Drift Boat Safety and Ferrying Class at Pisgah Center

Pre-registration is required. Visit www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah to sign up.

The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education will host a presentation on drift boats from 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2011. The presenter is retired Western Carolina University Engineering and Technology Prof. Robert Dalley, a drift boat designer, builder and fisherman. He has been featured on the “Bob Caldwell Outdoors” segment of WLOS-TV news and recognized for his fishing expertise in Sports Illustrated magazine.

Drift boats, also known as McKenzie boats, are specialized fishing vessels powered by oars with a specialized shape, adept for maneuvering down mountain rivers.

Participants will learn about oar selection, anchor systems and anchoring selection, and hull materials and design and view the video, “A Smoky Mountain Drift Boat Adventure.” The program will cover design elements that make drift boats safer on the water and discuss how to handle whitewater situations. Prof. Dalley will explain ferrying and safe operation in an on-the-water demonstration.

Thx Melinda

Melinda Patterson
Center Director
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
PO Box 1600/1401 Fish Hatchery Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
(828) 877-4423

Definitely a must for any future drift boaters out there. Bring the fly rod and hit the D after the presentation!