Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

[BloodStone]

Hello all;
I fish a river in mid-Michigan called The Shiawahsee River (bottom is 98% of the time gravel & the occasional big smooth rock). One minute it can run from 3'-5' & the next 2"-3" deep. Where I live there is no public launch within 20 miles. The current speed I am guessing is 3-4mph. Anyway, I have a 12' lightweight paper thin aluminum Jon boat with 2 clam-shell swivel seats mounted (on posts) permanently inside the boat (bottom is roughly 32" wide). I put the boat in the bed of my S-10 pickup. What I have been using to propel this craft up this particular river is a 55lb thrust transom mounted Minn Kota electric trolling motor. However, with just me in the boat, I have to set the speed at 4 or 5 to make any headway against the current especially in the real shallow water where it gathers speed. Where the prop hits the bottom it's usually get out & start walking the boat up the river to relaunch (what a royal pain! :-x ). To the point: Would buying another Jon boat outfitted with some type of a jet propulsion system do me any good? If so, which ones do you recommend? What would be really great is if I could find an outfit that would satisfy both my river needs & I'd be able to use on larger inland bodies of water. Any useful suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks in advance

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

i recently bought a 2011 lowe skorpion with a 40 jet and i love it. i am in a very similar situation as what you describe as i do most of my fishing on the river (with plenty of shallow areas and rocks). i don't know how big you want to go but i am sure you can find something the size that you want.

keep in mind, although jets can get to places that props can't, they can't go EVERYWHERE. my dad borrowed my boat and smashed the intake housing on a submerged rock a few weeks ago. i have also found myself in plenty of situations where i am sucking up all the gravel and stuff off the bottom of the river because i am too shallow. 6 inches is bare minimum to be operating a jet motor, and you will need about 2' to take off and plane.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

Plus they hate weeds, and burn alot of fuel.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

HI blood stone. You may want to look in to what folks in my neck of the woods call "mud" motors. We use them in super skinny water. They're funky lookin', but can go virtually any where and they're air cooled therefore weed free and extremely reliable. Here's a pic.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=mud+...7&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

might consider an airboat

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

First, a propped outboard can go just as shallow as a jet (in fact shallower because you don't have to worry about sucking crap off the bottom), but you need a boat designed for it, and it is very difficult to get the proper setup to do so (as much art as science). They are much more efficient than jets, but I'm steering you away from them unless you have lotsa time and money to invest in figuring out a good setup.

Second, your best bet would probably be a boat specifically manufactured with a jet tunnel - this is a shallow tunnel (about three inches deep) made for jets, as jets don't work well with the bigger prop tunnels. Lowe makes these types of boats, and G3 may also do so (search their websites; LOWE:Roughneck models, G3:CCJ models). The shallow tunnel will allow the jet foot of the outboard to ride above the bottom of the hull so you won't smash the foot when you hit a boulder.

Mudboats are made for mud, not gravel. They are slow for their power and weight. I've driven several of them, and they are great in muddy wetlands or swamps, but probably not ideal for what you are seeking.

I've driven a number of airboats, also. While they can go just about anywhere, they are extremely loud, inefficient, and cannot carry a load efficiently. Most of the designs are also inherently top-heavy, and if you hit one of those boulders wrong, you will be upside down in the river.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

p.s. - you might also consider a personal watercraft. You don't have to be an annoying a-hole like many PWC operators - you can actually operate them in an un-annoying manner. I've seen rigs set up with fishing rod holders and designed (aftermarket) specifically for fishing. However, when the weather turns cooler, you will need to don neoprene gear/waders to stay warm, as you will most likely get a few splashes of water on you.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

p.s. - you might also consider a personal watercraft. You don't have to be an annoying a-hole like many PWC operators - you can actually operate them in an un-annoying manner. I've seen rigs set up with fishing rod holders and designed (aftermarket) specifically for fishing. However, when the weather turns cooler, you will need to don neoprene gear/waders to stay warm, as you will most likely get a few splashes of water on you.

I'm liking this approach more and more. Just wondering, why some manufacturer hasn't come up with a fisherman's model. I'm talking from the factory, enough motor to get you from a to b, but not over kill; rod holders; live well; bait well; tackle storage; etc. I know it wouldn't sell as well as the sport models, but ought to be easy enough to modify a small run of them. Just thinking outloud.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

I wouldn't do this to my boat but I am alittle wowed...
If you don't want to watch the whole thing,from about 3:10 on is really crazy.

Hope he has some thick aluminum and that plastic on the bottom.
Moneies know object for some people...

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

Mud motor. Ideal for the water you use.

 

[BloodStone]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

HOLY INTER-GALACTIC BJs BATMAN!!
Either that guy has a boat made out of material supplied from Krypton or more money than brains! The river I fish isn't anywhere close to being that shallow THAT frequently or that bad. Do you know what kind of rig he is using, in particular the motor? What's the Youtube video title of that clip? Because I'd love to talk to this lunatic.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

If you click on the "No water.AVI"at the top of the video,it will bring you to what you want.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

That video looks like the stuff they do with those Phantom SJX boats. I think the hull itself is made by SeaArk and they put a Merc 200hp SportJet in it. You can hear the warning buzzer going off quite a bit.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?



If the boat is modified/made specifically for that - I'm impressed. If it's not, I'm apalled.

 

[Borgey401]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

Wow that video is insane. I just don't understand why someone would put their boat through that kind of torture. I don't care if it's made for it or not, you can clearly hear the warning buzzer going off multiple times. That is absolutely insane LOL

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

ou can clearly hear the warning buzzer going off multiple times. That is absolutely insane LOL

I was a little curious about that too, I don't think it is an engine warning buzzer though, might be a depth finder (like he needs that!) Might also be a little low on oil, I know my SJ likes to beep the warning if i get into rough stuff with 1/4 or so of oil left. (which is still well over a gallon of oil)

Anyway, an SJ won't stand up to rocks for long, at least not without a UHMW plastic or stainless steel wear ring retrofitted. The stock aluminum ones won't hold up to rocks.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Jet Propulsion Jon Boat question?

I wouldn't do that to a boat either,plus I worry about the fish habit we might(probably)be ruining.
Just thought I show what some of these will boats will do...if it can handle that run maybe if you run alot better water,the boat/motor will last you a long time.
Uhmw(something like teflon)can be added to alot of flat jon boats,it helps protect their hulls plus slides over rocks easier.