I have had a 16 ft Alumaweld that has been rode hard and put away wet for years. The boat still looks great but am now on my second trailer. The Willies look nice also and correct me if I'm wrong but I think the two companys used to be one way back when. Another nice boat thats made over in Idaho falls is a Hyde. They sell a lot of them. I like aluminum boats. Not saying fiberglass boats are bad just that I feel that aluminum boats can handle a lot more abuse. a couple more thoughts on your questions.

The statement above is a good one about not taking anybody out that can't swim.. and not like out across the pool at the YMCA, like in the river which is a whole different story. The other thing to concider about rowing the boat is that you are not fishing.. you are rowing. Its pretty frustrating to be on the sticks and watch people in the front of the boat bumbling around. I have gotten around this by teaching a few select buddys how to run the boat. They have gotten pretty good over the years and I get a lot of front seat time. One more point to be made here about fishing in a drift boat with little kids. Once you leave that boat ramp at the put in you are commited to the river. You can't just decide at any givin time that the trips over and go back to the truck.. you gotta go all the way down to the take out. Best thought on that is to reserve a day when its nice out to take the wife and kids and don't expect anything out of it. Relax, take a nice lunch and call it quality time. After you get some skills pick a section of river that has no gotcha's in it and take your time. My son caught his first steel head when he was 5 on a trip with my dad and I. One of the best days of my life.

P.S, when you get a boat make sure it has quality oars, no matter what brand it is.