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 Boat for rocky river 
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Post Boat for rocky river
What boat would you guys recommend for running rocky & sandy rivers? Currently running a 1648 w/25hp outboard. It just won't get me through the shallower rocky & sand areas to get up to the dams. I don't run hell bent for Alaska through the rocks, but need a boat with .125" bottom at a minimum to be able to take some unexpected hits and be able to float in 3-4" of water. I'm interested in going bigger as I want a stable boat when the river gets rough. I mainly fish 2 people out of the boat. What are your guys thoughts on 17-18' by 54" or 60" wide? I'm intending to push it with a 35-36hp surface drive, which will likely be a Gatortail for the convenience of reverse. I also want the gas tank & trolling batteries up front to keep it sitting as level as possible. What's your recommendation for a shallow running, stable boat?


Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:26 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:54 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
The wider the better for shallow water


Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:07 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Mngunner I was thinking the same thing. Maybe a jet drive outboard.


Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:24 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Just my .02 jet outboards are slow and a constant headache. We run hard bottom and rocks just fine with the surface drives...... Just a matter of having the right hull and motor setup.

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Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:44 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:45 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
if you get real shallow with a jet drive in sand and small rocks you are fuxxed. i have property on tallapoosa river in bama my buddy has run a 40hp jet and the shallow sand and gravel will destroy it. im building a surface drive with a guard around prop just for this river.


Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:15 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:24 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
for props i will keep them welded up and never lose diameter im also going to try several different ways to makem last longer in the sand. ill try hard surfacing also build leading edge with T1 and even try some AR400.


Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:25 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:27 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:31 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:43 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
What about a tunnel with the jet drive or is it still to shallow for that.

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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:49 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Ultrajack with a rockhopper.

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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:50 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Rock proof boats


Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:50 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:53 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:55 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:57 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
I would think so too

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Tue Aug 27, 2013 9:03 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
every situation is a little different. a surface drive for me is best because i know i can keep my props in shape. motor will be way cheaper for me than an outboard with jet foot. jets are bad azz though im not knocking them. i got another buddy thats a stripper fisherman that want run anything but a jet foot. he runs bigger rocks in shallows going behind dams but no sand and pea gravel. he has a tunnel hull with his jet


Tue Aug 27, 2013 9:05 pm
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Tue Aug 27, 2013 9:07 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Deep hull airboat. Thank me later.


Tue Aug 27, 2013 9:56 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
What about just running an airboat, wouldn't that that eliminate most the problems

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Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:42 am
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Running sand in a mud boat an't fun, went threw my first prop in less than 40 hrs. Go with a jet boat

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Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:58 am
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Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:10 am
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Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:56 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
I don't like a jet at all.

A lot of guys in North AR use fiberglass over wood boats that are about 20ft long and have a curved banana style rake. They don't draft much water and they slide over the rocks, or at least that's what they say.

Here is a wired one with a jet-Kevlar http://littlerock.craigslist.org/boa/3981694202.html

Regular style that is most popular http://littlerock.craigslist.org/bod/3970368325.html

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/boa/3938246454.html

Supreme and Shawnee both have been in business for years. There are several others made in N. AR. I'm sure you can get a camo boat. The N. end of the White river is full of these boats. Some on the Little Red too.


Thu Aug 29, 2013 2:58 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
If its that shallow get out and pull it across the bar.

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Thu Aug 29, 2013 3:16 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
I ran a rock river today with my GTR and it sucks, its quick nerve wrecking. I was too scared to run through the shallowest parts. There is rocks that would eat your lunch. I'm with 4Cody4. Next time Im just going to get out and push. Its worth the trouble to me there was 100+ geese just beyond that spot! I do have to say though Ive been running better than some of the guys with the Jets around me due to the thick grass.

