huzzah22

I have a 1748 Blazer and it's a great boat. It's a heavy duty fishing boat, but its a great boat. There are several Blazer dealers in central Missouri and I believe that Blazer's web site might have them listed on there. Blazer will build you any kind of boat that you could ever want, and they know what they're doing when it comes to aluminum fabrication. I only know of a couple of dealers that will order and set up Legends for jet applications in the state of missouri. Cowtown Usa in cuba, mo and Ernies Sales and Service of ellington, mo both order legends from arkansas specifically for jet boats. Sure, they can build and set up both props and jets, but their specialty is jet boats. Word has it... Mr. Martin from Ernies took a Blazer down to arkansas and told those boys that he wanted a boat built just like it. So, they worked on it together for a while and low and behold, out come a new line of boats- "X-Terminator". Just go to Jetdoctor.net and look at the boats in comparison. Are they good boats? I'm sure they're great boats! Mr. Martin will be more than happy to sell you either a Blazer or Legend. In fact, I know of at least a dozen people that have went through him for theirs and they and run the current river every weekend from round springs all of the way down to doniphan. Both boats have a great structual layout that has been around for years, and the folks that run River Country Marine (Blazer) have brought the design a LONG way from the past. I can remember when my grandpa and my dad would take his old wooden john boat out on current river near doniphan and run jug and limb lines at night, burning old pine knots in a basket on a pole out over the front of the boat so they could see where they were going. I've still got an old picture of grandpa poling that old boat across the river with a gig across the front and a pine pole in his hand. It's no secret that the old timers in the Ozark region were the pioneers of the john boat, and I think that the Moss family (who builds these boats) have harnessed what it takes in an aluminum boat to survive the rock-filled rivers of the ozarks. Blazers and Legendcrafts are both a solid boat that will hold up to everything a conscious river navigator and fisherman can throw at them (theoretically). If you're to buy new, expect to shell out 2000 to 3000 for a bare hull with nothing in it. IMHO, if you're to make an investment like that in a new boat, take care of it and it'll probably last you a lifetime.

sold 4-12-08 EZ glide stick steer that works fine, I just went to a console with steering wheel. This comes with the mounting plate, control box, and cable. It was with the boat when I bought it, so I would be willing to trade for a 10' steering system or sell outright for $150. I am in the upper curent river area. PM's or emails will take a while to get responded to. 573-247-1400

Ran my boat from mason bridge almost all of the way up to Boiling springs today- didnt have any problems kissing bottom, but that's probably because water was still about 3 feet high. I had cabin fever pretty bad, so I launched and worked my way up river, being extra cautious for logs and debris along the way. I didnt fish much, but had a good day out. I still dont know how small or delicate or whatever the stream up there is, but im not real sure I would be comfortable if the water was a few feet lower. I didnt see anybody all day, but I dont really know a lot of people dumb enough to be out on the river while its in flood stage

Thanks to all for the great information and advice. I am currently in the process of movine into the steelville area as I have taken a new job in Cuba. I grew up in salem and have spent many a summers on the current from round spring down to two rivers. I am looking for new places to fish in the cuba area, whether it be gasconade, meremac, or any others in the surrounding counties. Maybe when the water goes down, someone might be kind enough to show me the ropes and a few good places for my boy and I to get a line wet... just maybe....

Does anyone have experinece jet-boating this river as high as around the steelville area? I went up to Scotts Ford last fall to canoe and I seen a truck with an empty, high-dollar tandem-axle boat trailer behind it sitting in the parking area. There was absolutely no deep water that I could see that he/she could have launched it in, so I was just wondering, does anyone run their motorboats up there, and if so, how is the navigation? Obviously there would be enough water anywhere on the river now to run a boat but, c'mon, realistically...

I called Boiling Springs and talked to the young lady at the office and she referred me to a fellow that has a guide service right there by the cabins. He has an 18-foot jet boat with a big motor on it and he says that he runs it all year round, but advised that you had better know the river before you get out on it in the summer. I grew up around jet boats on the lower current, but this is the first one i've ever owned. Mine runs out real well and power-to weight is really good, so I'm anxious to get out and run it but the river's got so much blame water in it right now... Fishing will be out for a couple of weeks, im sure. the guide said that he won't bother getting out on the water for a few more weeks because he's afraid the river's changed so much and he's scared to run his jon boat. Guess we'll have to see...

I'm a newbie to the site- love it! I fish the Big Piney a lot on the lower side and enjoy catching a LOT of fish. I purchased a jet boat recently and am planning a float from Boiling Springs down to the Mason Bridge access, but have never been on that stretch of the river. Just asking if anyone runs their boats over there.... Every time we float the upper part of the Piney and we take out at Boiling Springs, I see a high-dollar polished-up river boat sitting there next to the store by the take out, so I guess they run it somewhere... Right now I'm sure the river is still up because of the flooding, but what do you think the fishing will be like once it gets back to normal pool?