Wast of money, buy a raft or buy a drift boat.

 

I currently own a raft. Please elaborate on why you think its a waste of money?

 

Interesting.

 

If you have raft already why would you need that. Wont do what a raft does as well or do what a db does as well, its a compromise of the too.

 

I am not floating technical whitewater that a raft excels at. Mostly low water floats that I would not take a DB on. Tripling the interior room would be a big plus as well.

 

Talk to @pbunbury .... he has that boat.

 

It's kind of cool, but I'm not sure I see the benefit of this boat either. It might track and anchor a little better than your raft, but then why wouldn't you just get a drift boat? Unless you are going to replace your raft with this and just have one boat?? If you are looking for something in addition to your raft then I can't come up with a reason why you would even consider this....

 

Nobody rows Drift boats on the Wallowa and Grande Ronde when the water is low for a reason. This is where I think a boat like the Freestone would excel.

 

I've had mine for almost a year. Would be more than happy to talk to you about it.

 

Something else is that it looms like the frame runs along the bottom like a chine, how will that hold up to impacts from rocks(frame and bladder outer material). It did get some good reviews but I never believe reviews from the manufacturer as there usualy from reps or pro staff. I dont think it would hold more than a raft either.

 

The frame does not run along the bottom. Infact no part of the frame really touches the bottom at all. I have absolutely abused my boat, no pun intended and it is rock solid, bomb proof, amazing. I've had it in class III whitewater and taken through some super hairy technical water and it has performed flawlessly. My only critique is that it does not self bail like a raft, but it is not supposed to. It does have a self bailing system but it drains really slowly. Other than that, it's the best boat I've ever been in for river fishing and I've been in numerous hydes, clackas, rafts, etc. One of the major benefits unlike a raft is the tremendous amount of interior space for storage. I've had mine loaded down with 2 buddies, my dog, camping gear, tons of fishing gear, food, lots of beer, etc for a multi day expedition and it absolutely rocked. I think we caught 27 steelhead in 2 days so that speaks for itself. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I have yet to see anyone else in one in the state of WA and I get around quite a bit with mine.

 

Cool thanks for the responses pbunbury sounds like an improvement over the clearwater witch didnt get very good reviews, how does the sides and chine stay ridged, it looks like some side braces go down to the floor, but they dont?

 

Part raft, part drift boat.... a Draft? Not seen these before, interesting for sure, but after reading the inputs thus far, still wanting a raft for my MT needs.

 

I like how the order form asks how many you want (@ $ 5500 per unit!)

 

Older post on how we made a trailer for this boat: http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com...php?threads/converting-a-drift-boat-trailer-into-a-raft-trailer-sort-of.100158/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I checked one out at the Holter dam launch last week. The owner praised it and his two buddys said they loved it. It looked good to me, balanced and roomy.

 

Part raft, part drift boat.... a Draft? Not seen these before, interesting for sure, but after reading the inputs thus far, still wanting a raft for my MT needs.

Question: i am looking at something, so far rafts, to fish my MT needs as well. When you say "still wanting for my MT needs" what do you mean? I spend a lot of time on the Blackfoot, Big Hole, Beaver Had which my Clack just doesnt do.

 

Cool thanks for the responses pbunbury sounds like an improvement over the clearwater witch didnt get very good reviews, how does the sides and chine stay ridged, it looks like some side braces go down to the floor, but they dont?

It uses the same shit as paddle boards, I'm drawing a blank on the material.name, but when inflated to a certain psi the shit is strong as hell from the beams and air pressure

 

how does the sides and chine stay ridged, it looks like some side braces go down to the floor, but they dont?

It uses the same shit as paddle boards, I'm drawing a blank on the material.name, but when inflated to a certain psi the shit is strong as hell from the beams and air pressure

It is called Drop Stich. This construction technique is used for raft floors by Maravia, JPW, NRS, etc. to make very solid floors so it is a proven technology. Zillions of threads connect the top and bottom surfaces and allow extremely high PSI 's to be used. Click link for an explanation by NRS.

http://www.nrs.com/tech_talk/dropstitch.asp

 

Headhunters Fly Shop ran a demo NRS drifter last year. I'd give them a call to see how they liked it.

 

You should get it. I'm sure you're wooden drift boat owning, low water hating friends would love to tag along.

 

if I'd seen this before I bought my Clack, I'd probably have gone for it. Seems to me, that outside of water performance, there are several situations where this would be the perfect boat: if your storage space is limited, of if like me, you have one vehicle and that's already towing a travel trailer (myself, for instance) and can't tow an additional boat. I have to assume that with a battery-powered pump, and a big K-Pump, you can bring this thing up to pressure with a little effort. I'm also making an assumption that, disassembled, it will fit in a truck without any problems. Looks pretty slick to me!

 

[

 

Agreed.

 

¥

 

I'm bumping an old thread to see if anyone has any updates on how this boat is working out and how the long term durability has been for it.

I'm also curious about oar length. NRS is telling me to use 10' oars for the boat. Headhunters is telling me that they are outfitting the boat with 8.5' oars. Does anyone have any insight into oar length for this boat?

 

I'm bumping an old thread to see if anyone has any updates on how this boat is working out and how the long term durability has been for it.

I'm also curious about oar length. NRS is telling me to use 10' oars for the boat. Headhunters is telling me that they are outfitting the boat with 8.5' oars. Does anyone have any insight into oar length for this boat?

9'3"

 

Shoot me a PM. I have had this boat for 3 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk