The Kootenai Power Drifter is based on “The Bridges” design from Fletcher’s “Drift Boats and River Dories”. It is unique in that epoxy was utilized to fasten the mahogany plywood sides and bottom to the fir frames. The only metal fasteners utilized were to mount hardware. The hull is encapsulated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth and then receives 5 coats of varnish on the inside and outside of the hull. The bottom is protected with 18 oz. of fiberglass cloth saturated with 5 coats of epoxy and graphite. The finished boat weighs 285 pounds. With a 25 hp, Mercury Jet Outboard, the boat ran smoothly at 20 mph on its trial run on the Kootenai River.
