Two Klamath boats up for grabs as raffle prizes at WON events in 2024
BY MIKE STEVENS
Klamath boats have stood as the centerpiece of two of the longest-running events on the Western Outdoor News calendar: Lake Havasu Striper Derby (May 4-5) and Big Bear Troutfest (October 7-8). Both are awarded as Grand Raffle prizes, as in, everyone has an equal shot at them regardless of how well the do in the derbies. Winners love them for their versatility and how they are a “blank canvas” waiting to be customized for the specific needs of the owner. But the reasons behind the longstanding nature of WON’s partnership with Klamath runs a lot deeper than that alone.
With over 70 years of boat-building experience, and rigorous quality standards, Klamath provides the best-built, toughest, and highest-value boats in the market. Klamath boats are built to withstand the demands of serious sportsmen. Almost every day they receive feedback from customers telling them how much success they have had with their Klamath boat and thanking them for our dedication to building the highest quality hulls.
Klamath’s extensive experience, combined with modern manufacturing technology and continuous improvement, provide a unique blend of classic design and present-day technological advancement. Klamath boats are welded from the highest-grade marine alloys. Welded construction means that there are no rivets to work loose and leak.
Careful material selection and thorough engineering in all aspects of the design and fabrication ensure that selecting a Klamath is buying a boat that will last for generations. The extruded double wall chine developed by Klamath provides the driest riding, quickest planing, hulls available for today’s sportsmen
The Striper Derby prize boat will be the Klamath 16 EXW, which is what it’s always been for that event due to its incredible versatility and wide-open platform for customization. That rig will be matched with an efficient 40hp Suzuki outboard, and the the whole package including the trailer carries a retail value of over $26,000. For Big Bear Troutfest, it will be the 15-foot Klamath Advantage with a tiller-controlled 20hp Suzuki outboard. Past winners of that rig enjoyed the free reign offered by that Klamath as far as how easy it was to accessorize and “make it their own.”
