Very nice boat!
Two questions: First, what kind of plywood? Second, How to contact Smith's Boat Shop?
Thanks
DaveC

 

Marine grade Mahoghany.

Here is the link to my blog with some interesting history and contact for Fred Smith: http://washingtonfishing.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/smith-brothers-prams/

 

Very nice pram. Clean lines and build. How much does that beauty weigh?

I read the article in your blog. Great read! I also noted the pic with the pram loaded on roof racks. Doesn't at all look too big for car-topping. Sweet!

 

The 8' weighs in at 45-47 lbs if I recall. Shes really light and easily car topped. The 10' boat is pictured on the back on my truck rack and in the bed is the 8'. Its a good set up to transport 2 prams and gear and great to camp and fish here in WA and in BC. I think my SpringCreek weighs in at 57-60 lbs, a little heavier, but two completely different materials. I have a feeling that I'll be fishing out of the wood boat more frequently.

 

Awesome pram! I hope to have one someday. Your pram and outing to the shop brings back good memories. I used to have one of the Pelican sailboats made by Fred and Don and it was a great little boat. I have fond memories of races at their place followed by potlucks featuring lots of fresh seafood and sailing/camping trips with them out to Pelican Beach. Good times. I'm glad that Fred is still at it!

 

Those wood prams have such a warm, organic feel about them. I really like them aside from the maintenance aspect. They don't need that much, but you do have to stay on top of anything that goes through the finish to the wood.

Very pretty boats though, congratulations!

 

Beautiful piece of work!
I especially like the clearcoat finish to show off it's natural colors.

 

Nice little boat 'fer sure, but the work shop is awesome! just the kinda' place a guy likes to hang out in.

LB

 

Oh yeah! Theres a nice wood stove in there, an outhouse off to the side, radio, refrigerator, and views towards Anacortes. I think Fred's shop is bigger than his home. He has been there for 62 years and spent $3000 to build the house.

 

I thought the Spring creek was built to the same specifications as the Smith boat, but the Smith boat is 4" wider and lighter?!??!?! Go figure.... Just added the Fish mounts with Thomas extension arms and Pocket pullers.

 

Nice dude! cant wait to see it on the water.

 

Does it have sand mixed into the resin / finish on the floor to make it non-slip? Kinda looks like it from the pics. Please swap out those Scotty mounts for some nice brass ones.... the plastic is all wrong for this beautiful boat!

 

Yes, it does have an anti slip floor bottom. If you can suggest a brass one that fits the Thomas extension arms, Im all ears. The only brass sockets that fit the Thomas pullers are 1/2" diameter but if you use them without the extension arms you'll have an anchor punching through the bow or transom. I thought about it forward and backwards, but opted for the Fish On mounts, Scotty's don't adapt with the Thomas extension arms. If there is a brass product with the inner diameter, would love to know of the manufacturer...

 

Yellowlab, the first step in freeing yourself from this "serious pram addiction" is to admit you are hopelessly addicted to pramming. Then seek help.
Fortunately, I am willing to help. I'll gladly take those prams off your hands. I'll even come and get 'em. I personally don't have a pram addiction problem, having only one pram in my fleet of 4 boats at this time, and its not even a true pram, just a mini-drifter that kinda looks like one. I'm sure I can handle one or two more without losing it and slipping over the edge. I think I can make room in my garage for those beauties! Just let me know! Thanks!

 

Jim, I am selling the 10' boat, $750 and it could be showcased in your garage with your want to be pram called the drifter... you might like it so much that in fact your old boat might drift on out.

 

I had the opportunity to water test for the first time my new boat. Let me say that I am a believer in these boats and just amazed at how well they track and how lightweight they are. Its wider than my Spring Creek Classic, lighter, easier to row and more stable. I got a bunch of compliments from other fisherman, something that I rarely or never get in any of my other fiberglass or aluminum boats, with the exception of the Koffler. Yes, there is a bit more work to do with the upkeep, but I'll take it as a labor of love.

