Buffalo River Shuttle Fees

[Danoinark]

Well Dano... thats just fine, but, it's to damn much! I am going to look into this further, and will give ya'll an answer. Gilbert hasn't answered me yet. If they don't, I'll call them. It's too dang much!

Agreed on it being to much....

[Al Agnew]

let's brake down this shuttle stuff ... an outfitter has to use 2 people to shuttle ...your car one way! $ 10 to 15 dollars per man hour... plus his shuttle truck.. fuel , both ways< for the shuttle van , insurance> taxes and the park service fees ...oh yes.. you bet ! they just are raking it in!!

As I understood it, Bobber, he was floating from Tyler Bend to Gilbert. Should be a simple shuttle, just one guy needed to drive them and the canoes to Tyler Bend, and then he drives back to Gilbert. Now if they were wanting somebody to come pick up their vehicle after they put in at Tyler Bend and drive it to Gilbert, yep, that means two people are necessary. But if that was the case then it was a bit of a goofy way to do the shuttle. If I'm right and it only took the one driver, then that was WAY excessive compared to other streams.

I've hired a lot of shuttles over the years. Cheapest ones for the distance traveled I've ever done were for the float from Buffalo Point to White River, either Buffalo City or Norfork. That's a one way shuttle of over 50 miles, and they have to use two people and their own vehicle to drive your vehicle to the take-out. The first time I ever did the Bufalo, many years ago, one of the Dillards, who was running a little motel at the time, did it for $15! And he thought he might be overcharging me. So I used Dillard's Canoe Rental every time afterwards, and although the price rose over the years, I think the most I ever paid was $70.

I've also had some cheap shuttles on the Jacks Fork and Current. One of the canoe rental guys at Alley Spring did several shuttles for me from Buck Hollow to Alley very reasonably...I don't remember the exact price, but it wasn't all that much. And all I've ever had to do was call him ahead of time to tell him I was coming and when I would be putting in at Buck Hollow, he would tell me how much it cost, and to just put in whenever, hide a set of keys on the car, and leave the money in the car, and he'd come and get it and drive it to his place whenever he got the time.

Of course, I've used some guys to shuttle so many times that we're now pretty good friends, and they usually give me a break on the shuttle. I've traded some of them a homemade fishing lure for the shuttle.

BUT...I think the whole key to getting good shuttle service cheap is to go during the week. Weekends, nearly all canoe liveries are BUSY, and not only unwilling but sometimes unable to do a customized shuttle. You either go with all their rentals at their times, or you don't go. But during the week many of them aren't busy at all, and quite willing to accommodate you.

I've also had some expensive shuttles. Anybody who shuttles on the upper Current in the trout sections tends to be pretty expensive. The canoe rentals at Ross Bridge on the Big Piney are pretty high.

For a simple shuttle where they are going with you in your car to the put-in and then driving it back to the take-out, seems to me that they should charge a minimum of $20 for their time spent. I'd say they should base it by the time it takes, and charge about $15-20 for each half hour they spend on the shuttle. More complicated shuttles should cost more.

The problem I've run into a few times recently is that insurance companies are starting to tell the canoe livery owners not to drive other people's vehicles, which means that you have to load your canoe and stuff on their vehicle, and if you're floating from their place downstream, they have to come and pick you up at a specified time. Canoe livery people HATE doing that if it's somebody they don't know, because they don't know whether the people can stay on a schedule and get to the take-out on time. I know that I'm always seeing canoe rental guys sitting at take-outs waiting on drunken idiots to get there.

If you have a good experience with a shuttle provider, treasure them. A good shuttle guy who will put you in early or come and get you at dark or put you in way upstream from his normal float IS a real treasure!

[Wheatenheimer]

Just shot an e-mail to the folks at the Gilbert store. If they send me an explanation I'll post it... still, I'm looking for a canoe....

KC

Well, looks like now is a good time for me to plug my buddy's canoe business!

A couple of weeks ago I picked up my very own Two Brothers Canoe. It is a 14'3" Royalex that the Shaw Brothers built. Louis is a good friend and he and his Brother build a heckuva boat.

They have a couple of the 14 footers left and they have began production on a 16 footer that should be ready in a couple of months. Their prices are very reasonable (about 35% less than Old Towne, Wenonah and Buffalo.)

Here is a pic of mine.

Check out their website at http://twobrotherscanoe.com/

Kevin

[Danoinark]

Looked at their website. Nice looking boat.

What is the weight of the 14 footer and what is its capacity? Couldn't find that listed on the website.

Dano

[Wheatenheimer]

Looked at their website. Nice looking boat.

What is the weight of the 14 footer and what is its capacity? Couldn't find that listed on the website.

Dano

Weighs about 60 lbs and the carrying capacity is estimated at 550 lbs. I've taken mine out a few times now, and I love it. It balances really well on the thwart when I carry it and floats nice and high, whether going tandem or soloing.

Thanks for looking Dano!

Kevin

[Flysmallie]

Good looking canoe and a nice website. Does each canoe come with one of those funny little cars?

Nice noodles by the way.

[hank franklin]

If you have a good experience with a shuttle provider, treasure them.

Amen to that.

The one thing I'll be critical of is the refusal to discount the second day of an overnight float trip. I had this discussion with a couple of outfitters: Let's say the private shuttle costs $50 and a regular canoe $40 per day. Well, if I knew I was getting an Old Town or comparable, I might be willing to use their boat and pay, say $65. But all three outfitters I've now proposed this to both said, nope, over night is $80. ($40 per day). Don't really get that. These were not peak period floats, where all their canoes would be out. They're doing the same amount of work either way.

No big deal though. A good outfitter is a float-fisher's best friend!

[KCRIVERRAT]

let's brake down this shuttle stuff ... an outfitter has to use 2 people to shuttle ...your car one way! $ 10 to 15 dollars per man hour... plus his shuttle truck.. fuel , both ways< for the shuttle van , insurance> taxes and the park service fees ...oh yes.. you bet ! they just are raking it in!!

Bobber, like Al said, all the wife and I did was drive to Gilbert, park the truck there, then took a van ride for the short little trip to TB. Like I said, I certainly understand shuttle fees being charged for long shuttles, even if they're not shuttling your vehicle (just you and your gear), with one guy providing the service.

Believe me... I'm not gonna quit floating the Buffalo because of any shuttle fees. Too beautiful of a river and the fishings great! Just posed the question concerning them because I don't know of any other outfitter on any other river that charges one for the particular trip we took.

KC

[KCRIVERRAT]

Received an e-mail reply from Gilbert. Didn't say much... basically what Bobber stated. Insurance is high, driver fees, leases, etc. They have to lease the parking lot where you keep your vehicle while floating.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Well Dano... thats just fine, but, it's to darn much! I am going to look into this further, and will give ya'll an answer. Gilbert hasn't answered me yet. If they don't, I'll call them. It's too dang much!

Dano... I apologize for my tone in this statement. No class on my part...

KC