Features
Quick Reference
All of our wood is completely sealed with epoxy resin, and then sprayed with an industrial truck bed liner. Bomber, functional, and sexy. Most commercially produced drift boats come equipped with rolled fiberglass gunwhales, which we feel are too flimsy. Many of these boats can by flexed simply pushing down at the oarlocks. This translates to a lot of power lost during each oar stroke.
Our gunwhales are super stiff, translating to better rowing performance and a more rigid boat. We steam bend all of our gunwhales to the shape of the boat, and then attach them with a high grade marine epoxy. This process is very time consuming and labor intensive, but the end result is worth it.
Our hulls are built with a focus on rowing performance, lightweight materials and durability. The resin infusion process has been commonplace in the aerospace industry and in the high-end saltwater skiff production world for
several decades and now we are proud to pioneer this process in the drift boat industry. Our hull design, dimensions and construction methods result in a boat that drafts incredibly little water, with the stability of a skiff and the maneuverability of a more traditional rockered Mckenzie style drifter.
Due to epoxy resin’s better mechanical properties, we have chosen to use it exclusively in all of our hulls and parts. Epoxy is superior to all other types of resin, offering a rock-solid chemical bond between layers, advanced adhesion,
durability, and flex. All of our boat bottoms come standard, coated with a super slick epoxy compound that adds durability as well as glide over rocks and shallow spots.
The incredible stiffness achieved by our hull construction is unmatched. When you pull on the oars, High Country Boats jump to it. With their skiff inspired footprint, our boats sit very high on the water, drafting little more than 3 inches, while still having enough rocker to handle big water and technical rowing situations.When we set out to design the perfect drift boat, we wanted a hull design that could really excel in any situation. After years of rowing and testing our design, guiding all over the country on many different rivers, the shape has evolved into what we feel is the perfect drift boat that performs incredibly well in all water conditions.
Need a low sided boat for windy wide open rivers one day, and enough rocker to make quick moves in a tight rock garden the next day? This boat has you covered. With a wave punching rockered bow, and a wide stable bottom that floats in three inches of water, our design leaves little to be desired.The unique footprint of our boats allows them to be super responsive and nimble, while maintaining unparalleled stability, and fishability while rowing or anchored. The side height and pointed bow are are low enough to survive brutal flat water wind gusts, but high enough to navigate big wave trains and high water conditions.
We have spent years designing and refining our interior options and layout features. Every boat starts with full length decks, and can be completely customized from there. From a stripped down super-light skiff, to a a decked out boat with all the bells and whistles, we can do it. All of our interiors are hand finished with our custom marine grade non skid paint, and outfitted with top of the line stainless steel and aluminum components. We offer infinite storage and seating options, with benches, boxes, and dry hatches all available. You design it, we build it. Period.
We have tested every last thing on our interiors, and are confident in every piece. All of our anchor components come straight from Dierks Anchor Systems in Oregon. We use only waterproof Tempress All Weather seats, that are made to stand up to years of abuse. Our custom welded aluminum rower’s footbar is set into the floor with recessed threaded screws and can be easily adjusted.
Our box and bench lids come equipped with hydraulic shock arms and latches that are placed out of the way of wandering fly lines. Everything is tight and where it needs to be.
The custom molded thigh braces are the first thing most people notice on our boats. Snag-free, rock solid, and beautifully hand crafted, these braces provide a stable platform to lean into as well as additional storage space. We mold every piece of our thigh braces in-house, and paint each one by hand.
Our design allows for a completely free standing walk around brace that is capable of supporting the full weight of a large angler leaning or sitting on them. Permanently attached, our braces will never become wobbly with time. With recessed cup holders in the shade underneath the leg locks, and additional storage space for phones and rain jackets below, they are the perfect blend of function, durability, and craftsmanship.
As guides, we know the importance of storage in a boat. We offer infinite storage options, and every boat is totally customizeable to the customer’s specifications.The storage options start underneath both full length decks. These large spaces can be left completely open, outfitted with dry hatches, or a combination of both.
