At Hyde, we’ve spent decades designing, building, fishing, and refining drift boats. Every decision we make is rooted in sound engineering, proven technology, quality materials, and real experience on the water.
We believe a great drift boat should do more than look good sitting on a trailer. It should row well, fish efficiently, hold up to years of use, and be built around the way you actually spend your time on the river.
That philosophy goes into every Hyde we build.
From hull design and construction to storage, seating, trailers, and individual options, each boat is built with purpose. We offer a wide range of models and layouts because no two anglers, rivers, or fishing styles are exactly alike.
Our goal is simple: help you build the right boat for the way you fish.
Tell us where you float, how you use your boat, who you typically fish with, and what matters most to you. Our team will help you choose the model, layout, and features that make the most sense for your time on the water.
For generations, Hyde has built drift boats right here in Idaho Falls. We build them. We fish them. We repair them. And we continue learning from every boat that comes through our doors.
That experience is built into every Hyde.
WE TEST THEM. | WE BUILD THEM. | WE FISH THEM.
Our Boats
A Hyde starts with quality materials, but materials are only part of the equation. How a boat is designed, built, assembled, finished, and tested matters just as much.
That’s why we build our boats ourselves at our manufacturing facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Keeping production in-house gives us control over the details from the beginning of a build to the moment the finished boat leaves our shop.
Our fiberglass work, aluminum fabrication, storage systems, interiors, trailers, and many of the components that bring a Hyde together are built by people who understand what these boats are expected to do.
We build boats to be used.
They need to handle long days on the river, changing water conditions, rocks, gear, dogs, coolers, anglers, guides, families, and years of loading and unloading at boat ramps.
Just as importantly, they need to row well while doing it.
After generations of building boats, we’re still refining the details. That combination of experience and continued development is a big part of what makes a Hyde a Hyde.
Fiberglass Boat Construction
Every Hyde fiberglass boat begins with the gel coat, which gives the boat its color and finish. With a wide range of color combinations available, each boat can be built to match the owner’s style.
From there, we begin the fiberglass layup process. Over decades of building and repairing drift boats, we’ve refined a combination of fiberglass materials and construction methods designed to provide the strength, durability, and flexibility a drift boat needs on the river.
Fiberglass construction is as much about the process as it is the materials. Proper preparation, application, curing, and layup all play a role in how a boat performs over time. Our fiberglass team continually trains on new materials, techniques, and industry developments so we can keep improving the way Hyde boats are built.
When you buy a Hyde, you’re getting quality materials, proven construction methods, and experienced craftsmen putting it all together by hand in Idaho Falls.
Photo caption: Hyde boats are built for demanding rivers and remote places, including destinations where access may only be possible by air.
Resin
Fiberglass gets its strength and structure from more than the glass itself. The resin that saturates and bonds those fiberglass layers together plays an important role in the strength, durability, water resistance, and long-term finish of the hull.
Hyde fiberglass boats are built using isophthalic resin, commonly referred to as iso resin.
We choose iso resin because of its combination of strength, flexibility, water resistance, and durability. Those characteristics make it well suited for a drift boat that will spend its life flexing, working through moving water, encountering rocks, and being exposed to the elements.
It’s a detail most people will never see once the boat is finished.
We still think it matters.
That philosophy carries throughout a Hyde. Some of the most important parts of a boat aren’t the things you notice in the showroom. They’re the materials and construction methods underneath the surface that determine how the boat performs years down the road.
Hand-Laid Fiberglass
Hyde fiberglass boats are built using hand-laid fiberglass construction.
Rather than simply building thickness, our fiberglass craftsmen place the fiberglass material by hand, allowing us to control the orientation, placement, and consistency of the material throughout the hull.
We use multidirectional fiberglass cloth to build strength in multiple directions while keeping the hull efficient and appropriately weighted.
