« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Shawnee boats.  (Read 5989 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

MikeA

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 16300
  • Karma: +65535/-4
Shawnee boats.
« on: February 13, 2012, 11:29:02 AM »
Just had an interesting discussion with the owner of Shawnee. Rumor has it they are about to unveil a Drifter... Inquiring minds want to see!
Logged
Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

Steve H

  • Need to fish!
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 9491
  • Karma: +999/-5
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2012, 12:34:22 PM »
Nice! Can't wait to see one.
Logged
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

bd

  • *****
  • Posts: 2003
  • Karma: +6/-8
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2012, 03:07:34 PM »
I can understand the attraction of a drifter on some of the faster, rocky East TN rivers (upper Hiwassee, maybe?), where boats like a gheenoe cannot go as easliy.

I don't understand the need for one in Middle TN though.

Their layout does make them a good boat for a fly fishing guide - you can row from the middle, have one person fish from the front and one from the back, and they are raised up enough that their casts are safely away from the guide's ears.

But other than that, the "cons" outweigh the "pros" for me.  You don't really need the high bown and stern and stability for our local class-1 water, it's hard to fish out of one solo, they don't trailer easily, and without an easy way to mount a motor, you can't run back upstream. 

What am I missing?
Logged

MikeA

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 16300
  • Karma: +65535/-4
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2012, 03:27:30 PM »
To many they are just traditional and alot of people love to fish from them, myself included. In a way they help you focus because you only have one direction of travel. The whole (should I run back up) is removed and you only have to think about what's below you. I also like the simplicity of a drifter. No breakdowns can relieve stress. To me the perfect boat for a trip with my wife or daughter is in a drifter. Very little to go wrong and focus can be on them. That's also another reason why they make a great guide boat.
Logged
Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

Glenn Hawkins

  • FishHead
  • *****
  • Posts: 1273
  • Karma: +4/-0
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2012, 03:47:18 PM »
Bd given that fish alone often it might not be the watercraft of choice.  I enjoy fishing and rowing a drift boat.  It is relaxing, quiet and I feel more one with the water.  They really are the classic trout fishing craft.  Like any boat a drifter has some posititve and negative points (shuttle, flow levels, wind, human powered).  Boats are like woman.... You gotta find one that works best for you OR have a lot of damn money! :P
Logged

Fred Mertz

  • FishHead
  • *****
  • Posts: 609
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2012, 05:33:24 PM »
Not to hijack the thread too far, but the comment about tradition reminded me of fishing in an Au Sable River Boat.

http://www.woodwatercraft.com/AuSableRiverBoat.html

Very cool ride.  Long, slender and surprisingly easy to fish out of.  Have floated the Upper Manistee and parts of the Au Sable in one and had a blast.  But, they were made for a specific type of river and I've not seen them anywhere outside of MI.  Watching a talented guide pole down a river in one of these is very interesting.

Fred
Logged

bd

  • *****
  • Posts: 2003
  • Karma: +6/-8
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2012, 07:16:08 PM »
The "one direction of travel" thing is a two-edged sword.  I fished for many years out of a canoe and I got my fill of that.  The peacefulness and simplicity of not having a motor is nice, granted.  But I had too many days where I left the best fishing behind me without knowing it.  It's easy to do - you can be in the middle of a decent feed and assume the whole river is the same way, and decide it's time to move on to the next spot you like downstream.  But then you get there, and you realize that you've left a spot of localized activity and the rest of the river is dead water.

It's a real sinking feeling when you realize that you've left the best water behind and everything on down to the takeout isn't going to be as good.  I have had that kind of day more than once.  That's probably the #1 reason my boat has a motor on the back of it now.

bd
Logged

jarrod white

  • Jdub
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 2421
  • Karma: +22/-8
  • "I live because I fish, I work because I have to."
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2012, 07:31:26 PM »
the best thing is they make drifters and they make power boats, I like both :)
Logged
I just don't care!

grumpy

  • *****
  • Posts: 4291
  • Karma: +21/-5
    • ctflyfishingforum
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2012, 10:52:59 PM »
Quote from: jarrod white on February 13, 2012, 07:31:26 PM
the best thing is they make drifters and they make power boats, I like both :)

AMEN, only thing wrong with that, my wife dosen't think i need a power boat :'(
Logged

MikeA

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 16300
  • Karma: +65535/-4
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2012, 10:42:49 AM »
If the drifters are anything like their boats they should be great boats. What I think will make them appealing to people around here is that you don't have to drive for 18 hours to get one.
Logged
Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

grumpy

  • *****
  • Posts: 4291
  • Karma: +21/-5
    • ctflyfishingforum
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2012, 10:47:19 PM »
If i'm not mistaken several years back there was a company from MO, Stealthcraft that was making boats, haven't heard or seen anything from them on awhile.

Grumpy
Logged

owengrad

  • *
  • Posts: 43
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Shawnee boats.
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2012, 10:56:23 AM »
Stealthcraft Boats in Baldwin, MI makes some nice boats. Mike Batke (the owner) can/will customize the boat to your needs. www.stealthcraftboats.com Cool boats, but you have to drive 10 hours to pick it up. The upside is that you can fish the Pere Marquette, the Manistee, the Muskegon, etc. while you are there.
Logged
Jim
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »