CRASH TEST: Willie 17-foot x 60-inch Drift Boat

Info: www.willieboats.com

Ave. Retail: Stipped-down hull starts at $4,295; multiple accessories available

Wild Country Rating:

When Willie Boats opened its doors in 1981, their colorful namesake had already become a legend in the Beaver State and for good reason: His design innovations had transformed the Pacific Northwest drift boat as we knew it.

Fast forward to today: Willie Boats builds some of the most popular, functional McKenzie-style drift boats in the world, including the versatile 17-footer with a 60-inch bottom.

Here’s why Northwest rowers love Willie:

Form fits function: Far and away the most important characteristic of ALL Willie models is maneuverability. All Willie drift boats are engineered with a thicker chine with a lip, a design twist that allows the boat to track truer and maneuver better. And there’s plenty of backbone: Willie’s chines are some of the strongest in the industry.

Splitting water: Standing to the side of a Willie drift boat and looking at the profile of the bow, you’ll notice a slightly perpendicular forward curve in the bow, from the rake to the very tip of the bow. That subtle perpendicular “bend” effectively keeps both passengers and rower drier when you’re rowing the 17-footers downstream through rough water.

Rake, bottom, sides: In the case of Willie’s modified McKenzie design, the rake, bottom and sides are carefully engineered to maximize its ability to handle every type of water. The painstakingly crafted bottom fore upsweep and sharp rake design allow the boat to slip efficiently through the water. The bottom line: It rows easier.

WILLIE 17' x 60" DRIFT BOAT
Model: 17-foot, 60-inch bottom
Center Length: 16 feet
Beam: 80 inches
Oarlock Height: 25 inches
Bottom Thickness: .125 inches
Side Thickness: .100 inches

CRASH CREW Q&A
with Buzz Ramsey

Q. How important is the chine design on the Willie 17-foot drift boats?
A. The chine is what makes that boat stay in position. It’s what makes that boat track so well.

Q. What is it about the rake design that affects the 17-footer’s handling?
A.  The rake has everything to do with how that boat rows. The bow rake comes up quicker from the bottom rise, and forms a “sweet spot” right behind the rake. It makes a little eddy behind the rake, and makes all the difference in the world how that boat rows.

Q. You row a 17-footer with a 60-inch bottom. Why that particular Willie model?
A. It draws less water and is more stable than any other boat I’ve ever rowed.