 

Sure is a nice-looking craft, Paul. I have noticed the same thing about my Hopper II though.... as cool a boat as it is, nobody ever compliments it until they fish out of it. Fact is, it's kind of homely looking. Your Smith's is a work of art.

 

Thanks Michael. Did you end up selling your Hopper recently? Saw that someone was hot to trot from Kienes board.

 

He is supposed to buy it this coming weekend. Hope so. After being laid off, I can use the money. I do have the NFO Outlaw Rampage that I will use to fish out of and it's a heck of a lot easier to get into and out of my place in SF.

 

Paul,

What are the length, bottom width, and gunnel width on the 8 foot boat? Do you feel comfortable standing to cast in it? how do you like the bench seat compared to the pedestal seat in the spring creek?

 

Rob, it measures in at 7'11, gunnel width is 56", which is 4' wider than the SPC Classic and lighter and more stable. I didn't measure the bottom width, but as it sits atop my SPC, you can tell that its visibly wider.I think the sides and the transom height are an 1 or 2" higher as well. I feel a heck of alot more comfortable casting from this platform than the SPC. The SPC is ok, but I've always had some sort of problem with the transom separating from both of my SPC prams. They need to IMO do a better job sealing that portion so that it doesn't separate and rot as a result of water penetration. These are two similar but different application boats. My SPC, can be rough handled and used hard and put away wet. But I have a feeling that I'll spend more time fishing out of the Smith boat. Its just so easy to row and light, at 47 lbs. I don't mind the bench option, as I rarely need to spin around 180 degrees in the SPC. These 8' boats you can reach the rope, anchors and gear without having to spin. Might be ok to have on the 10' model, but I've had em all and find that the 8' is the right combo of weight, transportability, and stability for me. The nice part of the bench is the side storage spots for fly boxes or lunch.

 

Still life pics from the stillwater today...

 

Paul,
Your pram looks terrific and you've got it set up so nice. Beware of the non-slip floor, it's hell on fly line under foot.

IMHO, the fish-on mount looks just fine. Nice featherlights too. I will be trying out a new set of Sawyers soon to compare to my old featherbrand oars.

One thing to consider, a wood handled net ! I just finished a net refurb and it tops the boat off. My next project is to refinish a ribbon maghony gear box to store spools, etc.

Again - very nice pram you've outfitted

 

Paul,
Your pram looks terrific and you've got it set up so nice. Beware of the non-slip floor, it's hell on fly line under foot.

IMHO, the fish-on mount looks just fine. Nice featherlights too. I will be trying out a new set of Sawyers soon to compare to my old featherbrand oars.

One thing to consider, a wood handled net ! I just finished a net refurb and it tops the boat off. My next project is to refinish a ribbon maghony gear box to store spools, etc.

Again - very nice pram you've outfitted

Thanks Jeff, I tried to use my Cataracts, and it just didn't seem right. I love the Featherlights and will look into a wooden landing net as well. I have a Mahoghany cigar box that I'm going to convert to a Chironomid box for when I fish out of this boat. I love just going in the garage and looking at the boat, and its a joy to row and fish. Love these Smith boats!

 

Does this pram have a fiberglass coating? Thanks.

 

Nope... thats why its not heavy. Its just Spar Varnish, glossy coated.

 

Paul, beautiful boat. I just posted one that I built. I also used Spar varnish. The thing I like about these boats is how easy they handle although mine weights about 70lbs due to the extra wood in the panels.

 

Paul, I'm currently refinishing a Smith Bros 10' pram. I have been trying to come up with an idea for a seat back that would compliment the boat. I saw the pics of yours on it's maiden voyage and love the seat back design. At my age I need the support for long days on the water. I've tried a swivel seat bracket and seat but it was all wrong, got me up to high for the oar locks and it just was painful to see a plastic seat in that beautiful boat. i was wondering if you could take some close-up pics of your seat back and how it is fastened and post them or PM me. At long last, no pram envy anymore!

