We are always proud of local Colorado companies that are producing world-class fly fishing equipment and gear. Boulder Boat Works is one of them. Headquartered in Carbondale, Colorado, it’s a company founded by, owned and staffed by avid fly anglers.
Boulder Boat Works expertly balances time-honored woodworking techniques with modern mechanics and advanced plastics to produce drift boats that are nearly indestructible.
We are proud to be a Boulder Boats dealer here in the Front Range and have one of their High Side Guide boats on display at the Boathouse in Littleton. Stop by to check this one out, and ask any other questions you may have about their boats. We are big fans!
With multiple models to choose from, how do you pick the right drift boat for your style of fishing? Boulder Boat works provided some helpful insight…
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOAT:
Choosing the right drift boat can help create a better fly fishing experience. Whether you’re navigating a high-gradient freestone river, threading through a shallow rock garden, or tracking down a tailwater bank on a windy day, Boulder Boat Works offers three distinct models. Each of them caters to different angler needs. Let’s break down the strengths and attributes of the High Side, Low Side, and River Skiff boat models.
HIGH SIDE DORY DRIFT BOAT: THE RUGGED ADVENTURER
Strengths:
- Big Water Navigation: The Boulder Boat Works High Side Dory is ideal for those high-gradient rivers and wave trains. The 35” bow helps blast through standing waves and keep lateral waves at bay.
- Versatility: The High Side Dory is a do-it-all hull that can tackle anything thrown its way. This boat is designed for bigger water, but is a fine fishing platform for all applications, including stillwater. It’s the row-it-all option in the Boulder Boat Works lineup.
- Superior Safety: The elevated sides provide an extra layer of safety against lateral waves and large wave trains to keep water out and anglers, boat dogs and kiddos in the boat. The High Side is also a great option for novice oarsmen due to the forgivable nature of the high sidewalls.
Dimensions:
Length: 191”
Centerline (length of bottom): 166”
Bottom Width at Oarlocks: 52”
Beam (width between oarlocks): 76”
Oarlock Height: 25”
Bow Height: 33”
Stern Height: 23”
LOW SIDE DORY DRIFT BOAT: THE AGILE PERFORMER
Strengths:
- Maneuverability: The Low Sided Dory is the sports car of this drift boat fleet. It’s ideal for quick navigation through rock gardens while still being able to handle wave trains with its pointed bow.
- Better Sightlines: The 25” bow (10” lower than the High Side) helps provide clearer sight lines and 5” shorter length allows the Low Side to excel in read-and-run scenarios on the water with its quick pivot characteristics.
- Configurations: The Low Side hull provides three different interior build configurations (Guide, Pro Guide, & Hybrid), granting a perfect fit for an angler’s specific needs in terms of price, seating, dry storage, cooler space, and rod storage.
Dimensions:
Length: 186”
Centerline (length of bottom): 166”
Bottom Width at Oarlocks: 52”
Beam (width between oarlocks): 74”
Oarlock Height: 25”
Bow Height: 25”
Stern Height: 22”
RIVER SKIFF DRIFT BOAT: THE STABLE SPECIALIST
Strengths:
- Stability: The wide bottom, longer wet line, and pronounced chines help hold your line with little effort, making the River Skiff an ideal boat for those slower tailwater rivers with prevalent wind.
- Interior Space: The blunt nose design, long centerline, and 78-inch beam opens up the interior of the boat, and provides the most spacious boat in the fleet, with a ton of real estate for gear, coolers, or your favorite boat dog.
- Predictability: The addition of rocker on the skiff bottom provides versatility to be predictable when tracking but still capable of navigating reasonable wave trains and laterals on faster flowing rivers.
Dimensions:
Length: 190”
Centerline (length of bottom): 164”
Bottom Width at Oarlocks: 52”
Beam (width between oarlocks): 78”
Oarlock Height: 26”
Bow Height: 22”
Stern Height: 23”
BUILT DIFFERENT
Each one of Boulder Boat Works drift boats is hand crafted and built with over 100 hours of labor by a team of craftsmen to produce drift boats that are both aesthetically beautiful and highly functional.
- Hull: The hand-welded hulls are designed to withstand tough conditions at the lowest of waters. The natural buoyancy, flexibility, and quiet nature are all major upsides of these boats.
- Structure: The use of white ash hardwood for structural components helps provide that classic feel of a wooden drift boat. Then various finish options allow anglers to select a finish that makes it their own. The rest of the interior polymer components throughout the boat are hand milled and welded to provide a uniform look and lightweight feel of the boat. Stainless steel hardware is used throughout the boat to eliminate any corrosion or rust.
WHICH BOAT FITS YOUR FISHING STYLE?
- For the Adventurous Angler: The High Side is your reliable partner in rough and wild waters. Ideal rivers for the High Side include the Roaring Fork River, the Upper Colorado River, the Green River (UT), Lehigh River, and Rogue River.
- For the All-Round Angler: The Low Side offers versatility and ease, perfect for a variety of water conditions. Ideal Rivers for the Low Side include the Gunnison River, Rio Grande River, Yellowstone River, Snake River, and South Holston River.
- For the Specialist Angler: The Skiff is unparalleled in the low gradient tailwater and freestone rivers with a propensity for wind. Ideal Rivers for the River Skiff include the Madison River, Missouri River, Bitterroot River, Bighorn River, North Platte River, San Juan River, and Delaware River.
Boulder Boat Works drift boats are works of art and engineering, allowing anglers to choose a boat that can fit different styles of fishing and the rivers that you visit most frequently.
Contact Us With Questions
Have questions or need help with your next drift boat? Stop by the Anglers All Boathouse at 5211 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. Or give us a call at 303-794-1104 and we’d be happy to talk you through the options.