Our documentary follows a linear timeline in five acts:
The story begins with John West, who widened and shortened the boats in use during the 1920s to make it smaller and easier to manage. This change not only made the boat more efficient for fishing but also doubled the earning potential for river guides by providing space for two anglers. His version, affectionately described as a “bathtub with oarlocks,” became the go-to design for more than 15 years.
Next up - two pioneering river guides:
Veltie Pruitt and Prince Helfrich were among the first to navigate many of Oregon’s wild rivers from top to bottom. Their exploration helped lay the groundwork for what would become the McKenzie River Drift Boat. The early version of the boat was lightweight, made with a board-and-batten construction, and could easily be loaded onto a car. It carried just a rower and one passenger—ideal for exploring the rugged waters they were mapping.
In the next chapter, we meet Tom Kaarhus:
Tom was a boat-building professional who applied his knowledge and problem-solving skills to modify the boat John West had created ten years earlier. This modification made it the boat used by guides and river runners for nearly twenty years. With the introduction of exterior plywood, Tom was able to develop a free-form boat-building method using pre-cut parts in kits that enthusiasts could assemble at home. Soon, the square-ended drift boat was everywhere on the river.
Woodie Hindman shapes the double-ender:
The evolution continued with Woodie Hindman, a former apprentice of Kaarhus. He brought innovation to the boat’s design by building the first double-ended drift boat—an idea sparked by a near-disaster on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. His new design improved performance in rough water and became the most visible landmark in the boat’s development.
Oregon’s Boat grows whitewater recreation:
The story then takes an unexpected turn to the Grand Canyon, where conservationist Martin Litton, inspired by a ride in a McKenzie River drift boat during a White Water Parade, commissioned two boats for trips down the Colorado River. These boats played a key role in his environmental advocacy, even appearing in the Sierra Club’s famous campaign to preserve the Grand Canyon during the 1960s, and eventually assisted in creating his commercial guiding business on the Colorado.
Represents Oregon on the National Mall:
Finally, the documentary brings it home with the boat’s lasting legacy. After decades of innovation and adventure, the McKenzie River Drift Boat was chosen to represent Oregon in the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial exhibition on the National Mall, sponsored by the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Museum. Master boatbuilder Keith Steele and his team crafted the now-iconic vessel in just a few days, cementing its place in both regional and national history.
But perhaps the most compelling aspect of Oregon’s Boat is what comes after the credits roll.
The final act of the film moves into the post-1950s era—a time when many of the key players are still living, and the story is still unfolding.
The McKenzie River Drift Boat isn’t just a relic of the past; it’s part of an ongoing narrative shaped by today’s guides, builders, and river communities. The film invites viewers to not only reflect on where this boat came from but to ask, “What comes next?” In that way, Oregon’s Boat isn’t just a documentary—it’s an open invitation to be part of a living legacy.
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Brittany Mason is a fine art landscape and portrait photographer located in Blue River, Oregon. She completed her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Art University in 2022 and received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2014. Currently she is a Photojournalist and Project Manager for the McKenzie Community Partnership as she continues her explorations of the western landscapes. Brittany is passionate about using her camera as a tool for connection between humans and nature. Through her work, she embodies the essence of Mother Earth to give a voice to the landscapes that have been silenced and destroyed by the hand of man. In her free time, Brittany enjoys live music, hiking, reading, crafting, and watching Star Trek.