The Classic McKenzie Drift Boats, Rogue and Colorado River Dories

Each of these boats may be built free-form. Detailed building instructions and illustrations by Sam Manning are found in my book, Drift Boats and River Dories, Their History, Design , Construction and Use.

There are however, other ways you can craft or acquire one of these beauties:
  • Ray Heater (Rays River Dories) will custom build any one of my recovered boats. Each boat represents a piece of river history. Their eloquence on the river is reflected in the men and women who built and used them as fishing platforms and white water dories. If you want one of these boats exquisitely built for you, and customized to fit your particular need, please contact Ray through his web site, phone him at 503-622-7697 or send a query to him at P.O. Box 1232, Sandy, OR 97055.
     
  • Sandy and Randy Dersham (McKenzie River Drift Boats) are the people to talk to if you are interested in a pre-cut kit of a historical boat.  They use 3D computer software and a precision CNC router to duplicate the parts from our historic plans. Each kit is a replica of one of the boats that we have recovered.  They also have kits with a few modern changes of their own.  Visit their web site or give them a call at 541-221-5210, or visit their new shop at 49209 McKenzie Hwy Vida, OR.  It’s on the McKenzie River just West of Blue River.
     
  • Perhaps you are interested in stitch and glue construction. Any one of these riverboats can be built using this technology. If you are interested in this technique then visit Sandy Pittendrigh’s site at Montana Riverboats. Many consider Sandy to be the father of drift boat stitch and glue construction,  Sandy is the genius and host behind the boat forum. Read Sandy's entertaining S & G back-grounding here.

 

For the do-it-yourselfer modeler or home boat builder, the scaled plans for each boat are available here and they are laid out on 18" x 24" vellum at a scale of 1 : 12 or 1-1/2 : 12, depending on the boat. A 20% discount is available on each set of plans with proof of book purchase.

 
 

 

    

The boat above was built from our plans by Dave Zielinski of Irwin, PA

  

 

Discount package for plans and modeling kit, $113 (a great teaching tool is to model the boat first)

   Original McKenzie double-ender with transom - $52

Vitals: Overall length, 15’; gunwale length, 16’; beam , 64-1/2"; chine width, 44-3/4".

 Click here  to order and view details.

See Dimock's and Dierker's McKenzie built in 13 days, an inexpensive and functional boat.
 
  Original McKenzie double-ender, 13’ - $51 -- Vitals: Overall length, 13’; gunwale length, 14’6-3/4"; beam, 66-1/4"; chine width, 43".

Original double-ender, 16’ - $50 --Vitals: Overall length, 14-1/2’; gunwale length,16’; Beam, 69"; chine width, 47-1/4".

  Click here to order and view details.

 

The double ender above was built from our plans by Ray Heater (Ray's River Dories)

  

Discount package for plans and modeling kit (13 footer only), $109 (a great teaching tool is to model the boat first)

  
     

 

 

 

 

 

This Rapid Robert was built by Ray Heater (Ray's River Dories).

 

  

 

 

 

 

 Rapid Robert, the original McKenzie - $48 --Vitals: Overall length, 13’2"; gunwale length, 14’; beam, 65-1/2"; chine width, 44-1/4"

The Bridges, the 16’ Rapid Robert - $54 -- Overall length, 15’; gunwale length, 15’9"; beam 70"; chine width, 47"

Click here to order and view details.
   
   

 

    

 
 

 

 The Trapper, Prince’s boat built by Woodie - $50 -- Vitals: Overall length, 11’; gunwale, 11’9-3/4"; beam, 64"; chine width, 41"

How to order

Veltie’s original light McKenzie boat - $60 -- Vitals: Overall length, 13’; gunwale, 13’9"; beam, 59"; chine width, 37"

 
 

 

    

 
 

                                    

Classic Rogue River Dory, Bob Pritchett’s last boat - $59

Vitals: Overall length, 16’8-1/2"; gunwale length, 18’; beam, 76-1/2"; chine width, 44"

How to order
 

Zane Grey’s Rogue river driver at Winkle Bar - $56 -- Vitals:Overall length, 22’4"; gunwale length, 23-1/2’; beam, 62"; chine width, 42"

How to order

 

The Briggs Colorado River Dory - $64 -- Vitals: Overall length, 17’2"; gunwale length, 18’9"; beam, 77"; chine width, 46"

How to order

   
   
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