Ran the Swamp Donkey with the homebuilt 16 for the first time this year with a full load. Id guess she was holding close to 1000 lbs and she was plowing like a SOB, but we made it to the spot and back without going under or gettin stuck. We were running almost 10 mph and I was impressed for a 16!

You are in a learning phase in your young life. I am by no means the safety police or your fathers but no lifejackets and no freeboard is a disastrous prospect. I do not approve. Just saying....

Are they trying to minimize wind resistance?

I know the feeling, def. Not fun when you have 6-7 miles to cover.

Next time try leaving the beer cooler at the truck.

Ask Uncle J how fast a perfectly normal boat can leave you swimming.

I never run the motor w/o my life jacket. It's not the swimming that bothers me as I am a good swimmer... It's the being thrown out & knocked unconscious that does, which if you land face down = dead.

8" is not enough free board. My wake on my jet ski throws off a wave larger than 8". Be careful crossing any water with other boat traffic. Heck, a small wind could capsize y'all. And you probably exceeded USCG approved weight by 600-700 lbs.

Glad y'all made alright. I've been there many others too... Try and heed our warnings.