RO Drift Boats

What RO Drift Boats does

RO Drift Boats is a private, family-owned manufacturer of custom-built drift boats and skiffs headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. Founded in 1995 by Roy "Ro" Eddins in Idaho and relocated to Montana in 2006 under the leadership of his son Robert Eddins, the company produces five core models — Guide (flagship, since 1997), LSG (Low Side Guide), Tailwater Skiff, Classic Skiff, and Deville LS — plus purpose-built trailers in partnership with Black Dog Trailers. The boats are handcrafted using a proprietary composite layup process that strategically places fiberglass, Kevlar, Innegra, basalt, and carbon fiber in high-impact zones to optimize strength-to-weight ratio, yielding hull weights of 285-425 lbs and draft depths of 3-5 inches.

The company's product platform supports a modular feature ecosystem including the RO Rod Locker (integrated gunnel-mounted rod storage), RO Standing Braces, Carbon Fiber builds, Carbon Kevlar Reinforced Chines, Aquatraction marine flooring, integrated magnetic net holders, custom vinyl wraps via SCS, the RO Rear Dog Deck, and adaptive/disability features for anglers with limited mobility. All boats carry a lifetime warranty on fiberglass components.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with no dealer network: customers submit build inquiry forms online, consult with the company on specifications, and either pick up boats in Bozeman or arrange delivery. Revenue is generated through quote-based custom hardware sales, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The customer base is anchored by professional fishing guides and outfitters (primary segment) who require durability and performance for daily commercial use, supplemented by recreational anglers and tailwater/technical water specialists. Co-owners are Robert Eddins and John McMillan, with Jane Eddins in sales; the company is closely held with no external investors and no public financials.

Name

RO Drift Boats

Legal name

Ro Drift Boats

Website

https://rodriftboats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RO Drift Boats is a family-owned Bozeman, Montana manufacturer of custom-built drift boats and skiffs using proprietary composite construction, serving professional fishing guides and serious recreational anglers through direct-to-consumer sales with a lifetime fiberglass warranty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Drift Boat Sales: RO Drift Boats generates primary revenue through the sale of custom-built drift boats and skiffs. Each boat is built to order with numerous customization options including color schemes, components, and upgraded features. The company also sells trailers through a partnership with Black Dog Trailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RO Drift Boats designs, handcrafts, and sells custom-built drift boats and skiffs for fly fishing on Western rivers. Each boat is made to order in Bozeman, Montana using proprietary composite layups (fiberglass, Kevlar, Innegra, basalt, and carbon fiber), with five core boat models plus matching trailers sold via partnership with Black Dog Trailers.

Product overview

RO Drift Boats is a boat manufacturer offering a portfolio of five core drift boat and skiff models (Guide, LSG, Tailwater Skiff, Classic Skiff, Deville LS) plus trailers, all handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana. The boats are built using proprietary composite construction (fiberglass, Kevlar, Innegra, carbon fiber) and share a common platform of composite materials and design philosophy. Add-on features and upgrades include the Ro Rod Locker, Ro Standing Braces, Aquatraction Flooring, Integrated Net Holders, Custom Wraps, Ro Rear Dog Deck, Disability Features, Carbon Fiber Builds, and Carbon Kevlar Reinforced Chines. These modular features are available across multiple or all boat models, allowing customers to customize their vessels. The company also offers a lifetime warranty on all fiberglass components and sells used boats alongside new builds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RO Guide Drift Boat Flagship 15'10" drift boat with three-person capacity, 425 lb weight, and 5-inch draft. Designed for versatility on big water and technical conditions; widely used by professional fishing guides.
• RO LSG (Low Side Guide) Slimmed-down version of the Guide model, 15'8" with reduced side height for maximum rowing efficiency, less wind resistance, and easier entry/exit. Weighs 395 lbs with a 4.5-inch draft.
• RO Tailwater Skiff Low-profile 15'7" skiff designed for technical rivers with shallow draft, wide stance, and lightweight composite construction. Weighs 405 lbs with a 4.5-inch draft.
• RO Classic Skiff Ultra-shallow draft 15'1" skiff floating in as little as 3 inches of water, weighing 285 lbs. Designed for technical tailwaters, gentle floats, and stealthy approaches to spooky fish.
• RO Deville LS McKenzie-style 15'9" drift boat combining skiff-like rowing ease with whitewater capabilities, approximately 375 lbs with a 4-inch draft.
• RO Drift Boat Trailers Purpose-built drift boat trailers offered in partnership with Black Dog Trailers, featuring precision-fitted bunks, roller systems, powder-coated frames, and marine-grade components for Western highways and backroads.

Quantifiable outcome

• Boat weights range from 285-425 lbs depending on model
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Black Dog TrailerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRO Drift Boats partners exclusively with Black Dog Trailers to provide high-quality, reliable trailers for their boats. The partnership ensures purpose-built trailers that are precision-fitted to RO hull dimensions, featuring durable powder-coated frames, easy-load roller systems, and marine-grade components designed for Western river conditions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Jackson Kayak: Jackson Kayak designs and manufactures premium kayaks and small craft for fishing and paddlesports, representing an emerging small craft competitor with overlapping materials expertise and direct-to-consumer distribution model.
• Steelhead Composites: Steelhead builds carbon fiber drift boats focused on ultralight performance, representing an emerging competitor leveraging similar composite materials to RO but with a more specialized performance positioning.

Others

• NRS (Northwest River Supplies): NRS is a broader river recreation company producing rafts, frames, and accessories for fishing and paddle sports—adjacent rather than directly competitive, but overlapping in the same fly fishing customer base RO serves.

Direct peers

• Koffler Boats: Koffler builds premium custom drift boats in Eugene, Oregon with a similar focus on lightweight construction and professional guide customers, competing directly with RO on the Western river guide market.
• Hyde Drift Boats: Hyde is a long-established drift boat manufacturer producing both low-profile and high-side drift boats for fly fishing, with similar direct-to-consumer custom build model and Western river focus.
• Clackacraft Drift Boats: Clackacraft is a direct competitor manufacturing fiberglass drift boats for fly fishing on Western rivers, offering comparable products to RO's guide and skiff lines with similar composite construction and guide-focused positioning.
• Drift Boat Werks: Drift Boat Werks manufactures custom aluminum drift boats and jet boats for Western rivers, representing an adjacent competitor with overlapping customer base in the fly fishing and guide segments.
• Willie Drift Boats: Willie manufactures aluminum and welded drift boats for whitewater and fly fishing applications, representing an alternative construction approach that competes with RO's composite offerings on price and durability.

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rodriftboats
• Instagraminstagram.com/rodriftboats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ro-drift-boats

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RO Drift Boats