Pavati Drift boat

[TheHunt]

I am going down this morning. If Pavati can make me a smoking deal I will pull the trigger. I am not sure they will.

I like the back end of the Pavati as it is curved. Where as Willies is boxed. So if you have someone in the back or your weight is not distribued accurately at one point because some went into the back to get a drink or what ever you are rowing backwards and pushing water up hill. We will see what they offer this morning.

[FishinSinsation]

Well? Which boat did you decide on?

[TheHunt]

I worked with Willie today and they would only give me 20% off their add on's. Same as any other day with Willie. I was assuming they would have a show special. Well, I was sadly wrong. I was assuming they would go 30% on the accessories. Heck from my research they give Veterans 25%. I am glad they are doing well and do not have to give discounts. By the time I had level floor under front fishermen, and heater baffle only, it was very expensive and over the price of the Clackacraft.

I also talked to Clackacraft. They brought to the show a great boat deal and I was very close to buying. It was a 16' Old School High Side boat with a ton of add on's for $8,495.00 It was all decked out with the following:
GolfStream bottom with tunnel hull and tracking channels, Trailer, Anchor System, Anchor rope, Oars, Web rowers seat, Dry storage box under passengers bench, 2 padded fold down seats, Dry storage under Rowers Bench, Level floors Front and rear.

Pavati wanted to deal. As soon as call them tomorrow I will get their width measurements to verfiy I can put that boat next to the side of my house and I am good. As soon as I feel comfortable and safe with the boat I can give a good write up of the boat.

[outfishn]

Like I said in my previous post, do not overlook the Clacka. It is an awesome configuration of their high side for a very good price. You'll be able to row through skinnier water than the aluminum boats, glass boats literally slide off the rocks.

If Pavati doesn't give you a screaming deal (and definitely include the underfloor fish box) go with the Clacka or make it easy for yourself and just go with the Clacka.

Get the Square Top Sawyer oars and a leelock to replace the jam cleat and you're set.

[Chuck S]

Try RivTech ...

Made locally and the finish work is awesome.

Or go WIllie .. Jr and I just fished out of Twitchs Willie in orygun and it was absolutely amazing. NO bounce, stable as my 20 foot sled and we bounced over some skinny stuff no problem.

The pavatti is "cute" with those little doors, but isnt in the same league as the 2 above.

[TheHunt]

Did you ever row a Pavati? I was looking for people who have. Seems no one has rowed one.

[Chuck S]

Did you ever row a Pavati? I was looking for people who have. Seems no one has rowed one.

No offense but that statement says something ... there are tons of Willie rowers here.

Its not coincidence. Havent been in an alumaweld drifter myself but I see many that own them as well.

[fishinfoolz]

Yuo won't find many people here who have driven a Corvette or Lamborghini either but that does not mean a Chevy truck is faster.

It's a relatively new item so it only makes sense that few would have actual knowledge. See if they will let you take one out or if they have a list of previous purchasers you can speak with.

[Chuck S]

Yuo won't find many people here who have driven a Corvette or Lamborghini either but that does not mean a Chevy truck is faster.

No, it usually means they wish they bought a ford

I actually like the doors idea as it is safer to exit/enter the boat for landing fish etc. The material used is where I question them.

Willie is proven, hard to argue against.

[fishinfoolz]

No one is arguing. Let's do this. And it really is the only way to know for sure.

You go out and buy one. We will take it out a few times (I will even row occasionally so your arms don't get sore) and we'll see once and for all if they are worth the money. AND if you learn you are not happy with it, I will take it off your hands at a discounted rate because it's a piece of crap.

That sounds like a good deal to me---

[TheHunt]

LOL!!!

Pavati has a buying statement that if you buy a drift boat and you do not like it for any reason they will take it back at no cost to you.

BTW, they sold something like 27 drift boats at the Puyallup Sportsmen Show this last week. So we will all get some pretty good feedback as to how they row this coming summer.

[hollywood]

LOL!!!

Pavati has a buying statement that if you buy a drift boat and you do not like it for any reason they will take it back at no cost to you.

BTW, they sold something like 27 drift boats at the Puyallup Sportsmen Show this last week. So we will all get some pretty good feedback as to how they row this coming summer.

O great a bunch of newbs floating the river. I personally would get a Willie, theres a reason why they haven't changed there boat design in decades and many very reputable guides use them.

[TheHunt]

Funny part is that many guides are buying them or taking them out for a week or more in a test row with clients. Be sure to give them the finger and throw rocks at them as they are new to your river.

[outfishn]

I would think most people new to rowing a drift boat would get a used boat, it makes no sense to me to get a new drift boat for the first time, particularly a fancy new expensive boat. It looks like a great boat if it indeed rows well, I don't like the doors but it makes sense for a guide boat. Maybe most are guides?

They didn't have computer aided design and cutting available for small work shops decades ago. I have no doubt that an engineer could design a hull to optimize weight, strength, and how it rows with computer aided design and simulation. The technology exists. It just costs a lot and requires technical expertise and research.