 

I had the exact same issues until I was poking around the garage and found a pair of vintage folding chairs that I'd picked up for free at a garage sale about a year ago. They were solid oak frames, with red leather seating and back surfaces. I chopped the legs so that it would accomodate the seat height and screwed them into place. This works beautifully and matches the wood on the boat. If I need more support, I just bring a floatation cushion, but most of the time, I can fish a full day and have the back support, good looks, low profile (can haul it upside down and not interfere with the truck rack), and light weight. I think I have more photos on my blog, which you can check out to see the folding chair. I'll try to upload pics with detail, but I think you'll love the way that its engineered once you see it in photos.

 

Paul, Thank you for leading me to your blog space, there was a better shot of the seat. Better yet was your explanation of the seat choosing process and application. I had thought you just applied a back to the bench not a whole chair frame minus the sawed off legs. I may design it to be removeable for ease of storage and transport. I'm off to junk stores today to see what I can find while the 1st coat of spar varnish cures on the hull. I may not post much, but the information I find on this site from people such as yourself is invaluable. Maybe see you at Chopaka, I'll know the boat.

 

Thanks... but why even bother with taking it off for storage or transport, when you know you have to use it? The seat is fixed and folds down to less than 2" flat. I bungee cord it down to prevent it from lifting up when transported upside down on my truck rack. My buddy I fish with loves how I fabricated the seat more than the boat, go figure!!! Did you buy that 10' boat from Craigslist about a month ago, from Everett? Would love to see pics once you're completed with the modifications.

 

Paul If I can find a folding seat such as you have modified, yeah that's the way to go. A fixed back chair will work but I would want it removeable. Yes, I bought my boat from a friend of Freds in Marysville about six weeks ago. The refinish on the hull is only because I couldn't stand to see scratches on such a beautiful boat. I've wanted a Smith pram for years. I fish with a guy from our club, Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers, who has owned one for ten years. I've fished out of it and an 8' SCP he owns as well, and fell head over heals for the Smith. Something about a wood boat that tugs me. Another friend from our club is building me a mahogany and spruce landing net with a 36" handle. He says the boat won't work right without it. A buddy at work is fabricating alluminum anchor locks for front and rear as well. I probably paid too much but I had the $ and something I've coveted for a long time was there for the taking. Six weeks later, it could have been the 10 footer you have for sale. My fishing partners mostly think I'm nuts cuz I won't put it back in the water until I've got her just the way i want her. I'm enjoying the hell out of this project, except the spar varnish is a beeatch to apply. I haven't located the right seat yet. Thanks again for all your support and input, it's invalueable.

 

I'll try to post a few more pics... in the meantime, I cut down another folding chair that is identical to the one I used. Perhaps we might work out some kind of a horse trade for the landing net, and I can throw you some $$$ to help offset the price. I know what you mean about the love of wood boats. I probably wouldn't own a wooden drift boat, but for stillwater applications, its perfect. I have an 8' SCP Classic, and Im not sure if it will get much fishing time with the new Smith in the fleet. Take a good look at the Thomas Pocket pullers and the extension arms which are very nice to have for an extended anchor system that won't bust up the sides of your pram with a big anchor.

I am working on a Mahoghany fly box for all my Chironomids, haha...

 

More pics would be great so I can get a closer look. I'm leaning now toward copying a slat back folding conoe seat from scratch. I can build it to fit onto the back of the existing bench and it will be mahoghany to match the boat. The third coat of varnish is drying as I write. Each coat adds so much more depth to the wood grain, it truely is beautiful. If you are interested in a long handle wood landing net, I could ask my friend Gil if he wants to make another. He builds them for friends and a few club members as a hobby. Club guys pay $69.00 for the long ones. Each one he makes is different laminated woods, truely unique. I think the price barely covers the bags and materials let alone the craftsmanship it takes to build something like that. I looked at the pocket pullers and extensions from SCP but they were too costly for me. A friend at work fabricated one for the bow so far for $20. It's aluminum and extends out a foot from the top of the rub rail, very simple design with nylon pulley and jam-cleat. We'll see how it works before we make another for the rear. The mahoghany fly box sounds very cool. My wife is beginning to wonder about this new pramitis bug I've come down with. let me know when you are planning a trip to this side of the hill, I might have a spot or two you haven't been to.........Mark