Power Drifters

[gunrod]

My truck is paid off next month and I may have the wife talked into letting my by a new boat. I know Fish Rite makes a power drifter but was wondering if anyone knew of other companies that made them so that I can compare prices and accessories.

[Shoeman]

Gunrod, I believe Stealthcraft and Rivermaster make a version.

I saw the Fish Rite one last year. He had a 40 horse pump on it. Real cool. I asked him about the rowing aspect and he was impressed. I do believe it's quite heavy. It was around 800 pounds from what I remember. (with Motor)
I'm sure, it's mostly anchored and pulled down with the oars. Personally, I wouldn't want to row anything that heavy, at least not for any length of time.

It all depends what you want to do with it. Spending that kind of dough would steer me towards a Jet Sled.

[gunrod]

I know some of the guides from Schmidt's have the Fish Rite and I will check with them on the rowing. But you gotta admit this is a sweet ride http://www.rivermarineoutfitters.com/.

I want to be able to run the river. My 5hp just isn't cutting it for fishing alone. I want to be able to put in at Shamrock and run to the sportsmans club. Or drop in at Tippy and run to Bear creek and back. Plus with this boat I could drop in the Detroit river and chase walleyes or perch if I don't have the time to go north. Or I could even troll harbors or pier heads for spawning browns.

Thanks for the info though. I will check with Stealthcraft and Riverworks.

[TSS Caddis]

Personally I would stay away from the power drifter's. They don't handle very well, don't plane very well, aren't very roomy and as Shoeman stated are to heavy to row.

In the ideal world there would be such a boat that was excellent for rowing and motoring, but no such boat exists. Also, a drifter would not be very well suited for lake fishing, not to say you couldn't but a tunnel mod v would do it quite a bit better.

Rivermasters are also very pricey for the boat you get. Stick to a regular mod v sled with a tunnel, you'll have more room, save money and get a better ride.

I don't know what the Rivermaster power drifter costs, but last time I checked their 18' flat bottom with floor and console steering was $10,271.00 just for the boat, no motor, no trailer, no winch. Also, they don't have a tunnel which is fine on the big m, but on rivers such as the Mo or jumping coffers on the grand eventually you will take a hit.

Thousandcasts has fished in my sled a few times so you can get his take on the whole sled vs drifter also.

Some like them, but I wouldn't touch them with a 10' pole.

[gunrod]

The wife's vehicle is not running good. It looks like my boat is on hold again. If it's not one thing it's another. At least I have time to research this more. You guys have given me some food for thought now.

[Shoeman]

I'm with Caddis
Hybrid boats don't seem to do either very well.

Gunrod, have you ever seen the "Survey Boat" on the Mo?
Now that's a sweet rig. It's like Mechanical Head's Ark, but smaller. I believe around 14 or 15'.

I can't believe that you would want to get away from a drift boat.

BTW, were you in Newaygo yesterday? I thought I saw your boat?