16 foot Bowrider on Colorado River

[Nickm86]

Have a trip planned to Needles, CA and wondering if anyone has any experience or insight on this area with a 60hp outboard. Is this setup too small?

 

[Nickm86]

[No message]

 

[fishrdan]

Never been on the river at Needles, seen it many times, but that HP is fine. I've run up to Hoover Dam on a 5HP outboard with the river running full-tilt (much more flow than Needles), and it worked.

I would be more concerned about reefs and sand bars on the river around there, lower unit and prop damage. Keep your head on a swivel running on the river around there, especially when they have Davis Dam down to a trickle, early and late.

 

[Nickm86]

Never been on the river at Needles, seen it many times, but that HP is fine. I've run up to Hoover Dam on a 5HP outboard with the river running full-tilt (much more flow than Needles), and it worked.

I would be more concerned about reefs and sand bars on the river around there, lower unit and prop damage. Keep your head on a swivel running on the river around there, especially when they have Davis Dam down to a trickle, early and late.

Good info, thank you. We're staying at a resort that alot of boats frequent, so planning to follow them south to deeper water at the Topock Gorge area toward Havasu. I was on a river float one time in Laughlin and was surprised about the current, navigating my little boat in that is going to be a learning experience for me.

 

[Nickm86]

Where's all the river rats? Need some opinions here..