Stolen Drift Boat!

Warmouth · 10-26-12, 12:05 PM

I recently had my McKenzie style driftboat stolen and am desperate to recover it. I have pictures of it, posted at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...t-boatanother/.
It was stolen from Callaway Gardens and was last seen being towed behind a small white pickup on October 2, 2012. This boat and trailer are very, very special to me as they are one-of-a-kind hand-built originals. At first glance it looks like a wooden boat because it has wooden gunnels but it is actually fiberglass. I have a very strong sentimental attachment to this boat and trailer because I built it with my dad way back in 1995. It was the last project that he and I did together before he passed away. My hope was to share many days fly fishing with my 13 year old son in it and pass it along to him someday.
Those who are familiar with the different brands of driftboats will recognize that it is a little different than any of them. The boat is 15’ 10” stem to stern and 54” wide on the bottom. The interior is laid out to put the maximum amount of distance between the two anglers. It has a shorter front casting deck than most and more distance between the oarsman and the front caster. When it was stolen it was white and royal blue and had “Coosa River Drifters” in white letters along the sides, although that can be easily changed. It has a small storage opening in the front deck, level non-skid floors, a storage box under the rowing seat, wooden gunnels, a foot release anchor system, two drain plugs in the transom, and a drain plug under the rowing seat. The front seat pedestal is fiberglass and looks exactly like an upside down Rubbermaid container because that is what I used for a mold. It had grey and blue seats when stolen. There are lots of scratches and gouges in the chines and bottom from many years of scraping rocks. The floors have a rougher texture than most boats. The rowing seat rests on two shelves that run along the inside of the boat, and those shelves have little compartments to keep accessories in.
The trailer looks like a standard driftboat trailer except that it has a square tube axle and bolt-on rotors from an automobile. The full length roller across the back is larger in diameter than most and was a roller from a conveyer of some sort. The trailer was in grey primer when stolen.
You can read more about how and why I built the boat at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...g-stuff-boats/ and see a video with several pictures and scenes of it at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...e-coosa-river/. If anyone has any information about this boat, if you see it on the river or for sale somewhere, or see it being towed, PLEASE pass along any information you may have (tag # etc). I will grant total amnesty just to get it back. You can call me at work at three-three-four-seven-four-five-two-four-six-four or e mail me at: tcs (dot) cawarmouth @ bellsouth (dot) net.

derricko1 · 10-26-12, 12:34 PM

Oh my God...that makes me sick to my stomach. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Jimmy Harris · 10-26-12, 01:34 PM

Carl, I just put your story up on our Face Book page. Hope it helps track your boat down.

Warmouth · 10-26-12, 02:40 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Any way that anyone can help get the word out through club meetings or anything would be really appreciated. I literally wake up throughout the night distraught over this.

Moye · 10-26-12, 03:18 PM

All FLFA members have gotten an email with your post. I sure hope you find your boat soon. What a treasure!

Warmouth · 10-26-12, 03:31 PM

Thank you Moye. That's good of you.

THE EG · 10-26-12, 05:56 PM

I would hope folks affiliated with other message boards would post this throughout the US so no matter where they go, somebody notices.

Anytime a new drift boat shows up people notice. And that one is pretty unique. The cutout cupholder, the retangular cubby holes, etc.

Cut and paste this:

http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/foru...eferrerid=7292

fishtacos · 10-27-12, 08:15 AM

That's terrible. Best of luck.

JOHNKIES · 10-27-12, 10:18 AM

More ID would be useful, for example the license plate from the trailer and the SN if available as well as the GA registration number from the boat. As you built it, doubtful a SN, but did you leave any indelible unique ID like with a wood workers branding iron? For my vehicles, I always drop a plastic laminated business card down inside the driver's door. Just in case.

Trout8myfly · 10-27-12, 11:36 AM

Just embedding photos of the boat into the thread:

ETA: Johnkies, no license plate required for boat trailers in Alabama.

