I just purchased a used 12' Stealthcraft fiberglass Pram. Not really a drift boat I guess, but it fits right in the back of my truck nicely, and it's very light-weight. We took it out on the PM last weekend, and it seemed to perform pretty well. I have never oared a boat in a river before (I've rowed boats in lakes a lot so I have the general idea) but I tried it for about an hour, started to get the hang of it, and managed to plug a few bends without much trouble.
My question is, what are the biggest dangers in floating a drift boat down rivers like the Pere Marquette? Will a skrawny novice such as myself be able to handle the stronger current that we will probably have this weekend, or should I just make sure that my float is clear of logs and downed trees? This boat is much shorter and narrower than your typical drift boat, and it's pretty easy to maneuver it rather quickly. I guess I'm just asking for some general advice for a newbie boat navigator. I know you're supposed to point the boat towards the object you want to avoid and pull yourself away from it, etc.
I just don't want to kill myself or someone else. Any help would be appreciated.
My question is, what are the biggest dangers in floating a drift boat down rivers like the Pere Marquette? Will a skrawny novice such as myself be able to handle the stronger current that we will probably have this weekend, or should I just make sure that my float is clear of logs and downed trees? This boat is much shorter and narrower than your typical drift boat, and it's pretty easy to maneuver it rather quickly. I guess I'm just asking for some general advice for a newbie boat navigator. I know you're supposed to point the boat towards the object you want to avoid and pull yourself away from it, etc.
I just don't want to kill myself or someone else. Any help would be appreciated.
