I am in the process of deciding what options I should order on a new drift boat I am planning on buying. The boat I am looking at ordering is a 17 ft Willie. I have never owned a drift boat and would appreciate some advice from some experienced drift boaters. I plan on using the boat on the Deschutes and the Klickitat and for trolling the mouth of the John Day. I will be looking at putting a trolling motor on it occaissionally, I will be fishing mostly with myself and one or two other people but would like to be able to handle a third passenger from time to time (that's why I was thinking 17'). I was wondering if the rear passenegr seat was a good idea for what I have in mind? Is the 17 footer a good idea? Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Timberline,,, that boat should do, willie is a great tin boat,, i am familiar with the klickitat and deshcutes hell ive even been to dufur a time or two hunting,, the rear seat would be a must if you troll,, get good oars ten foot cataracts stay away from sawyer oars or anything with wood ,, if your having this boat built , plan your storage out ,, its always a pain in the but in a driftboat..Save money and tell em to keep the paint job if you use this boat the paint will scratch and fade and look like poop in a few years... i dont know where willie puts there drain plug but i like mine in the lowest part of the boat(some put it in the rear and its impossible to lift the boat up when its full of water???)good luck

Timberline:

If ya do get a boat with paint, make sure it isn't all the way to the waterline, and make sure that you get a cover that you can tow the boat with. This will help keep rock chips to a minimum.

If you are just gonna fish a bit and with only one other person go with the 16' boat.

If ya fish w/ 2 or 3 other people go with the 17'.

I have the 17' Willie and usually only take 2 people w/me but 3 is no problem. A little tougher to row but no biggie...

9'6" oars max. Make sure they are cataracs, magumn blades.

I've had them all and they are by far the best.

If ya are going to do alot of motoring back seat, maybe????? But if just a bit get a cushion and sit on a cooler or something comfortable. Don't add and buy a bunch of extras ya just don't need.

Under front seat storage locker a good idea for life jackets and maybe some extra tackle but all the other storage places are a waste of money, and a new boat is going to ba alot of it.

Built in fish box???? I have one and still just throw the fish on the floor. Just something to look at them there, ha!!!

A spare oar is very important. One peice only is the way to go....Break an oar in a rapid and try to put a 2 peice together , ha!!!!!!!You don't break oars in frog water.

I use Fish-on seats but there's a bunch of others that are as good.

I like the side anchor system but I don't use the side rollers. I go from the back pully directly to the front roller where the clam cleat is. Much easier for an old guy like me. Keep them oiled and they work much better.

Coat-it bottom over gluv-it. Why? I dunno..

Outside paint looks good when new but if ya beat the death out of a boat like I do a waste of $$$$$ again.

Go with a galvenized trailer. Worth the extra bucks.

You have made the best choice in a drift boat.

Have fun and catch some fishies.

fp

Fishstik,

When I first got my boat I wondered why my drain plugs were in the back of my drift boat, instead of at the lowest point where the water would drain better.

Well I forgot to put the plugs in once, and boy was I glad they weren't at the lowest point. I got some water in the boat before I realized my mistake but not all that much. If they would have been at the lowest point I probably would have been fishing the boat off the bottom of the river.

Of course some people are smart enough to always remeber their drain plugs

Well, that all sounds like good advice. How about a heater? What is the best way to go. The options list says it's about $325 for 11,000 BTU unit installed, yikes! That sounds a little steep for a bracket, a hose, tank and element. Worth it?

Willie or a Whatever is going to last you a lot longer than most of the trailers you put them on. Make your life easier and cheaper in the long run by spending more time looking for a GOOD, no an EXCELLANT, galvanized trailer.

MHO

I am no drift boat expert, but from the info that I have gotten on drift boats recently says that the 16 and 17ft are both 54" wide. The 17ft is also just a 6" longer than the 16ft so your reall not gaining a whole lot of space. However there is more room behind the rower so you can store a cooler or something of that sort back there.
I would definately get the heater system for those COLD winter steelhead days.
You might want to give willie boats an email:sales@willieboats.com
They are great guys and should be able to help you out!!!

Good Luck
CatchAZZ

I have had an Alumaweld for 8 years and have been very happy with it, Willies makes a great boat too. If you are planning on fish smaller rivers I would get a 16ft boat easier to row in tighter places. Willies has a good heater system for there boats, I would order it from them. I have also been to there lard where thy build there boats and the guys there were very nice. Catract oars are a MUST! Also I had my boat painted and it has been holding up fine a few scratches, but it is for fishing!
my .02,
Good luck