Been trying to get in as much drift boat time as possible buy I'm old and beat up and my shoulders won't take it.I have considered selling the drifter and buying a sled but that's alot of bones to be putting out right now.
Here's my question.Would it be considered cheating or some sort of bad form to slap an electric on my transom? Just a little something to help with pulling plugs or getting across that frog water.
I've been looking at around 54-56 lbs.Anybody had any luck with these.Any preferance to make?
And what shaft length?I was thinking about 42". Thanks in advance.

P.S. Saw a couple of nice chromers that were taken out of North Fork Stilly today.One was about 12#

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: Bigdog2250 ]

Cheating? Yeah, if you're the guy who's still rowing his boat.

That's not cheating, that's making the necessary adjustments. If the ol' arms need some help, then by all means.

Look at the Minn-Kota or MotorGuide 24-volt models. You'll need the longest shaft available (42-48"?) for best performance on a driftboat. 2 deep-cycle batteries are the other thing you'll need.

Once you get set up, you'll have a MEAN boondogging outfit and might want to give it a try to take a break from pulling plugs, which will eat your batteries.

It's not cheating or bad form. Who cares what others think. You do what ever you can to keep fishing a way that you enjoy. We put an electric on the back of my drift boat to troll for cut-throat last summer and it worked great. Even thought of usuing it on a drift for the frog water. Go for it.

I've got the perfect solution. Give me your driftboat and buy a sled. When you want to go down the river in the peace in quiet of a drifter, I'll take you down the river. And when you need someone to join you in your sled, I'm up for it.

Bigdog,
The only problem with doing this is in a normal year when we have a selective fishery during march and april on the skykomish it is illegal to fish from a boat with a motor whether your under power or not. So you have to make sure of the rags if your fishing a river that has selective rags.

They also make 30 minutes of tidewater rowing a lot easier. We use one down here, and in frogwater there's nothing better. As for pulling plugs, it works great too. I run a 42" shaft Minn Kota and forget the model #. But it produces 50 some pounds of thrust. It's a single battery but as Dan S. said you go to the dual battery with the 70 some pounds of thrust and you'll darn near be able to head back up through the riffles.
Keith

must be a full moon, last night as i lay in bed i pondered the same thing, am thinking about buying a drift boat but the old back is not what it use to be, any ways the same thought went through my mind, and i figured no its not cheating not going to stay of the water just because what others might think every one does what they have to do to enjoy life as long as its not hurting any one else. just my .02 worth, doug

Thanks Fellas, I just ordered a Minn Kota 65# thrust transom mount with a 42" shaft.It runs on 12 or 24 volts. Your info was priceless. See ya all on the river.I'll be the one waiving with both hands!!! I figure if it becomes unlawful to fish with a motor,I'll pull it and I'm sure I can find a stickman.
Sorry Ryan about not selling the drifter yet.AkKings,we will still fish eventhough I won't be needing your arms. Thanks again to all who posted.

I just got one for Christmas and its great when out with the wife and kid. I mounted it on the back and turned the throttle around. Now I get to fish too even though I just end up handing it off to the wife or kid. Found that if you have to deep cycles it will last you most of the day.

Tight lines

Kevin

SRBC