Our walk around rower’s box is larger than most on the market, and can fit plenty of gear. For those who want even more dry storage, we offer a full length rower’s bench that ties in with dry storage underneath both decks. Additional storage space is available underneath both angler’s seats in the form of a box instead of pedestals.
Nobody wants to tilt their boat and leave it propped up ever time it rains. We have solved this problem with our center drain plugs. Simple pop the plug and walk away. Wade fishing in and out of the boat all day, and getting a puddle in the bottom? Let it drain on the ride home. Our 3/4″ thick cored hull bottom allows us to install center drain plugs without fear of popping the plugs out on the river.
The plugs sit recessed up in the floor, and we have never had one pop unexpectedly on the water. As guides who live in wet climates, these center drains have been borderline life changing, and we can’t imagine ever going back to a boat without them. In addition to the center drains, our boats contain two drains in the standard spot at the stern of the boat that are great when rinsing the boat out with a pressure washer.
Our tie down system eliminates awkward straps, and really streamlines the process at the boat ramp. When you’re tired at the end of the day, the little things matter. We have incorporated stainless steel U-bolts into our boat hulls that provide a rock solid connection point for boat buckles mounted on the trailer.
These U-bolts are reinforced with a metal plate that is fiberglassed into the inside of the boat hull. The tie down system takes about 5 seconds per side, and the ratchet system holds the boat tighter to the trailer than any strap ever could. In addition, this system eliminates the need for a strap across the top of the boat, saving a lot of wear and tear on the interior pieces.
High Country Hulls
“Our hulls are built with a focus on rowing performance, lightweight materials and durability. The resin infusion process has been commonplace in the aerospace industry and in the high-end saltwater skiff production world for several decades and now we are proud to pioneer this process in the drift boat industry. Our hull design, dimensions and construction methods result in a boat that drafts incredibly little water, with the stability of a skiff and the maneuverability of a more traditional rockered Mckenzie style drifter. Due to epoxy resin’s better mechanical properties, we have chosen to use it exclusively in all of our hulls and parts. Epoxy is superior to all other types of resin, offering a rock-solid chemical bond between layers, advanced adhesion, durability, and flex. All of our boat bottoms come standard, coated with a super slick epoxy compound that adds durability as well as glide over rocks and shallow spots.”
Every High Country Boat is hand built from the ground up. Our hulls are constructed using a combination of hand-laid and vaccuum bagging methods. This results in a very high stiffness-to-weight ratio, providing a stiff and stable platform for the rest of the boat. We exclusively use epoxy resins in our construction process due to their superior properties. The basic chemical structure of epoxies makes them roughly three times stronger compared with the vinylester and polyester resins that are commonly used by most boat builders. This translates to better long-term durability, and virtually eliminates any hull degradation or water absorption over time. In addition, due to the honeycomb core and sandwich construction, should a repair ever be needed, it can easily be done in the field, even in remote locations. Finally, all of our hulls also come standard with an incredibly slick and durable epoxy coated bottom that will maintain a smooth and drag free finish for many years.
Rowing Performance
The incredible stiffness achieved by our hull construction is unmatched. When you pull on the oars, High Country Boats jump to it. With their skiff inspired footprint, our boats sit very high on the water, drafting little more than 3 inches, while still having enough rocker to handle big water and technical rowing situations.
Gunwhales
Stiff gunwhales are a must, and our constuction process blends old-world craftsmanship with new-age materials. We use solid, steam bent ash wood for all of our gunwhales. Ash is one of the hardiest woods available, providing unparalleled rigidity, strength, and shock absorption. All of our wood is completely sealed with epoxy resin, and then sprayed with an industrial truck bed liner. Bomber, functional, and sexy.
Most commercially produced drift boats come equipped with rolled fiberglass gunwhales, which we feel are too flimsy. Many of these boats can by flexed simply pushing down at the oarlocks. This translates to a lot of power lost during each oar stroke. Our gunwhales are super stiff, translating to better rowing performance and a more rigid boat. We steam bend all of our gunwhales to the shape of the boat, and then attach them with a high grade marine epoxy. This process is very time consuming and labor intensive, but the end result is worth it.
