Story by Brittany Hallin
Photos by Mason Trinca
Firmly grasping the two oars of his wooden drift boat, Randy Dersham commands the rushing waters of the Pacific Northwest’s McKenzie River. His boat rests atop the river’s the waves as he weaves his way downstream, maneuvering through the rushing water with expert precision. His experience on the river becomes more evident with each meticulous stroke of the oar.
For Dersham, a float down the river in a wooden drift boat amounts to more than a mere ride—the experience creates a distinct connection extending beyond a basic knowledge of currents. “In a drift boat, you can feel yourself move with the river,” Dersham says. “It’s sort of like having a dance partner.”
During the first half of the twentieth century, the simple concept of a rowboat underwent modifications that increased maneuverability, provided greater stability, and improved the boats’ ability to battle rough water, which eventually resulted in the modern drift boat. Today, drift boats are designed with a V-shaped hull that makes them easy to steer and with a solid wood frame that makes them durable and easy to stand in—two characteristics that are particularly attractive to fly fishermen. Their high prow, flat bottom, and flared sides provide the boats with enough steadiness and agility to navigate fast-moving, Class III whitewater rapids.
These river-conquering boats come to life in Dersham’s shop adjacent to his home near the McKenzie River in Vida, Oregon, where he co-owns Tatman Wooden Boats with his son, Sanderson. Though the pair no longer sells boats and boat-building kits through the company, drift boats still hold a prominent place in their lives. “You just don’t live on the river without having a drift boat,” Dersham says.
Originally from Creswell, Oregon, Dersham has always lived near a river, but in 1989 he settled next to the McKenzie in Vida. “I’ve always lived where you would vacation,” he laughs.
True to his words, he and his wife, Debbie, now operate Eagle Rock Lodge, a bed and breakfast on the same property as their home. Just across the street from Eagle Rock, nestled within the towering pines is Dersham’s shop, where he has built many drift boats by hand. Much like his boats, the workshop’s warm wooden accents have a tranquil, rustic feel, and the projects scattered around the area often leave visitors in awe.
The boat building process is simple, but it is labor intensive and requires precision. Dersham says evenly sanded edges are the key to constructing a sound boat, and each piece must be carefully handled to maintain its unique curves and angles. For some, the meticulous physical labor that goes into constructing a drift boat is what makes the process so rewarding. “It’s like tying your own flies and then catching fish with them,” says Dan Justus, who has been a river guide for nearly 20 years.
The evolution of the wooden drift boat has been credited to many individuals through the past few decades. Veltie Pruitt and Prince Helfrich are two names Dersham quickly mentions when discussing drift boats’ defining historic moments. In the 1920s, Pruitt’s small drift boat design caught the attention of Helfrich, who immediately began working with Pruitt to create more compact and lightweight drift boat models. Pruitt and Helfrich later produced Shooting the Deschutes, a film that documented the duo’s drift boat expeditions and debuted at the 1949 World’s Fair.
Justus also praises the contributions of Keith Steele, a noted drift boat artisan. “Steele was probably one of the most prolific wooden boat builders on the McKenzie,” Justus says. Steele is known for his craftsmanship a skill he passed down to his son, Steve. Three of Steve’s handcrafted boats are on display at Cabela’s in Springfield, Oregon. Each of the display boats represent a 14-foot model from the 1940s and 1950s: a square-end boat that provided maneuverability and carrying capacity, a double-end boat built for navigating fast water, and a transom-end boat that allowed a motor to be attached.
Much like those who gather to marvel at Steve Steele’s handcrafted creations, enthusiasts also enjoy coming together to celebrate wooden drift boats and their history. Sharing knowledge of authentic wooden watercraft construction, such as using plywood as a primary building material, connects contemporary builders to the craftsmen who preceded them. “I take a lot of joy in the perseveration of the wooden drift boat because of its importance historically in western rivers—particularly the McKenzie. I want to be part of continuing that legacy,” says David Jensen, a 30-year McKenzie River resident and owner of two Keith Steele boats.
But Dersham admits he can’t ignore the decreasing use of wooden drift boats among younger residents who float the McKenzie River. He says the folks who have been part of the history are getting older, and that the wooden drift boat’s association with older generations may be turning young boat enthusiasts off. In addition, wooden boats have special storage needs because they must be kept out of the elements, especially in the drizzly Pacific Northwest, which Dersham believes may also be contributing to the decline in the wooden boats on the McKenzie. “After living on the river for a number of years, it’s just really obvious that these things are all starting to slip away,” Dersham says.
To spark an interest in wooden drift boats, in 2006 Dersham made a handful of phone calls that resulted in the first annual Wooden Boat Festival hosted on his property at Eagle Rock Lodge. Although only 25 boats were featured the first year, Dersham says he expects 40 to 60 boats will be on display at the eighth annual festival at Eagle Rock this April 27.
Boat builders who venture to the festival park their boats on Dersham’s property near the McKenzie. There, they can mingle with fellow builders and admire each boat’s custom woodwork. “Some of them are like pieces of furniture. They’re beautiful, and you’re like, ‘Are you really going to put that in the water?’” Justus says.
In addition to hosting the boat festival, Dersham created woodenboatpeople.com, a website where collaboration within the drift boat community has crossed into a virtual threshold. Dedicated to wooden drift boat discussion, the website is aimed at preserving the boats’ cultural relevance. Drift boat builders around the world can connect to pass on their knowledge and share their passion with likeminded experts. “It’s using current social media in a way that hasn’t been available before,” Dersham explains.
On the site, members exchange tips, photographs, general information, and history. Dersham says he created the site to encourage a deeper understanding and passion for wooden boats within the community. “There’s no agenda. There aren’t any rules … It’s not a moneymaking thing. It’s just a bunch of people who are crazy about boats and want to share information with each other,” Dersham says.
By making drift boat information more accessible and drawing people from across the globe into a virtual community, woodenboatpeople.com is creating an archive Dersham hopes can keep this piece of McKenzie River culture afloat