Certain areas of a drift boat also experience more abuse than others. The chines, where the sides of the hull meet the bottom, regularly encounter rocks and other obstacles. We reinforce these high-impact areas with additional fiberglass during construction.
The goal isn’t simply to build a heavy boat.
It’s to put strength where the boat needs it.
Every fiberglass Hyde and many of our fiberglass components are built by hand by the craftsmen in our Idaho Falls facility.
Level Floors
A drift boat is a fishing platform, and you may spend an entire day standing in it. We believe the floor underneath you deserves just as much thought as the hull underneath the boat.
Hyde boats feature large, level floors designed to give anglers and rowers a comfortable, stable place to stand.
The textured surface is built directly into the fiberglass floor, providing durable traction without relying on an applied coating for grip.
Our level floor system also creates space beneath the standing surface, helping keep water, mud, and debris tracked into the boat away from your feet.
Built From the Inside Out
Our floor construction uses multiple materials working together to create a strong, lightweight structure.
Depending on the model, that construction can include:
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A textured gel coat surface for durable traction.
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Hand-laid fiberglass.
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A structural composite core.
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An embedded aluminum plate for additional strength and secure accessory mounting.
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Fiberglass beneath the assembly to tie the structure together.
The result is a floor designed around comfort, strength, versatility, and life on the river.
Hull Design
A drift boat should work with the water.
Hull shape influences how a boat tracks, holds, turns, ferries, and responds to the rower. Small changes in rocker, bottom shape, chines, bow, stern, and overall footprint can create noticeable differences on the water.
That’s why hull design has always been a major part of Hyde’s development process.
Over the years, Hyde has built, tested, changed, and refined numerous hull designs. We’ve used engineering principles, testing, feedback from guides and anglers, and countless hours on the water to continually improve how our boats perform.
Our hulls use smooth bottom profiles designed to allow water to move cleanly beneath the boat. Rounded stern designs, carefully developed rocker profiles, and model-specific dimensions all contribute to the characteristics of each Hyde.
Different rivers and different anglers call for different boats, which is why we build everything from low-profile fishing boats and skiffs to high-side models designed for bigger water.
The common goal is the same:
Build a boat that responds predictably, rows efficiently, and gives the person behind the oars confidence.
Built for the River
Drift boats live a demanding life.
Rocks happen. Shallow water happens. Boat ramps happen.
Instead of pretending otherwise, we build our boats with that reality in mind.
Our fiberglass construction, reinforced chines, floor systems, aluminum fabrication, and hull designs are all intended to create boats that can be fished hard and maintained for years.
And when those years eventually leave their mark, Hyde has something else working in your favor:
We know how to repair what we build.
Our repair department works on drift boats and trailers of all makes and models. That experience gives our team a unique perspective on how boats wear, where damage occurs, and what matters when designing something to last.
What we learn in the repair shop can help us build better boats in the production shop.
Fiberglass or Aluminum?
One of the first questions many customers ask is whether they should buy fiberglass or aluminum.
The answer depends on where you float, how you fish, and what you want from your boat.
Fortunately, Hyde builds both.
Aluminum
Aluminum is durable, proven, and well suited for demanding river use. It can take the bumps and impacts that come with shallow, rocky water, and it has been a trusted drift boat material for generations.
Hyde aluminum boats are fabricated and welded in-house. They combine an aluminum hull with features designed around fishing comfort, storage, and versatility.
Our aluminum boats also use durable painted finishes, giving customers the ability to choose a boat that performs hard while still looking sharp.
For anglers running rocky rivers, bigger water, or simply those who prefer the feel and tradition of an aluminum drift boat, it remains a great choice.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass offers a quiet ride, a smooth surface over rocks, extensive color choices, and excellent repairability.
Because fiberglass doesn’t transfer temperature the way bare metal can, it can also provide a comfortable platform in both hot and cold conditions.
Our hand-laid construction allows us to build fiberglass hulls with strength and durability without unnecessary weight.