Interiors
The fit and finish of our interiors is what really sets them apart. The clean lines and intuitive layout options are second to none, and make them a pleasure to row and fish from. Clean, snag-free, and perfectly appointed, our interiors are reminiscent of a high end saltwater skiff, with everything you need, and nothing you don't.
We have spent years designing and refining our interior options and layout features. Every boat starts with full length decks, and can be completely customized from there. From a stripped down super-light skiff, to a decked out boat with all the bells and whistles, we can do it. All of our interiors are hand finished with our custom marine grade non skid paint, and outfitted with top of the line stainless steel and aluminum components. We offer infinite storage and seating options, with benches, boxes, and dry hatches all available. You design it, we build it. Period.
Hardware
Our boats are outfitted with top of the line marine grade stainless steel and aluminum components. From the nuts and bolts to the seats, we use only the best hardware available.
We don’t cut any corners when it comes to outfitting our boat interiors. We have tested every last thing on our interiors, and are confident in every piece. All of our anchor components come straight from Dierks Anchor Systems in Oregon. We use only waterproof Tempress All Weather seats, that are made to stand up to years of abuse. Our custom welded aluminum rower’s footbar is set into the floor with recessed threaded screws and can be easily adjusted. Our box and bench lids come equipped with hydraulic shock arms and latches that are placed out of the way of wandering fly lines. Everything is tight and where it needs to be.
Thigh Braces
The custom molded thigh braces are the first thing most people notice on our boats. Snag-free, rock solid, and beautifully hand crafted, these braces provide a stable platform to lean into as well as additional storage space.
We mold every piece of our thigh braces in house, and paint each one by hand. Our design allows for a completely free standing walk around brace that is capable of supporting the full weight of a large angler leaning or sitting on them. Permanently attached, our braces will never become wobbly with time. With recessed cup holders in the shade underneath the leg locks, and additional storage space for phones and rain jackets below, they are the perfect blend of function, durability, and craftsmanship.
Storage
As guides, we know the importance of storage in a boat. We offer infinite storage options, and every boat is totally customizeable to the customer's specifications.
The storage options start underneath both full length decks. These large spaces can be left completely open, outfitted with dry hatches, or a combination of both. Our walk around rower’s box is larger than most on the market, and can fit plenty of gear. For those who want even more dry storage, we offer a full length rower’s bench that ties in with dry storage underneath both decks. Additional storage space is available underneath both angler’s seats in the form of a box instead of pedestals.
Full length Rod Trays
Our recessed rod trays offer the ultimate convenince in rod storage.
With an open overhang on each side, our trays can easily accomodate ten foot rods, keeping an arsenal of rigs at your fingertips. Built to fit up to a ten weight reel (you’re welcome Musky fisherman) , these trays really are a game changer on the water.
Center Drain Plugs
Nobody wants to tilt their boat and leave it propped up ever time it rains. We have solved this problem with our center drain plugs. Simply pop the plug and walk away. Wade fishing in and out of the boat all day, and getting a puddle in the bottom? Let it drain on the ride home.
Our 3/4″ thick plascore hull bottom allows us to install center drain plugs without fear of popping the plugs out on the river. The plugs sit recessed up in the floor, and we have never had one pop unexpectedly on the water. As guides who live in wet climates, these center drains have been borderline life changing, and we can’t imagine ever going back to a boat without them. In addition to the center drains, our boats contain two drains in the standard spot at the stern of the boat that are great when rinsing the boat out with a pressure washer.
Tie Downs
Our tie down system eliminates awkward straps, and really streamlines the process at the boat ramp. When you're tired at the end of the day, the little things matter.
We have incorporated stainless steel U-bolts into our boat hulls that provide a rock solid connection point for boat buckles mounted on the trailer. These U-bolts are reinforced with a metal plate that is glassed into the inside of the boat hull. The tie down system takes about 5 seconds per side, and the ratchet system holds the boat tighter to the trailer than any strap ever could. In addition, this system eliminates the need for a strap across the top of the boat, saving a lot of wear tear on the interior pieces.