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Thu Aug 29, 2013 10:17 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
I am using a 1648 Polarkraft with a 27 Pro-Drive with the rock guard. AKA the MudBoat although it is not a true mudboat, just a Jon with a MudMotor. Only using two pieces of the rock guard. Using it to run shallow rocky rivers, yes it is light, and cheap and does not have a smooth bottom. Have not had any issues with hooking or damage from hitting rocks, only one small dent right on the transom from a bolder we did not see, almost tossed me out of the boat when it hit. Turns great, have skidded over a few short gravel bars with water trickling through WOT and not even slowed down. Motor just kicks up and moves with the bottom. Rockguard floats the motor on top of hard sand bars. Very light and easy to manhandle if you have to.

We also have a 1994 HewesCraft River Runner Jet Boat, tunnel hull with an outboard 115 Mariner.
Run both on the North Saskatchewan River, rock/gravel/sand bottom. Both have their Pros and cons.

Jet boat is a faster 16 kph (10 MPH) but we don't run it WOT cruising speed about 10k (6 - 8 mph) faster then the MudBoat.

Jet boat is very weight sensitive, can only go with two people, three guys and it will not get on step very well. MudBoat will run three easy haven't tried more.

Jet Boat uses roughly a liter of gas per km (2.4 miles per gallon) and the MudBoat gets approximately 100 km (60 miles) per 25 liters (boat tank) of fuel. If we do the same stretch of river 140k (87 mile) round trip we will use 138 liters (36 US Gallons) of fuel with the Jet and approx 40 liters (10 Us Gallons) of fuel in the MudBoat.

Jet is more comfortable and warmer, steering wheel and windshield when it is cold out.

If I have to change the Prop every year it is half what it costs to change the jet impeller. Planning on replacing the Prop this spring because we do have a few dings in it from hitting rocks on the Pembina but it will be good as a spare. Have to change the Jet boat impeller every two years because of the dirty water we are running in.

Have done several trips on the Pembina River with the MudBoat it is very shallow, slow flows lots of sand bars and some rock and rocky rapids. I would not even think of taking our jet on the Pembina, it is too heavy and needs more water to take off then the MudBoat. We can take off in 8 inches of water with the Mudboat, need more to start with the Jet but the jet will run shallower longer as long as you don't get stopped or suck up a rock or stick.

I have experience running rocky rivers with a similar boat and a 23 MB Minni, the Pro-drive is better, the Pro-Drive Rock guard is great because of the protection it gives to the prop and the skeg on the Pro-Drive is allot heavier. The clutch on the Pro-Drive is also a big improvement over the MB. Although both these motors have been strong performers I prefer the Pro-Drive over the MB for rocky river running myself some of the guys perfer the MB. I have no experience with a GT.

The new Jet Boats are better then the one we have but they are hard on fuel and allot more money to buy. A mud motor is a cost effective alternative to a Jet for these conditions unless you are running some serious white water or perhaps extremely shallow for long distances, IMO.

Our MudBoat $10,000 on a trailer, Jet boat $35,000 and up. I don't think a smaller Outboard Jet would compete with our MudBoat for shallow water, speed or fuel economy you would have to go with a bigger inboard to run shallower then we are.

Would love to try 1860 with a CC and a Pro-Drive in the same rivers just for the comfort of long distance running. I suspect it would probably out perform our 1648 27PD. Have done several long distance runs, longest was 530 kilometers (330 miles) on the North Saskatchewan from Drayton Valley to the Saskatchewan border. Camped two nights. It was an epic trip.

Added bonus is you can use a MudMotor in conditions that jets and outboards fail.


Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:20 am
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
Double Post :(


Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:21 am
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river

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Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:48 pm
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Post Re: Boat for rocky river
I had a jet drive outboard and it was a very costly mistake. I went to a surface drive and it has been much better since it doesn't need as much water for the motor, plus you don't have to worry about it getting clogged up if you do go through some junk once and a while. A surface drive in rocky rivers isn't terrible. I've run a lot of rocky rivers in Canada and prefer the surface drive with careful driving.

I agree with a jet being slow and a headache. I'd avoid it...

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