For many anglers, fiberglass offers a great combination of rowing performance, comfort, appearance, and long-term serviceability.
Which One Is Right for You?
There isn’t one answer for every river or every angler.
Tell us where you plan to float and how you plan to use the boat. We build both materials, so our goal is simply to help you choose the one that makes the most sense for you.
The Hyde Fiberglass/Aluminum Combination
One of Hyde’s most useful construction features is the way we combine materials where each one makes sense.
Our fiberglass boats use a hand-laid fiberglass hull while incorporating aluminum into areas such as the floor structure and interior components.
Embedding aluminum reinforcement within the floor gives us a strong foundation for mounting seats, storage, leg braces, and accessories while maintaining the characteristics anglers like about a fiberglass hull.
Throughout the boat, we use fiberglass, aluminum, composite materials, and hardware based on the job each component needs to perform.
The result is a boat designed as a complete system rather than simply around one material.
Make It Your Own
How are you going to use your boat?
Fishing with two anglers?
Guiding every day?
Taking the family?
Camping overnight?
Carrying a dog, coolers, extra gear, or enough tackle to outfit a small fly shop?
A drift boat can serve a lot of purposes, and that’s why customization has always been a major part of Hyde.
We offer numerous seating arrangements, storage configurations, leg braces, rod-storage options, anchor systems, accessories, colors, flooring options, and other features that allow you to build around the way you use your boat.
The aluminum reinforcement built into our floor system also gives us tremendous flexibility when installing interior components and accessories.
And because we manufacture our boats in-house, customization doesn’t stop at a list of boxes on an order form.
Our welders, fabricators, fiberglass team, EVA department, and production crew can work together on custom solutions for customers with specific needs.
Some people want simple.
Some want every available option.
Most fall somewhere in between.
That’s the point.
It’s your boat.
Storage
Anyone who spends enough time in a drift boat knows how quickly gear accumulates.
Rain jackets. Lunch. Tackle. Cameras. Dry bags. Extra layers. Life jackets. Tools. Camping gear. Dog gear. And somehow, always, another fly box.
Storage has been a major part of Hyde interior design for years.
Depending on the model and configuration, Hyde boats can be equipped with bow storage, side storage, enclosed boxes, bench storage, rod storage, rower storage, cooler seating, and additional custom options.
Our aluminum storage boxes are built in-house, which gives us the ability to offer different configurations and create custom solutions when needed.
Good storage isn’t simply about fitting more stuff into a boat.
It’s about keeping gear organized, protected, and out of the way so the interior remains comfortable and fishable.
A well-designed boat gives everything a place without making you feel like you’re rowing a storage unit down the river.
Rod Storage
Fly rods are long, expensive, and somehow always capable of finding the one thing in the boat that can break them.
We take rod storage seriously.
Depending on model and configuration, Hyde boats offer integrated rod-storage systems designed to keep rods organized, protected, and easily accessible throughout the day.
Different layouts are available to accommodate the needs of recreational anglers, guides, and anyone who believes the appropriate number of rods for a day of fishing is “one more.”
It’s another example of something that seems small until you spend a full day on the water.
Then it matters a lot.
Trailers
The boat gets most of the attention, but your trailer is responsible for getting it to and from the river every single time you fish.
So we build those too.
Hyde trailers are manufactured at our Idaho Falls facility and designed specifically around drift boats.
Building them ourselves allows us to control fit and construction while also giving customers a variety of options and accessories.
Depending on your needs, trailers can be equipped with features such as additional diamond plate, different finishes, storage solutions, rollers, spare tires, upgraded components, and other custom additions.
We can also work with customers who have unusual transportation needs or want a trailer configured for more than a standard boat-and-trailer setup.
A Hyde trailer isn’t an afterthought attached to the end of the build.
It’s part of the system that keeps you fishing.
Hyde Service & Repair
Building the boat is the beginning of the relationship, not the end.
