd have to say ssickle it is a ford vs. chevy thing. You could put 10 different experienced rowers along 10 different say 16x48 driftboats, and chances are most will opt out on a different boat. Since most make "similar" sizes. Just each has their own "niche". Some people more buy off a name. Yet some just love the feel of certain boats. Plus, those who use a boat for multiple fishing activities, may want a totally different boat then those who say simply flyfish. You can find a boat that meets your needs in just about every manufacturer that is still producing and those that are long since gone. But it's what the person takes preference in at the end is what sells the boat. Which, I know guys who swear by alumaweld DB's, yet know others who won't row anything but a Willies. Most make good driftboats nowadays, it comes down to what you have confidence in, and how you plan to use the boat.
No matter what boat you buy- if you plan to use it in "any real water" get used to what it will and won't do. i.e. = most 52" bottom boats are much slower to respond than than the average 48" boat which means an extra oar stroke or two to get the boat where you want it , learn this.And all 52" are not the same either.I have had many many boats over the last 28 years or so( 7wood, 5 glass and 1 metal that I remember) and "all" were different in their rowing capabilities. My current little 48" is very very quick but a 52" Clack is very slow compared to that(I rowed one Tuesday but not the first )for spinning around rocks and such. The 52" will handle xtra weight and are more stable however= I agree Just learn what your new boat will but more importantly won't do. Clack has a good name recently but not always- perhaps some due to the guide discounts, but still lately a good name. Davy
