No one boat does it all. That's why people have a DB and a raft and a pontoon. Rafts are OK for side drifting and are OK for pulling plugs if you you're going solo. If you're fishing, stick with the DB -- that's what they're for. If you're going for a 100 mile float down the Salmon River with 700 lbs. of gear, go with a raft.

I own a willie and an Aire S.Puma. If it's hatchery season with sub zero temps, I have front and rear heat in the aluminum. The DB rows much nicer and is easy to track. This said, I still would rather fish with the Aire because I can take it into "nearly" any river and have confidence if I miss a stroke on the oars. The built in floor boards are nice for standing and casting. I can also dump it off the side of a hill much easier which is an advantage in so many circumstances. Three men can carry it fairly easy with clip on side handles.

I would think if your DB is older it might be worth keeping. You can find used inflatables at times for cheap. Just recently there was a Super Puma on line for $2500 I believe.

Haven't you been building that for like a year now?

I own a pontoon and a raft and have rowed many fiberglass drift boats. As mentioned, no one boat can do it all. Inflatables are more forgiving for both storing, launching, and rocky, low water situations. They lend themselves to fly fishing pretty well and side drifting OK, but a hard boat is pretty tough to beat for pulling plugs, something I don't do and therefore don't own one. The fisher doesn't catch a fish while pulling plugs, the rower does.

I suppose the same could be said for the side drifter in a jet sled but that wasn't part of this topic.

if you have a DB and its paid for just keep using it and start to save up for a raft. main reason i still have my willie i dont use it much these days due to family stuff but it isn't costing me anything to leave it parked in the shop.

If you just want to run the plug in front of you down the river while you float then it will work great. If you want to sit and plug plunk, not a good idea. Way too hard to anchor properly in the hole correctly and retrieve the anchor when you are done. A 12-14 foot one might be better for this but I have not tried one that size yet.

I have a 13ft Aire super and a 17 ft Willie. I love the Willie for brat fishing and the comfort. Just to nice to bring all the crap along when got three guys in the OP brat fishery. That being said I could probably row circles around the drift boat with the raft.

Tough choice to choose just once.......probably the raft due to being able to do everything the drift boat can and more. Maybe not as comfortable but still can be done.

All that said, I never pull plugs.

While a Db has some positives.A raft and a sled would cover most fishing in Wa.

Raft for sure...
I plan on buying one here pretty soon. For the style and types of fishing I do a raft will suit me way better. It will also be awesome for doing long multiple day floats where alot of gear is needed; Salmon River and the Grand Rhonde.

Haven't had the chance to try a raft yet.
But wouldn't trade the Willie or the pontoon for one
I like taking the kids out in the Willie or friends
And for some me time or low water the toons are nice.
Think that you need more than one boat or two or three!!!!!!!!!

I wouldnt go with a 13ft saturn, a 14ft or 14.5ft is a better option IMHO if you intend to fish 3 guys all the time, especially in low water conditions. I own a 14ft Saturn and 3 guys works great when you get the weight balanced correctly, but with 3rd guy back, if unbalaned the raft can sit ass heavy making it more difficult to track/row and will hang up on rocks more in shallow riffles. Also with my 14ft and 3 guys with small amounts of gear the boat is pretty much full. Cant imagine trying to comfortably fish 3 guys/gear in a shorter/narrower boat. my 2 cents.

I cant speak for the other brands of rafts as I have not rowed them before. But I would say that rowing a fully loaded drift boat all day is much easier than a fully loaded raft.

I have noticed a lot of comments about anchoring the rafts. Does the drag make it hard to set your anchor or is it hard to retrieve? As the primary rower I will definately want to stop the boat from time to time to fish the holes where there is no where to beach the raft. Any thoughts?

You can't anchor a raft in the same spots as a db (at least not with the same amount of weight). The drag of the water on the raft is WAY more than the drag of the water on a driftboat. So, you'll likely need more weight to keep a raft anchored in the same water.

+1 what AP said.

There is also the issue of optimum anchor weight range, which varies as much with boat design as with boat type. However, this range will be definitely be greater with a DB than with a raft.

Simply adding more weight to hold against drag may not be an effective solution, as it will also increase drag, change weight distribution and also make the anchor more difficult and slower to raise.

Not to mention, over anchoring can get you into some serious trouble. I've seen more river boats (of all types) taken by anchors than by sweepers. Lost a few anchors myself in a DB and I can't imagine trying to break one free in a raft.

I've been yarding up a 35# anchor in my Puma. Aside from being really hard to pull up while standing on the raft floor, it's almost not enough weight to stop the boat in some spots...

This is a great thread. I am thinking about getting a pontoon for next year.

Just got a quote from RM Rafts in CO on a new 14 ft saturn with nrs fishing frame package, front and rear seats with platform and anchor system. To top it off free shipping! $ 3350.00. Seems like at good price.

thats about what my buddy paid. if you search rafts on craigslist right now there is pic of it under the ad that says 14 6 or something its the blue one with frame in pics

Great thread, I've been thinking about a boat for the last year or so. Got my first opportunity to row 2 months ago in Gutz' Eastside.

Not a huge fan of plugs, cold weather doesn't bother me much, and I like fishing small/low water in the summer. Raft is sounding like the right choice.

I have a 12 foot cataraft and will be upgrading to a 14 foot in two weeks I've drifted most of the west end river on the OP many times. I'd rather have a DB for fall, winter and spring steelhead/salmon fishing and the cataraft for late spring and summer trout drifting. I can drift the OP winters for summer trout/steelhead in very low waters. I used to think I could handle any water on the OP until a couple of weeks ago. I introduced myself to the bottom of the river via current and a rock. Other than hardware, the cataraft floated me down the river upside down until I could get out.
Bottom line is confidence. DB require more skill and catarafts/pontoons are more forgiving. (Except in my case a couple of weeks ago!).

Also, knowing catarafts (pontoons) is like trying to learn a new language. There is welded tubes over heat glue and so on. Steel frames over aluminum and so on. Costs over quality. Steelheader (Skukum Bill Day, RIP) makes a good product along with Badcat. Their tubes are imported by Maxonn in Kent and are glued, but have a shelf life of 10-12yrs +. They are really beefy. American made tubes (NRS, Aire, e.t.c) are heat welded and they feel their product is better. However, reviews have shown that the shelf life is about the same, and the costs of the Maxoon tubes are substantially lower. But the costs of the Steelheader and Badcat cats are high. An idea is to purchase the tubes through Maxoon, then purchase a Badcat frame via craigslist in Seattle. It's posted right now if you do a search--he's been on their off and on for quite a while. Having said all that, I spent four days on the mighty Rogue last October in an aluminum drift boat and it handled great. My guide handled his DF expertly and his skill showed that DB can be used in places that you would think only catarafts could go. Good luck!