Members limb_chicken Posted June 17, 2008 Members Posted June 17, 2008 I'm relatively new to jet outboards and aluminum boats set up to run them. I will be looking to buy a boat and jet motor combo soon and was wondering what boat and motor brands some of you have and like/dislike. Looking in the 18' range with around a 90 hp motor for the Current River in SEMO. Any help is appreciated!!
Members wildhunter066 Posted June 17, 2008 Members Posted June 17, 2008 I'm relatively new to jet outboards and aluminum boats set up to run them. I will be looking to buy a boat and jet motor combo soon and was wondering what boat and motor brands some of you have and like/dislike. Looking in the 18' range with around a 90 hp motor for the Current River in SEMO. Any help is appreciated!! My friend has a 16' all weld with a 90 evinrude italso has floaters on iy and it screams and floats very shallow. Everyone i know who has the floaters added on to the boat just loves them because it helps the boat start out almost on plane.
Gavin Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Depends on where you want to run it..some sections of the Current have horsepower restrictions. See below. http://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/horsepower.htm
Brian Sloss Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 90 horse is way more power than you really need on any Ozark stream. You really don't need to go higher than 25 horse to get up and down any Ozark stream and a 90 horse will keep you off a lot of water in the Ozarks legally. www.elevenpointflyfishing.com www.elevenpointcottages.com (417)270-2497
Seth Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I have a 1648 F&F powered by a 50hp Yamaha jet drive and it's great for just about everything. It's a little smaller than I would prefer for big rivers, but manages them fine and it's perfect for the smaller rivers. I dream of having a 2072 powered by a 300 Mercury Racing Jet Outboard. That would probably prevent me from fishing as much though because I'd be too busy playing around driving it.
Members limb_chicken Posted June 18, 2008 Author Members Posted June 18, 2008 I'm hoping to look at a 2052 Blazer with a 150 HP Johnson Jet this weekend. And an Alumaweld with a 90 HP Johnson as well. LC
Members shipper Posted June 19, 2008 Members Posted June 19, 2008 I built a 16/48 with a 50 yamaha jet (prop hp) about three years ago. I built alum. decks on the front and back. The thing go remember is weight distribution. Many people may disagree but I am a big fan of the blazer sport boats in 80 guage. a 17 or 18 56 is a big boat for many rivers. Extremely stable with high sides. My buddy has one with a 60 merc (jet hp) and it does great. Bigger and heavier is not always the answer. It is suprising that many boat dealers that set up boats do not go to extremes to get the weight in a boat pushed forward. For example, the gas tank, batteries storage and such can be put in the front of the boat. It is amazing the difference that one can see when you put some of those things in the front of your boat. Also another space saver is using a steering stick. I have a stick in my boat and would have it no other way. A steering console is big and would get in the way, especially in my 16-48. I built my boat with new boat, 85 yamaha jet that starts better than my buddies newer merc, with alum, floor, all the wiring, pedestals, seats trolling mtr, electronics carpet, stereo-all for $3,500. I had a blast doing it. Almost a thousand of that $ was for building the transom with gusset caps, done so by a local welding shop. Oh ya, also I painted the boat with epoxy primer that sealed everything wonderfully. Not meaning to go over all I did during the build, but maybe you can find what you are looking for used, learn how to use everything, and work on it as well. That is the thing about boats. You need to know how they work and how to fix in a pinch so you are not stuck. Especially on a river that flows one way! Good luck in the search.
Members riverman Posted June 19, 2008 Members Posted June 19, 2008 I have an 1856 blazer with an 08' 90 horse E-Tec. With a family of 6 and a full cooler I have no problems getting up the river. I no longer live on the Current river but spend several days each summer in the Van Buren area. The horse power limit is a bit of a pain but you can find plenty of water to get on. I would recommend Ernies sales and service near Elligton. you can find them at jet doctor.net. Dave has always done me right. thats just my 2 cents worth. Happy Hunting Matthew
bclift65706 Posted June 19, 2008 Posted June 19, 2008 I have a 16/48 blazer center console the olny thing I would change is going wider the wider boats seem to run in a little shalower in the water with alot of weight in the boat.
Bman Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 I run a Southfork custom jet john 1752 with a yamaha 90 hp 2 stroke.It runs great,light,jumps up on plane quick,and will shoot riffles even with a little gravel showing(in a straight line) I would highly recomend this sort of rig.The 56 should go more shallow if you need that or more room. But, some day I will run a River Pro built right here in Hillsboro Missouri. It will run as shallow as any...BUT they can turn and handle better than John style jet boats! They have a real tough bottom as well. check them out http://www.riverpro-boats.com/ River Pro Demo The only good line is a tight line
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