[Bryan Redd]

On this side of the Pond, Loch style drift fishing is done in competitions, but for non-comp fishing it is not the norm.  Thus, over here we don't have boat makers who design boats for this use.

I'm looking to do more Loch style drift fishing, so I'm beginning to investigate what boats made in North America may be suitable options.    Ideally, it would be something I can put in the back of a pickup truck (not too much beam and max about 10' long), rather than hauling on a trailer (but not ruling out a trailer).

Flat bottom "prams" are popular in North America for stillwater fishing, but they mostly are used anchored (usually fore and aft) and frequently by fishers using indicators, etc.   

My assumption is that a flat bottom boat is not a good option for Loch style drift and that a V-bottom is much better suited for that technique.

Any standard "rule of thumb" criteria for a well-performing Loch style drift boat?  Minimum length?  Min/max beam width?  Hull profile?  Etc.?

Thank you.  I'll appreciate your insights.

Cheers,
Bryan

Portland, Oregon

[Hamish Young]

You're right to suggest that a flat bottom boat isn't much use and a 'V' would be better. However.... almost anything can be made to drift properly with the careful use of drogues (sea anchors) so it's possible that a compromise could be achieved. Takes practice though.

Personally, for drifting on lochs, I like something that's a minimum of 12' long and about 5' in the beam at the rowlocks.
Optimally (for me) would be between 16' and 17' and 6' in the beam in a fast displacement or planing hull.  Almost anything with a planing hull will require the use of a drogue to get them to drift decently down-wind.

I suppose, as a rule of thumb, then something with a beam roughly a third of overall length is a good starting point.
The  amount of 'windage' is as significant, however.
A Boston Whaler would be an OK starting point  - although not ideal - and they're readily available in the US.

To be fair though a traditional lapstrake (and we call clinker) built dinghy would be the very best starting point.

H

[Terry Coging]

I have a 10' boat that drifts reasonably well and a 10' boat that does not.  The difference is the keel and hull shape. One has a hull that tapers down to a deep keel. This gives it sideways drag and good stability. The other is a tub and  is useless for drifting.
If you are limited to a 10 foot boat it may be possible to  get a boat modified and a deep keel fitted?

I'm giving the boat with keel to a mate for use on his club water. Selling the tub.
Keeping the Tehri Saiman which drifts reasonably well but it is over 15 feet long. Think they are available in N America. 

[Bryan Redd]

Hamish and Terry,

Thank you both for your replies.  Helpful info, indeed. 

My goal for having a 10' so I can haul it around in my truck may have to give way to the improved handling, comfort, and drift characteristics of a longer and wider hull profile.

Terry, I checked and it doesn't appear that the Tehri Salman boats are available in North America.  I sent an e-mail to them, so we'll see.  One question, however:  With that higher profile bow, I would have thought it would catch wind and tend to make the boat pivot more than a lower profile bow.  I guess you offset that effect by how you set and manage the drogue?

Cheers,
Bryan

[Terry Coging]

I mentioned the Tehri Saiman on another thread. It's a good all rounder. Not the best for drifting but not bad.  Although the prow and stern are high the middle is quite low so not a lot of wind catching broadside. I worried that the low combing would be dodgy in a decent wave but it is OK due to the boat being very buoyant. I do use a drogue for long drifts.
We used to use drift boards before they were banned on our reservoirs.  Could set up a nice troll with one of those 

[Derek Roxborough]

the best drifting boats I have used are the Macdonald boats at Loch Maree 16ft 6-6 beam round bilge with a long keel, un fortunately The boat builder died about 20 yrs back so unless some one takes the lines these are the last but a dream to use, our club has a Swedish Keel boat this is a decent drift boat, the Keel is the key to and boat otherwise you skid across the water , Derek Roxborough

[Bryan Redd]

As I'm reading and learning more,  the importance of the keel is a recurrent point. 

Last summer, I tried several different V-bottom and modified V-bottom boats (aluminum and fiberglass) with a drogue and they just didn't seem to track well.  Of course, I'm not experienced with setting and managing a drogue, so perhaps with a more experienced person at the helm the results may have been different.

But, so far, in my research for boats made in the USA, I've not found anything that resembles the boats I see being used in the UK for drift style fly fishing (either in photos or videos of stillwater drift fishing).

The hunt continues.

Cheers,

Bryan

[Derek Roxborough]

the nearest thing I have seen is probably a Swampscot dory with a round bilge and  a keel skeg, there is another called a Seabright skiff , I was looking at a Book many years back called traditional American Small craft, I think the Author was called Garner,  may be worth looking it up, It used to be in The Highland Libraries but long gone now, Derek Roxborough

[Mike Barrio]

Here are a couple of photos of the fibreglass mould taken from the Loch Leven wooden clinkers.





........ and what the originals looked like with a nice coat of paint

[Bryan Redd]

Derek,

Thank you for that info.  I'll see if I can track it down.

Mike,

Thank you for those photos.  Fine looking boats, indeed.  Has anyone used (or is using) that mold to produce modern versions of that boat?

Cheers,
Bryan

[Hamish Young]

I seem to recall these guys built up the Leven boats in GRP: http://www.gamrieboats.co.uk/default.html
Don't see them listed on the website, although a couple of the hulls appear to be similar.
Pretty sure that one of my former Coastgaurd volunteers has something to do with them too.... must do some digging

This looks promising http://www.ghboats.com/boats/boats-12-to-8-ft/12-point-defiance/

[Mike Barrio]

Yep, I seem to remember it being Gamrie Boats too Hamish

.......... and that Defiance boat does look very promising, certainly appears to have the right shape.

Cheers
Mike

[Derek Roxborough]

we tried to get the Loch Maree Hotel to try and gat a Mould from One of the MacDonald boats, but no one wanted to do it , but they had the Hour glass stern and a long keel and drifted like a dream, all the Gillies liked them, as they were so easy to use, there are a couple of the builders 14 footers in the village, and they are family heirlooms round here, there used to be a F/glass moulder in  Morecambe, he specialised in getting older boats made in F/glass, one classic was the Old Loch Broom post boat, this was a deep keel sailing lugger of about 16 ft, some of the best drifters our club had came from Uist bought 2nd hand but they weren't the best moulded boats , lots of filler in with the resin to bulk out the hulls but it made the hulls very Brittle, so they were prone to cracking on our rough loch sides, but nice shaped boats, it's a very personal thing , this boat choice,  Derek Roxborough

[Bryan Redd]

Hamish,

Thank you, good find on those Point Defiance boats.  I'd not found them yet, and they are just up the coast from me in WA.  I see a trip up there in my near future!!

While I know that longer is better, one of the trade-offs for me is mobility/flexibility in being able to haul the boat around in my pick-up rather on a trailer.  12' is too long for that, but the Point Defiance 9.5' or 10' might fit.  I wonder, however, how much of a negative tradeoff in getting a good drift will come with the shorter boat?

Derek (and others),

The Hour glass stern does seem to be a potential key attribute in boats that users report as being very good drifters.  Any insights on why?  Perhaps it provides a greater "purchase"  in the water and helping prevent the stern from just sliding across the water?

All you guys have been really responsive and helpful.  I do indeed appreciate it.

[Derek Roxborough]

Makes a boat easier to row and move rather than dragging a wide transom through the water, Derek Roxborough