Choosing Your Next Drift Boat: A Guide from Experience

I've fly-fished out of and rowed just about every drift boat and raft on the rivers around Missoula and western Montana. Over the years, I’ve owned boats built by Clackacraft, Adipose, and Boulder Boatworks, primarily rowing them on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Missouri Rivers. Each boat has its own feel on the water, with distinct pros and cons. This review is meant to help you choose your next drift boat or skiff based on firsthand experience.

Adipose Flow

The first high-end boat I purchased was an Adipose Flow, built in Helena, MT. This boat is designed to cut the wind with low sides, though they offer a Runoff model with higher gunnels. I bought my Flow used from Adipose and rowed it for close to a thousand days without any major issues.

The Flow can handle most sections of water in the Missoula area, though in bigger water, you definitely need to time the waves properly. The standout feature of this boat is its gear and rod storage—no other drift boat maker comes close unless you’re getting custom-built boxes. Rods travel well in the boat, with only minor issues over the years. One key tip: keep reels positioned at the bow end of the rod trays for best travel.

Adipose switched to vacuum molding a couple years ago, and the results have been mixed, so I’d recommend looking for an older model. One major downside of this boat is the casting braces. They lack side support, and I’ve had several older clients lose their balance and step right out of the boat. The gunnels are just below calf height, making it hard to catch yourself if you trip.

Boulder Boatworks River Skiff

My next boat was a Boulder Boatworks River Skiff, built in Colorado. Made from 1/4-inch plastic that’s cut and welded together, this boat can handle just about anything the western Montana rivers throw at it and your buddies can row it without much worry of damage.

One of the main benefits of this boat is the material—it’s incredibly quiet on rock collisions, making it a great option for sneaking up on wary trout. However, it has some design flaws. The floor has ribs with a screwed-in standing platform, and over time, the Phillips screws tend to back out, requiring constant maintenance.

I opted for the bench seat, which provided the most storage, though still not much. The front hood (or casting brace) is wide, making it tough to see downriver. Rod storage is limited, and you can’t travel with rods on the tray. After about 100 days on the water, the bow ring area started cracking, leading to a frustrating 50 hours of driving for warranty repair. That was enough for me to sell it ASAP. This boat aged faster than any other I’ve owned, but it could work well for someone who doesn’t put it through heavy use and lives closer to the factory for maintenance.

Clackacraft 16' LP

Next, I purchased a Clackacraft 16' LP, built in Oregon and finished in Idaho Falls. Many Missoula fishing guides and outfitters I know have rowed this boat for years and swear by it.

While the LP doesn’t have much gear storage—similar to the River Skiff—it offers better rod storage, though rods do bend into the bow and stern. This is the lightest and fastest-rowing boat I’ve used, which is a big advantage when covering long sections of river. The casting braces are rock solid, and I’ve never had an issue with clients losing their balance while fishing.

Unlike a skiff, this boat has a low-profile rockered design, providing a much better line of sight than the River Skiff. I use a Yeti 45 cooler for the front seat, which saves space but can sit an angler a little high—shorter clients may find their feet dangling. A fiberglass box seat wouldn’t have this issue.

The LP can handle anything western Montana rivers throw at it and is an excellent boat for fly fishing in the Missoula area.

Final Thoughts

Each boat has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice depends on how and where you fish. If storage is your priority, the Adipose Flow is tough to beat. If stealth is key, the Boulder Boatworks skiff offers a quiet ride but requires more maintenance. And if you want a fast, lightweight boat that can handle a variety of water, the Clackacraft 16' LP is a great option.

No matter what you choose, it’s always best to test row a few boats before making a decision. The right drift boat can make all the difference on the water.