Bank,

Been contemplating much the same question...but the Skagit is our home river.

Can't afford any of the nicer motorized craft..they are beautiful..no doubt, but spendy and there is add'l maintenance that goes with that investment. Parts break...its a fact if you use the boat sooner or later parts go bad.

After looking at just about every option, including and most importantly the financial side, we have chosen to go with the drift boat.

Cost effective..about 1/3 the cost of any decent motorized craft...gets you to all the good water, and it won't break down on you and take more $ to repair.

I have a boat with a nearly new 90 hp. Johnson on it...set up for lakes and the closer in areas of the Sound. It is going to be sold and a nice new ClackaCraft will be paid for in full at the time of purchase...no payments for me, I hate the things. (Payments, that is).

You can also fix-up a DB with some real nifty goodies, and running a jet-sled won't take an ounce off your middle...a DB will (in my case I hope so!)

Hope that helps...I've done all the research and that's my conclusions.

Mike