How to pick the right drift socks for your boat
Picking the right drift socks for your boat can be a bit confusing. Let's take a look at some of the key factors to look for when picking out drift socks.
Size
The most important factors to consider when choosing drift socks are the size of your boat and wind conditions. If your boat is over 20 feet, then you may want to use two different sizes so you can experiment with multiple socks. Use the following chart as a guideline to pick out the right sized drift sock.
BOAT SIZE------------------------------------14 feet --------------------------------16 to 18 feet -----------------------20 feet + 20 feet
Light wind -------------------------------------18"-24"-------------------------------- 25"-30" --------------------------------36"-42"
Moderate wind --------------------------------25"-30"-------------------------------- 36"-42" --------------------------------48"-50"
High wind --------------------------------------36-42"--------------------------------- 48"-50"-------------------------------- 50"-56"
If you're in doubt about what size to buy,going one size up normally makes sense. This will give you the ability to drift in high winds while still working well when it's just a little breezy out. If you fish in a variety of conditions, then choosing several different sizes will give you the versatility to drift whenever and wherever you like.