Hyde operates a full-service repair facility in Idaho Falls where we work on all makes and models of drift boats and trailers, including fiberglass and aluminum boats.
From routine maintenance and small repairs to major refurbishment work, our team has spent decades helping keep boats on the water.
That repair experience also matters when you’re buying a new Hyde.
We see boats after years of real-world use. We see what gets hit, what wears, what anglers change, and what they wish they had done differently.
That knowledge finds its way back into the boats we build.
And if your Hyde ever needs work down the road, you know where it came from and you know where to bring it.
Parts, Accessories & Fly Shop
Owning a boat means your needs don’t stop the day you take delivery.
Our online store carries parts, accessories, boat gear, apparel, fishing equipment, and products designed to help you maintain, customize, and enjoy your boat.
Many Hyde replacement parts and accessories can be shipped directly to your door, and our team is available to help make sure you’re getting the right part for your boat.
If you’re passing through Idaho Falls, stop in and see us.
Talk boats. Grab some gear. Ask about fishing. Tell us where you’ve been.
Or just stop in to swap fish stories.
We’re good with that too.
Warranty
We build Hyde boats and trailers with the expectation that they’re going to be around for a long time.
And we stand behind what we build.
Every new Hyde drift boat and trailer is guaranteed to the original owner against defects in workmanship and materials, including bottom punctures and leaks.
Used Hyde Drift Boats purchased directly from Hyde also receive the lifetime warranty on the hull and trailer extended to the new owner.
Normal wear and tear, abuse, neglect, accidents, and other damage outside the warranty can still be repaired by our team at a reasonable charge.
We’ve been building boats for generations, and our goal is to support Hyde owners long after the boat leaves our shop.
Build them well. Stand behind them. Keep people on the river.
It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.
Four Generations of Boat Building
The Hyde family’s connection to drift boats stretches back to the early 1950s, when LaMoyne Hyde built his first drift boat with his father, Keith.
Those early boats were built to fish the Salt and Snake Rivers of western Wyoming.
A lot has changed since then.
Wood gave way to aluminum and fiberglass. Hull designs evolved. New models were created. Materials changed. Storage grew. Fishing styles changed. Manufacturing technology improved.
But the reason for building them never really did.
We wanted a better boat to fish from.
That same mindset continues through four generations of the Hyde family and through the craftsmen who build our boats today.
New ideas come from engineering, our employees, guides, customers, the repair shop, and time spent behind the oars.
We don’t believe a drift boat is ever finished evolving.
There is always another river to fish and another idea worth trying.
Why Buy a Hyde?
Because a Hyde is more than a hull.
It’s the result of generations of boat building, decades of time on the water, and a company that still builds what it sells.
We build our own fiberglass boats.
We fabricate our aluminum boats.
We build our trailers.
We build storage and accessories.
We customize boats around the people who will actually use them.
We repair them when they’ve been used hard.
And we stand behind them after they leave our shop.
We know that buying a drift boat is a significant investment. We also know most people aren’t buying one just to own another piece of equipment.
They’re buying days on the river.
Trips with friends.
Guide seasons.
Family memories.
Early mornings, long floats, big fish, bad casts, good stories, and hopefully a whole lot of years behind the oars.
We take our part in that seriously.
Tell us how you fish, where you float, and what you need from your boat. We’ll help you build a Hyde around it.
A Note From LaMoyne Hyde
My family has been building and fishing drift boats for generations. From the beginning, we’ve believed in building a boat with integrity, using quality materials, thoughtful design, and the best craftsmanship we can provide.
That philosophy has guided Hyde through decades of changes in boats, materials, rivers, and fishing.
We’re proud of the boats we build, but more importantly, we’re grateful for the people who choose to spend their time on the water in them.
Thank you for considering Hyde. We hope to see you on the river.
LaMoyne Hyde & the Hyde Drift Boats Team