10-26-12, 12:05 PM	#1
Warmouth Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Opelika AL, by way of East Tennessee Posts: 415	Stolen Drift Boat! I recently had my McKenzie style driftboat stolen and am desperate to recover it. I have pictures of it, posted at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...t-boatanother/. It was stolen from Callaway Gardens and was last seen being towed behind a small white pickup on October 2, 2012. This boat and trailer are very, very special to me as they are one-of-a-kind hand-built originals. At first glance it looks like a wooden boat because it has wooden gunnels but it is actually fiberglass. I have a very strong sentimental attachment to this boat and trailer because I built it with my dad way back in 1995. It was the last project that he and I did together before he passed away. My hope was to share many days fly fishing with my 13 year old son in it and pass it along to him someday. Those who are familiar with the different brands of driftboats will recognize that it is a little different than any of them. The boat is 15’ 10” stem to stern and 54” wide on the bottom. The interior is laid out to put the maximum amount of distance between the two anglers. It has a shorter front casting deck than most and more distance between the oarsman and the front caster. When it was stolen it was white and royal blue and had “Coosa River Drifters” in white letters along the sides, although that can be easily changed. It has a small storage opening in the front deck, level non-skid floors, a storage box under the rowing seat, wooden gunnels, a foot release anchor system, two drain plugs in the transom, and a drain plug under the rowing seat. The front seat pedestal is fiberglass and looks exactly like an upside down Rubbermaid container because that is what I used for a mold. It had grey and blue seats when stolen. There are lots of scratches and gouges in the chines and bottom from many years of scraping rocks. The floors have a rougher texture than most boats. The rowing seat rests on two shelves that run along the inside of the boat, and those shelves have little compartments to keep accessories in. The trailer looks like a standard driftboat trailer except that it has a square tube axle and bolt-on rotors from an automobile. The full length roller across the back is larger in diameter than most and was a roller from a conveyer of some sort. The trailer was in grey primer when stolen. You can read more about how and why I built the boat at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...g-stuff-boats/ and see a video with several pictures and scenes of it at http://dominionproject.wordpress.com...e-coosa-river/. If anyone has any information about this boat, if you see it on the river or for sale somewhere, or see it being towed, PLEASE pass along any information you may have (tag # etc). I will grant total amnesty just to get it back. You can call me at work at three-three-four-seven-four-five-two-four-six-four or e mail me at: tcs (dot) cawarmouth @ bellsouth (dot) net. __________________ Then Peter said, "I'm going fishing." The disciples replied, we're going too, and they got in the boat..." John 21:3a And now, I pray thee, take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and hunt me venison. Genesis 27:3

10-26-12, 01:34 PM	#3
Jimmy Harris Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Helen, Ga USA Posts: 2,803	Carl, I just put your story up on our Face Book page. Hope it helps track your boat down. __________________ Jimmy Harris Unicoi Liars Club Unicoi Outfitters Online Store

10-26-12, 02:40 PM	#4
Warmouth Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Opelika AL, by way of East Tennessee Posts: 415	Thank you, thank you, thank you! Any way that anyone can help get the word out through club meetings or anything would be really appreciated. I literally wake up throughout the night distraught over this. __________________ Then Peter said, "I'm going fishing." The disciples replied, we're going too, and they got in the boat..." John 21:3a And now, I pray thee, take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and hunt me venison. Genesis 27:3

10-26-12, 03:31 PM	#6
Warmouth Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Opelika AL, by way of East Tennessee Posts: 415	Thank you Moye. That's good of you. __________________ Then Peter said, "I'm going fishing." The disciples replied, we're going too, and they got in the boat..." John 21:3a And now, I pray thee, take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and hunt me venison. Genesis 27:3

10-26-12, 05:56 PM	#7
THE EG Past Director, Hall of Fame Member, Designated Message Board Prude Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: East Cherokee County, GA Posts: 4,776	I would hope folks affiliated with other message boards would post this throughout the US so no matter where they go, somebody notices. Anytime a new drift boat shows up people notice. And that one is pretty unique. The cutout cupholder, the retangular cubby holes, etc. Cut and paste this: http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/foru...eferrerid=7292 __________________ I hope someday to say something funny enough or interesting enough that someone will make it their signature. - Gatorbyte

10-26-12, 12:34 PM	#2
derricko1 Native Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Morningside, Atlanta. Posts: 296	Oh my God...that makes me sick to my stomach. I'm so sorry to hear that.

10-26-12, 03:18 PM	#5
Moye Native Join Date: Oct 1998 Posts: 438	All FLFA members have gotten an email with your post. I sure hope you find your boat soon. What a treasure!

10-27-12, 08:15 AM	#8
fishtacos Native Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 77	That's terrible. Best of luck.

10-27-12, 10:18 AM	#9
JOHNKIES Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Laurel Park, NC USA Posts: 3,771	More ID More ID would be useful, for example the license plate from the trailer and the SN if available as well as the GA registration number from the boat. As you built it, doubtful a SN, but did you leave any indelible unique ID like with a wood workers branding iron? For my vehicles, I always drop a plastic laminated business card down inside the driver's door. Just in case.

10-27-12, 11:36 AM	#10
Trout8myfly Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 4,544	Just embedding photos of the boat into the thread: ETA: Johnkies, no license plate required for boat trailers in Alabama. __________________ "What's his offense?" "Groping for trouts in a peculiar river." ― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure Last edited by Trout8myfly; 10-27-12 at 11:44 AM.

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