20' vs. 17' Drift Boat

I currently have a 17 x 54 drift boat and am considering upsizing to a 20 x 66 for more room and better motoring capabilities. I have been told they are easier to row with an outboard on the back. Has anyone else traded up for a larger boat? How did it handle compared to a 16 or 17 footer? Thanks for any info!

I think bob would be a great person to ask on that one.. =) I believe he owns both!

In 2000 I bought a 19x72 Willie 4 seater and was hoping that it would be the last driftboat I would ever have to buy. With bad back and sholders it was a bit to much for me so I sold it, dang, it was a nice boat, and bought a 2002 Willie 17x64 and it works out good for me.

If I was a young guy I would have kept the 19 footer. But, the 17 is a very nice boat too!

Lotsa 19, 20 and 21 foot driftboats in ALaska but not to many real "old guys" rowing anymore.

fp

Freddy ... I thought yours was a 19" x 66"??

Who makes a 19' x 72" ??

Willie's has a 20' x 72" but is considerably smaller inside than my 20' x 72" ... my 20' x 72" is larger inside than the 21' Fish-Rite's.

Easier to row??? Someone is pulling your leg but good!! More stable yes, a pleaseure to use in big flat water like we do in AK ... but definitely not "easier to row".

I stand corrected. It was a 19x66.

1st trip on it.


Just have it setup with the front seat only on this picture. Added the second seats before taking it up North and fished 4 people from it. It wasn't that bad to row, now that I'm sitting home thinkin' about it.

Gettin' old ain't easy.

fp

it's nice if you guide, or if you have lots of guests over, or lots of friends who like to poach off of you. For instance in Alaska in August, there's never enough boat room, and the Kenai is such an easy river to row, so a big boat makes sense.

However, on coastal rivers or more technical rivers, I like running a smaller boat. The room is nice in a big boat, but why ferry a bunch of fat asses around and fight obstacles, wind, dip****ted fishermen, when I can guide 1 or 2 guys, relax, enjoy a beer or three, and actually fish myself. Oh, my shoulders are shot too, both of em...I feel your pain fp

Here's TRBO boat before he put on the graphics.


Betcha it will make ya pucker when the river is raging.

fp

Ah, an old version of the boat Looks like the mouth of Satellite Slough to me ... probably late May looking at the drab grass and hoodies on the dudes.

Just six more months!