It will be interesting to see how Pavati progresses since they seem to be the only drift boat company embracing this technology so far. If their designs and build quality are good and survive the test of time, other companies will have to follow. I'm curious how much blunt force their chine can take compared to the standard extrusion chine. There's definitely less material being used in their inner chine but that doesn't mean it's less strong. I'm also curious about how well it tracks without having the extrusion chine which sort of acts like a rudder to help track the boat. Time and more boats on the water will tell.

Having companies like Pavati and RivTech (another awesome forward thinking boat company that I forgot to mention) is a very good thing, competition and innovation is good.

[TheHunt]

Totally agree with you.

[TheHunt]

LOL!!!

Pavati has a buying statement that if you buy a drift boat and you do not like it for any reason they will take it back at no cost to you.

BTW, they sold something like 27 drift boats at the Puyallup Sportsmen Show this last week. So we will all get some pretty good feedback as to how they row this coming summer.

O great a bunch of newbs floating the river. I personally would get a Willie, theres a reason why they haven't changed there boat design in decades and many very reputable guides use them.

Actually Willie has changed their design. They removed one of the runners from the floor which is now an add-on. That runner makes the boat stiffer as the older Willie boats had this in their standard design. The other visible concern is Willie's new president. His decision to no longer provides any deals is a change from the normal Willie business model. So the more the posted retail price is held to their customer base the more profit to the company which is good for the longevity of Willie Company. But at what cost? Will that decision cost Willie customers? If the price difference between Willie and other high end boats shrinks the customers will start looking at others as that is just human nature.

The other consideration is the demographic of this country. The baby boomers are retiring so those doors that are patented by Pavati could be a decision maker.

[outfishn]

The baby boomers are retiring so those doors that are patented by Pavati could be a decision maker.

Great more old people with a lot of time and experience on the water. That's worse than newbies.

If I were a successful guide, I'd highly consider a Pavati if they prove to row well and are durable. Those doors make sense if you have a variety of passengers of all ages.

Why does this post stay down on the third page of this forum even though it's getting updated? Usually the updated posts get sorted back to the top of the list? Weird. Does someone with control over this forum not like Pavati?

[gear addict]

The boat I have now is a 16' lavro that I got at 3 rivers. Its a great boat, but when I put two big guys in the bow it draws to much water. Its really nice with 2. A 48" bottom is nice to slip between bolders, but it sucks when ya load it up. I would really like to row a 17x60 willie's. I have seen a few on the river, and the guys rowing them are happy. I'm in no hurry, but its seems I may have to buy new to get what I want. I'm going to let my lavro go for a couple grand. If anyone have ever used the fiberglass lavro oars I'd be curious to know what you think. I think they are one of the best oars out there. They flex a bit, but are really light, and strong. Mayby Phil will chime in. I brought them, and he rowed his River Wolf with them last time I fished with him. He wasn't raving about them so I think he wasn't as impressed with them as I. I have owened a few sets of oars, and you would think counter balanced oars would be the chit, but they are heavy to me.
Back to the boat. I have passed up quite a few good deals. A 16x54 willies would be just fine, and you see good used ones fairly regularly. Riv Tech's are very well built. They are a spendy item, and they have a very small boat selection. Their boats have the wide 60" bottom. Ya know I have never seen a Riv Tech on the river. Swanny was rowing one for a while.

Good luck with whatever you end up with!

[outfishn]

I've tried the Lavro oars. I thought they seemed flimsy to me because of the flex but it's just because I wasn't used to them. My friend had one break on him but it was a manufacture defect, his current ones have lasted a long time. The square top Sawyer oars felt really good to me when I tried them out at the sports show.

I'm really really impressed with how Lavros and other glass boats slide over rocks. There are many runs where I know for a fact my aluminum boat would get stuck whereas a glass boat would just slide over because of the flexible and slick bottom. I'm highly considering a high side clacka for my next boat. I really really like Randy's RivTech boat but I'd prefer higher sides and I don't think the bottom flexes like the Lavro and Clackas.


I really think there's a problem with this forum because even when this thread gets new posts it stays un-sorted by date. Every other post stays sorted by date. Am I the only one noticing this? It's weird and suspect.

[Clockwork]

so what boat did you end up with. im sure they're all pretty solid boats, DBs are pretty simple machines.

[Chuck S]

No one is arguing. Let's do this. And it really is the only way to know for sure.

You go out and buy one. We will take it out a few times (I will even row occasionally so your arms don't get sore) and we'll see once and for all if they are worth the money. AND if you learn you are not happy with it, I will take it off your hands at a discounted rate because it's a piece of crap.

That sounds like a good deal to me---

Come on Gene ... a guy of your age might pose risks under all that rowing excerise

PM me your credit card info and I will put a deposit on one today

[TheHunt]

Most everyone that I have talked to who is looking for a new drift boat are targeting the 17 X 60 size.