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SEP/OCT 2019
FISHING|
FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING
BY NEIL KORN | PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN JENKINS
poling platform fabricated by TOR-FAB LLC in Prineville, along with the trolling
motor mount. I finished it off with a fresh paint job.”
The cost involved to renovate the boat pale in comparison with buying a brand
new Flats Boat. A brand new Flats Boat typically runs around $100K. Chris
originally purchased the boat for $900, a steal. A rough estimate of materials
for renovation included (excluding trolling and outboard motor) was $1,500.
The original $900 included a jet motor, but he later discovered it wasn’t work-
ing properly. A brand new 25hp motor cost him $3,125. Chris estimates he
spent roughly 100 hours renovating the boat.
Chris said about his boat renovation, “after a lot of trial and error, it’s more
than I had hoped for.” When Chris finally finished with the project and caught
his first fish from the boat, he felt like all the frustrations and hours spent
working out the kinks were finally paying off.
A few of Chris’ fishing buddies helped along the way and saw the results.
Then they joined him aboard to fish. This excitement transferred over to few
of his friends and they are already in search of their own project (Chris as a
consultant).
Now that the “new” Flat Boat has seen water, Chris is ready to go fishing at all
his favorite spots around Central Oregon and beyond. The high cascade lakes
and the lower Deschutes are two of his favorites but don’t expect him to tell
you where the fish are biting.
Christian Jenkins was born in Oregon and raised in Sisters and Bend. His father
introduced him to fly fishing at eleven and he hasn’t looked back since. For nine
years he worked for the Fly Fisher’s Place, in the shop and as a guide. Later on,
Chris started a house painting business that keeps him very busy, but not too
busy to give up his love of fishing. Chris enjoys fishing in Central Oregon lakes
and rivers as well as out of the country when finances allow.
Chris always wanted to turn a Jon Boat into a Flats Style Boat and over the last
year he accomplished this dream. For Chris, this Flats Boat would be his first
renovation of any boat. The process was well planned but as with any renovation,
there were bumps in the road.
Many readers won’t recognize the difference between these two styles, so Chris
explains, “the main difference between a Jon Boat and a Flats style boat is the
poling platform. What makes this [flats] style of boat unique to Central Oregon
is that it is typically used on tropical coastlines, where shallow fishing grounds,
or “flats,” are more common. The high platform on the back allows better visibility
for sight fishing. The 19 1⁄2 foot push pole helps navigate the shallow waters
without the noise of a motor. So I bought this boat with an old jet motor on the
back and nothing else inside. I had to build a carpeted deck on the back and the
front of the boat to provide more space for us to walk and fish. I then had the
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