Oregon’s rivers and streams are home to some of the finest outdoor adventures in the country and there is unique history in a watercraft design that some call the “All Oregon Boat.” When you sit between the oars of an Oregon classic called the “Driftboat,” you slide across rapids, slip past boulders and leave all of your troubles behind.

For local boat builder Ray Heater, you also touch Oregon history.

“Oh, the drift boat is really a special type of boat the represents the state of Oregon.
That has always attracted me – why don’t I build something else? Because I’m a fisherman and I love to float rivers and I’ve never seen a craft that can perform as well as this simple boat.”

Heater builds wooden drift boats in his Welches, Oregon shop; a business called Ray’s River Dories. He’s the last to make a living by cutting, drilling and hammering doug fir and cedar into boats that take people down rivers. Heater’s career spans more than four decades and it has been built upon a boat design that’s all Oregon. Drift boats were spawned on the McKenzie and Rogue Rivers in the early 20th century and at first, the boats hauled supplies. By the 1940’s anglers paid big money to fishing guides like Woodie Hindman who would take fishermen, called “Dudes,” down rivers to catch fish.

Heater noted, “It’s really a floating platform for your camping and fishing gear – that’s really what it’s all about.” Headded that the all Oregon boat was distinct because it safely rode atop the waves.

“Oh man, they can provide a piece of ballet – water ballet! Those guys between the oars would just dance across those waves with the oars – it’s a rush – a real rush…I mean I like to fish, but I like to run that whitewater.”

Ray Heater is not alone in his quest to protect and preserve the “All Oregon Boat.”

He explained: “People will say, ‘you should write something down about this.’ And I say, ‘Oh boy, that’s going to be a tough one for me, I’d rather build a boat than write about one. Well, then along came Roger Fletcher, who walks into my shop one day and says, ‘I’m writing a book about the river boat. I thought, ‘You are the man.”

Roger Fletcher never thought of himself as the man to save a chapter of Oregon history – he just likes the shape and feel and history of wooden drift boats. He builds them too – models – that are scaled down versions.

“They basically require the same technique of a person building a traditional drift boat – just smaller. There isn’t anything fancy about it, but when you look at the lines of a Mckenzie River drift boat, there isn’t a prettier set of lines

Fletcher has had a love affair with drift boats since a boy. Today, he is the author of a new book called “Drift Boats and River Dories,” that tells the story of the earliest boats that were developed for Oregon rivers. He calls the drift boat design a “unique contribution to the boating world” and adds that few people know about them although they’ve likely seen them and perhaps been lucky enough to even fish in one.

“It’s the crescent shape and a fellows like Hindman, Veltie Pruitt and Prince Helfrich who designed and originally built them. They all fell in love with the design because it assumed the crescent shape of the waves. Plus, people fell in love with the ride.”

And who wouldn’t? Today, drift boating’s popularity has spread across the country. The “All Oregon Boat” can be seen on rivers across the country, wherever there are rivers waiting for adventure. Now, thanks to Roger Fletcher, more people will know of the boat’s important past.

“My hope,” he added, “is that more people will see more of these traditional and highly functional and beautiful boats out on the rivers. It’s tough not to fall in love with this boat. If a person hasn’t been in one – gets in one, has a day’s experience in one – he’ll be back.”

Each spring, there is an annual gathering of wooden drift boats and their builders on the banks of the McKenzie River. It is held at Eagle Rock Lodge and offers newcomers a chance to learn more about the boats and their lasting place in Oregon boating history.

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays and Saturdays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network.

McKenzie River – Jewel of the Cascades
East of Eugene and west of Sisters lays the McKenzie River Valley. From the headwaters at Clear Lake to its confluence with the Willamette River, the McKenzie offers 70 miles of rafting, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and rustic lodging. Swift and exciting, but moderate and manageable, the upper McKenzie River’s crystal clear waters, deep turquoise pools and continuous whitewater offer an exhilarating getaway for seasoned rafters and active beginners alike. The section of the McKenzie from Paradise Campground to Blue River offers 15 miles of active and splashy class II rafting and beautiful forest scenery. You can extend your rafting trip with a visit to Sisters or take advantage of the many rustic lodges along the river.

Deschutes River – Sunshine, Splashes & Smiles
The Deschutes River is the recreation life-blood of central Oregon, running for over half the length of the Oregon Cascades from Little Lava Lake south of Bend to the Columbia River near The Dalles. The last 100 miles of the river are an extremely popular destination for rafting and fishing with the centrally-located town of Maupin rightly holding the title of Oregon’s Rafting Mecca. The “Maupin Run” is Oregon’s most popular one-day rafting trip delivering big (but not too big) class III excitement at Wapanitia, Box Car and Oak Springs Rapids. Numerous other rapids and the opportunity for an adventure swim at Elevator Rapid provide the perfect active day-trip getaway. This high-desert rafting venue offers dependable sunshine, beautiful desert canyon scenery and professional photographers at the major rapids to capture your mile-wide smile. You can extend your rafting trip with a visit to the Columbia River Gorge or Mt. Hood.

North Umpqua River – Paddle Rafting Challenge
The post-card-perfect North Umpqua River is one of Oregon’s most scenic and exciting river trips. Off the beaten path, the North Umpqua sees far fewer rafters than the McKenzie & Deschutes, but the extra time it takes to get there is well worth it. Tucked away in the Cascade Mountains east of Roseburg, the North Umpqua offers plenty of class III rapids with a class IV climax at Pinball Rapid. Adventurous beginners and veteran rafters alike enjoy the active paddling, old-growth scenery and wilderness feel of the river canyon. The section of the river from Boulder Flat Campground to the Gravel Bin boat launch provides the best concentration of exciting rapids and stunning scenery. The North Umpqua River is a “one-tank-getaway” from Eugene, Bend or Grants Pass. You can also extend your trip with great local options for camping, hiking and fishing, a visit to nearby Crater Lake National Park or a night at historic Steamboat Inn.

Brian Sykes is the General Manager at Ouzel Outfitters in Central Oregon. The day trips listed above can be booked at http://www.OregonRafting.com