Arkie Farmer

Poly is incredible stuff! I understand your desire to steer clear of drilling holes in the bottom of your boat, but am unsure of any other way to reliably attach it. I know of a fellow who said he is having good results using an epoxy method to keep a sheet on the bottom of his mudboat, but have no experience with this. I do know that a uhmw coating will reduce friction enough to allow an underpowered airboat to run dry ground pretty well, where it was totally unable to before the coating was applied. Neat stuff! I've used a "steel-flex" epoxy slick coating on boats before, and like it in applications that will never see rocks. For the White I'd avoid using it because rocks will wear it out very quickly. One last thing... An aluminum boat would have to have a slick bottom ie. no ribs, to be coated with poly. Don't think a traditional production jon would lend itself to being a very practical rig to work with in this manner, though I don't know the model boat you're using. Good luck!

Few more pics...

Placed my rig up for sale. Hope it is ok to include the link here. http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10176

2060 plate tunnel hull w/ 200 Merc for sale $13,000 The boat is a 2060 out of 3/16 5052 with a rib and stringer system I designed and built with stump running in mind. The boat is powered by a 2005 (dealer holdover) 200 horsepower Mercury. The list shows all the options I've included in this hull: 5" vented tunnel hull hydraulic jack-plate hydraulic steering full floor and side skins integral gun/rod box under seat storage console with tach,h2o pressure, fuel, and jack-plate gauges steering column mounted jack-plate switch bilge pump removable light bar with aircraft lamps running lights self-bailing decks 25gal bow mounted fuel tank 2 nice camo seats 2 seat bases (1 on each deck) flat center keel extending 5' past the hulls rake The trailer is made of 4" channel with backup lights, heavy duty winch, swing away jack, tandem 3,500lb running gear, extra long guides, and a Bulldog hitch. Price for everything listed is $13,000 Note: I also have a custom aluminum bowfishing platform with 4 400w Metal-Halide fixtures. The deck has a recessed area for a foot-controlled trolling motor. Call me @ 479-629-3353 if you have any questions

I've got a 20 Merc Jet (25hp power head). I don't think this motor would push your boat very well with much of a load. If you are dead-set on a jet I truly believe you're going to need a unit built off a 40 horse power head (30 jet power). I've been there, jets are slow, loud, drink fuel... but get you to the fish

Awesome! ...wish I could have found a Brown in there too lol.

10-4 lol...

Holy smokes! I decided to check the forum this morning before going to my shop and find out I've been called a big fibber I sure didn't post the # of fish we caught to brag. I just figured that since Phil put me on the fish I'd return the favor and let others know there were some actively feeding fish in Roark. (They were in the cleaner water from the bridges to the dock in the back by the way) I guess it got under my skin a bit, so I feel like I need to defend my statements... Sure, you can catch that many trout in a short period of time -especially when the goofy things are biting like crazy. The way I fish (technique, lure, etc.) is often very conducive to catching good numbers. Also, whoever said we weren't playing 'em out was exactly right -as least I didn't play any out after the first 15 or so. It got to be sort of a game to see if I could ski 'em across the top of the water, although some wouldn't play along They honestly were biting so well that I was let down when I'd make a cast without bringing in a fish. Probably caught 10 fish out of 15 cast at one point. Most were smallish stockers, though there were some in the 15-16" range that got to take a trip home to my Grandmother for a fish fry All-in-all it was a great time in a spot I'd never think to go since I generally fish Taney above Branson. Thanks for the compliment Phil, I appreciate it a lot

Phil, Had a great time this weekend showing two friends the lake. They said they will both be back with their families this summer. Also, they really liked your place I appreciate the advise on Roark, although we weren't able to get on the Whites (Sand Bass for folks at my Latitude lol). We did, however, wear the rainbows out in the creek -probably caught 150 in an hour and a half. I'd have loved to weigh our 8 big fish in at a tourney, they'd be in the $$$ for sure My 96 yr old Grandmother (who taught me to fish) was tickled pink when I brought her a bag of "biguns" lol. Thanks again Phil, Jamie Fozzy, Were you in a Cobra with a 115 Merc? If so, then we spoke about both being there for the Bass. Hope you were able to find some

Phil, Thanks so much for hosting the tournament Matt and I had a great time! Matt landed the brown at 2:30... we were really hurting 'til we had the brown in the livewell/cooler Guess I can spring for a new Igloo now lol. Thanks again, Jamie

You all are my kind of people I can tell that you are from AR Terry. I've known a few folks who were great at calling some fish

Is it legal to shoot 'em with bows? I think I've asked you this a few years ago, but can't remember. Jamie

Thanks. I've got a shot of him in the livewell that shows his disproportionate appearance a bit better... somewhere

I've got a 20 Merc jet on a 21' White River Jon. It's super slow, loud, uses a lot of gas... and I'd never have anything different on the white Not sure if you'd do well with it on a 14' rig though. White River Jons are made to run with limited power. Your hull need to get up on step/pad to be efficient -the jet might not do that well with 3 guys in the boat. it would be nice if you could find someone who'd let you try one out before you by it. Note: Most jets require a 20" transom (Mine actually need 20 1/2" to be correct) your transom might need to be built up a bit to make the motor work -an easy task. Also, I'm afraid Mercury stopped making the 25 2 stroke motor -the basis for their 20 Jet. Good luck!

Here's the sort of rig I'm building nowadays down at my shop. I built this one for a coon hunter. It's a 2072 out of 3/16" 5052 aluminum with a 225 Optimax. It'll run 64 with 4 guys! It's a super-stout, shallow drafting boat. My personal boat is a 2060 tunnel hull out of 3/16" with a 200 Merc -a fast, shallow running (8" water) rig for sure. Out of the current mega production boats on the market (I'm small-time) I personally like the Sea Ark boats best. They ride good and seem to be a bit tougher than some of the others -this coming from a guy who's had almost a dozen aluminum boats in the last 10 years. The wide ones (72" bottom) even come built out of .125" (1/8") The difference in ride from mod V to flat is very small. Flats draft shallower too. Remember that a boat shrinks when you put it in water -that is, a 15' hull might look big at the dealership, but seem tiny on the lake. I'd go 16' if you're looking at 15' hulls.