Wooden Boat People

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Don Wakefield
  • Male
  • Paradise, CA
  • United States
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  • Jordan Davis
  • Chris Patterson
  • lhedrick

Don Wakefield's Discussions

Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
20 Replies

Took the new wooden drifter sled out…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Don Wakefield Jan 20, 2011.

Ergonomic Oarlock Location
6 Replies

Getting ready to locate the position of the oarlocks on my Drifter Sled.  Does anybody out there have a recipe for location using reference to the rowers body.  I'm thinking about abeam with the…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by justin nicola Jan 12, 2011.

Wooden Drifter/Sled
13 Replies

It Happened today!!  Wasn't expecting to be ready for this event for another couple three weeks, but all of the sudden things started coming together and Santa Delivered this boat to me, after nine…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dave Z Jan 3, 2011.

 

Don Wakefield's Page

Latest Activity

Don Wakefield commented on Greg Hatten's photo
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Blossom Bar - 2011

"Thanks Greg -- My wooden boat has a jetski engine plus seven layers of glass on the bottom including one of kevlar..... wondering if it would be too heavy for the fish ladder.  I have three inches of foam inside the frames including the bottom…"
Dec 29, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on Greg Hatten's photo
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Blossom Bar - 2011

"Gregg - perfecto, not a missed stroke.  Wonder how much the flow was that day, and how many times you have been through there?  One of these days I aspire to do that in my jet drifter.  This coming summer 2012 I would like to put in…"
Dec 25, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on thomas m donnelly's blog post wood jet sled designs
"Hi Tom - I completed this project just recently.  I designed the stations of the frames to accomodate the motor and pump that I removed from a Yamaha 760 waverunner.  I started with a conventional flat bottom like a drift boat, then I…"
Apr 24, 2011
Don Wakefield replied to Jordan Davis's discussion Panel Dimensions??? HELP?
"Hi Jordan --  When I built my frames, I made a line on the side frames at exactly where I wanted the top cuts to be made, according to the plans, which I generated.  I noticed that some of boat plans in Rogers book (if not all) the…"
Mar 10, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on David S's photo
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DSCF2171 (Medium)

"Hi Dave -- been wanting to get back to you with answer to your reply of my inquiry -- thanks for your advice about the Flathead below the dam and the upper Swan might be good floating venues.  For this coming summer visiting daughters…"
Feb 16, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on Chris Patterson's photo
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94 Launched

"Pretty pretty little rapid robert...... and great picture of kids. Thinking that the oar stops/sleeves might be on backward??"
Feb 16, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on Ukulady's photo
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PA020050

"Awesome - Kodak moment if I ever saw one!!  Thanks, Don"
Feb 14, 2011
Don Wakefield commented on Hal Jaeke's photo
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Refurbished Dory Pics 001

"Hi Hal -- Very nice job - what a unique design is the transom, be sure and keep the pointy end heading toward the white water.....!  I lived 25 years in Colorado, mostly in the San Luis Valley through which the Rio Grande river flows…"
Feb 1, 2011
Don Wakefield replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"I've often wondered why the 30% loss with an outboard, the 90 degree gearing was my guess too.  The 1998 Yamaha waverunner 760 that I used - I asked around and a number I wanted to beleive was 105 HP and yes for this speed I'll bet…"
Jan 20, 2011
Jason Knight replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"This is cool man. Loved watching the video as well. Thanks for posting it!   -jk-"
Jan 19, 2011
lhedrick replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"Since the impeller in an outboard jet is 90 degrees from the intake it makes sense it would waste so much power.  With the drag from the deflector directing the water upward and the forward pressure generated in the pump I can see the 30…"
Jan 19, 2011
Don Wakefield replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"Gonna put that trip on my wish list, hope it happens this year, thanks for the encouragement!"
Jan 19, 2011
Don Wakefield replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"Hi Ron - well between you and Lawrence it has given me some pause about the safety issues.  I have pretty much used the cracks around the boxes to provide the combustion air with no regard to the venting of potential vaporized gas laden…"
Jan 19, 2011
Ron Snow replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"Very cool. Congratulations on the build/marriage of the two.   I too have had this concept in a dusty place in my mind for years. Even talked to a few home based boat builders that retro-fit a jet-ski into smaller traditional boats, but never…"
Jan 19, 2011
Don Wakefield replied to Don Wakefield's discussion Wooden Drifter/Jet - River Video
"Randy - thanks for the Kudos and coming from you it makes my head and ego swelleth.  Does this mean I can bring it up to Vida for the April boat show?? I have really enjoyed this website from the time I have started being a woodie kind of guy -…"
Jan 19, 2011

Profile Information

Hometown:
Paradise
About Me:
Have started building a 15' dory - skiffy looking drifter, mid March 2010. Drew my own lines and lofting. Wide transon with a pointy bow. Framed a hole in the bottom to accomodate same size cutout from the bottom of a Yamaha jetski - 760cc engine. Will have regular 9' drift oars. Heavy glass on 8 degree v-bottom. 75/55 beam and chine width. Finished smooth floor and walls for the interior. Hoping it won't be too heavy for a drifter, and maybe 30 mph for the approx 80 hp motor. Could be the best of both worlds.
Boats I own:
24' Ospreylike - 18 Alumaweld Intruder 175 sportjet - 17 western 50 yamaha

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Don Wakefield's Blog

Oars for a Jet-Drifter boat

I recently finished my…

Continue

Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:30pm

Comment Wall (5 comments)

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At 8:24pm on February 14, 2011, David S said…

I see you fly as well. You will have to hook up with us at our local EAA/MPA Aviation group. You can check us out on www.eaa102.org we have around 100 members

At 8:20pm on February 14, 2011, David S said…
Hi Don,  thanks for the comments.  There are several rivers hear that I want to get out on.  Polson outlet below the Dam is really close to you. Several up the Swan that I here are good. And then there's the faster running ones up the North Fork up by Glacier National Park.  I'm a novice myself and still learning the best places to go. Having the pull out spot located with waiting transportation I find to be the most difficult. I hope to hook up with some other rafters this spring, so we can get some great video and photos.
At 6:58am on January 19, 2011, Josh said…
The floor of my boat is 1/2" marine grade fir with of course fiberglass and epoxy with a final coat of epoxy/graphite on the exterior and durabak on the interior. I wish that I had come up with the name for the boat but it was built from the "honky dory" plans that Sandy Pittindrigh has designed http://www.montana-riverboats.com . You'll see him poking around here every once in awhile. JW
At 7:59am on January 1, 2011, Greg Hatten said…
Hi don - Yup - that's Blossom Bar on the Rogue... great stretch of river!!  I would highly recommend it - and higher up, as well.  Great river for fishing and boating - year round.  GH
At 10:04am on March 1, 2010, Rick Finnell said…
Don go to www.riverstouch.com , Roger Fletcher website. Roger has plans for all the the old drifters. His book Drift Boats & River Dories is great, history and building advice, it helped me with my build. Good luck.
 
 
 

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