Drift - attitude

[EssoxLucius]

Hi this might sound like an odd question but how do these boats drift when the engine is cut and the waves/wind take over? do they turn broad side and run roughly parrallel to the waves, or do they have a tendency to turn nose down wind? I am interested as the future use I might have for such a boat would include fly fishing from a drifting boat, "out the front" or "Irish Lough style" it is sometimes called.
Thanks and keep the good work up I have lost count of the hours I have spent reading and finding out about these craft, don't want to make an expensive mistake.
Chris

[Choptank]

I went out fishing in mine yesterday. When I cut the motor, most times it went broadside with the wind and tide. Tides run very fast down here. Hope that helps.

[Genelie]

DIDDO...most of the time it is broadside...but I can ajust that by turning the outboard from one side to the other

[Jan from Humboldt]

My 150CC drifts nose down hill, I will be getting a drift sock (Sea anchor) to run off the bow to straighten things out. I got slapped in the stern sheets pretty good a couple of times last year and took enough water to where the bildge pump kicked in so I much prefer to A. fish when it's calmer and B. Use a drift sock so I'm bow on.

Do a search on ebay for "Drift sock" as there are some good deals there.

[special K]

My 170cc always drifts broadside. That's basically all the fishing I do out here on the flats, to cover more area.

[Genelie]

I actually prefer the broadside drift.....allows more space for anglers...or more lines in the water.

[cagrove]

Same thing here with my 170CC. She drifts broadside and I control the attitude by turning my engine. Very effective in mild to moderate current/wind.

[Codfish]

I fish much of the time in a semi drift situation. Like the others who have chimed in, I control the orientation of the boat to the wind and waves with either a drift bucket/net or the outboard.

I have fly fished for salmon off the bow, keeping the bow downwind by throwing a 5 gallon bucket off the stern. I think you could do this with just about any boat. Because the Triumph is fairly light compared to glass boats, it will track down wind rather easily.

Hopefully Jergofish will chime in as he does alot of fly fishing from his 215CC.

Codfish

[EssoxLucius]

Wow, hadn't come aboard for a few days and such a good reponse from all of you so thanks. The sea anchors you refer to we call drogues over here. THey are a sort of parachute that you toss over the side and depending on where you fix you can affect the way you drift. We also sometimes attach a large metal rudder to cause the drift to be nose first, this is used when trailing lines behind the boat. Usually fast sinking or lead cored lines with bouyant flies. Good method for catching fish but not very fulfilling in a fishing sense. Good varied response so thanks all very much! Just need my wifes new car on the drive and then I can make a move on the boat I have seen locally.
Interstingly Triumph do not import into Europe which really surprises me. There might be an opportunity there that no one has explored. I am exploring importing one of these craft from the US, started talking to US air personnel working nearby who regularly have vehicles airfreighted over as fill in on half full transporters, may be a possibility there, not sure of cost yet but remain hopeful that soon one of these will be fishing on the "Norfolk Broads".
Chris

[MolarBoater]

I also use a MinnKota drift sock as it seems to also depend if you have a T-top and/or bimini top up at the time. Use a 101 RipTide up front.