Best Fiberglass Jon Boat

[Bill Babler]

Cannot find any pictures of AFF boats on the web. Can find their fiberglass repair business in Mountain Home, but nothing more. Don't happen to have any pic's do ya? Got the length, but what about the width of that 21 footer. Guess I have lots of questions. Also is it where a guy can see it? Going out of town for a couple of days, but when I get back, I would love to take a peek.

Keep us posted. Thanks Bill

[Ham]

There is another ad in this section for an AFF boat. Maybe that guy has pics.

There is an ad for almost exactly what you're after in the Baxter Bulletin right now. You could probably get the number via the online version.

2007 Supreme wide boat with a 40 HP jet. From memory, I think the guy wanted around 12 K.

I understand cheaper is better, but for you it will be a business expense and can be written off. If you made 10 guide trips a year in it, you would probably cover you notes. With reasonable care, a trout boat is good for 20 years.

[taxidermist]

Last Weds. I took out a supreme 20 ft 48 inches wide, 20 hp 2 stroke Merc jet motor, at speed the bopat tends to wander sliding left to right, fairly straight but still wanders, Wildcat to the dam and down to Hurst then back to Wildcat used 6 gallons of fuel. Plenty of room for three to stand and cast lures. But I really did not like the sliding around. Under heavy generation I think it could be scarey. A freind that guides had a 25 HP Merc prop and he says at 3/4 throttle it slides around on the water.

When compared to my 22ft aluminum with a 15 four stoke the alum. boat runs straighter, faster and uses a lot less fuel. Saturday the Alm boat with the wife and I used $3.00 in gas on the same trip.

Now if I were buying a nnew boat I would go with a Shawnee or J&S because of the bottom construction allows straight travel without the floating around. 48 wide. and a 25Hp with a power lift. I have a 25HP 4 stroke prop Yamaha thats almost impossible for me to left from my seat. Bad back etc. I just cannot lift the heavy 20HP motor up and over rocks and logs.

I think if I was guiding I would find a boat with a stick control in teh center, that way you dont run from front to back and can have one client in front and one in the rear of the guide. Just what I would do.

J&S was $4000.00 for new 48 last fall, built my way larger front deck, two power livewells and my color, plus higher sides.

John

[grizwilson]

I have a Champion River Jon 20', 42" wide mostly run a 20 Merc Jet, but have a 9.9 prop I use for trips on Buffalo and Crooked creek. I love the jet, but if was limited to 1 motor it would be a 9.9. When you are running hard and happen to suck up a bunch of leaves in a bend it resembles one of those dishes the kids use on the snow. Running the Little Red at low flow is a night mare, constantly choked up. After one trip always use my prop there. I have ran Shawnees and Supremes both good boats. Supreme nice finish, but I buy them to use, get that gel coat pretty skinned up. But nice.

[gonetothebuffalo]

The Shawnees are solid. The Supremes as others have mentioned, are the Cadillac. But beyond seeming a more, shall we say 'finished' overall product, the Supremes appear to be offered in more varying dimensional layout as well as options / colors, etc. Someone mentioned the Shawnees only had one mold, which isn't right as they do provide a couple of different commissary widths as well.

All of that being said, I would think that a big decider for all but the most patient would be the fact that last I heard, the Shawnee's were a 2-3 YEAR wait. I know there was some talk about recent ownership change so I can't say if they've ramped up production but it used to be one at a time. My brother that bought 3-4 of them over the last 15 years waited 1-2 years for the last 2. Matter of fact, still waiting on last 1. But he does love 'em. When my River Rat goes, it'll be for the Supreme unless an absolutely irresistible deal happens along on a Shawnee. Right place, time & money does sometimes yields a fire sale..

PS. One other thing. Last I knew, the (possibly previous) owner of Shawnee was pairing them up with the easyloader trailers, which seem to be a heck of a nice rig.

I think I've got some good picture of a few Shawnees. I'll post 'em if I can dig them up.

[Whiteriver]

If money is no concern, get a supreme 207. IMO that Shawnee pictured looks like it was finished by little kids. They are good boats, and very rugged. You used to be able to get a commisary model that was very wide. I used to have one. J & S are also pretty decent, but the supremes are top of the line. i hav had a 2000 series for seven years of HARD use and not a problem. the bottom is level, drains well, no runners, easy to keep clean, and is solid as a rock with a 25 hp cranked wide open with no weight in the boat. go run that shawnee with a 25 and no weight and watch the waves in the bottom of the floor. Also, crack the bottom around one of those wooden runners and it will evetually start to rot and have to be replaced. You may think that won't happen, but i have seen it happen to guys who know hte river like the back of their hand. downside to my supreme is only 2 of my 4 boxes stay completely dry, but they may have corrected that by now. Also, if you can have your own trailer built, you can sve some money over buying one from TI. I don't think a $2000 trailer is required to haul a 500 pound boat. Another tip is to order it plain from the factory and buy your own rails and seat stands from metal logic in flippin ar. that is where supreme gets them. Then just put them in yourself. My boat is light brown with black powdercoated rails and seat peds. with camo seats. By getting my own trailer, seat peds, and rails, I saved about $1500 off the package deal

IMO most resorts and guys that run a boat on White/Norfork rivers prefer Shawnees. There is a reason you see so many of these at the resorts and established guide services. They are the BEST river boat you can buy. There have been many boat buiders come and go over the last 40 yrs, but the ONLY one that has lasted is Shawnee. These boats do not use Balsa and are made with several layers of glass in the bottom. Yes, the runners are made of cedar, but the cedar runner is no problem at all--this does not affect the integrety of the bottom. The dry storage is just what is says--dry, they do not leak like the Supreme. Once again, Shawnee boats have lasted all these years for a reason--quality. No, these boats are not as flashy as Supreme, but I would much rather have one that is proven and will last. Shawnee's new owner Rob Williams will custom build any variation you want. In the past the problem with the Shawnee's was the wait time. It would typically take a year or two to get one, but the new owner has greatly improved the wait time. I had a chance to view his work recently and the quality is excellent. These boats are priced a couple of thousand less than other boats as well. If you're still in the market for a boat you need to give him a call. He is located in Mountain Home now in a new facility that is nice. I have owned almost every make of river boat made in this area and the Shawnee is still number one. And, Supreme is having problems with ownership and quality as of late. J & S, River Skiff, Topwater, etc. ??? who knows, but I will be willing to bet they will be a thing of the past in the next few years.

[Ham]

I got a look at a Topwater the other day it looked like a real nice boat, but again it is a fairly simple design and most of those style boats are gonna be a workable machine for most fishermen. I need more time in one before I would be able to say what changes I would make it I had a magic wand.

I'm am sold on my jet though. I didn't know I would enjoy one as much as I have but even that is a compromise. I never have to worry about ruining a prop, but there are differences in sterring. Prop motors are easier to steer and act as a keel for the boat.

Again, LOTS AND LOTS of used boats out there.

I guess if I had my choice I'd have about three boats. A smaller boat with a 10 HP for the Buffalo. A 48 inch with a propr for high flow. I 48 inch with a jet for low flow. Heck, I'd like a drift boat too. None of that is gonna happen though. I'm keeping what I have.

[EIGHTWGT]

take look at a boat called the Inshore 16 go to www.inshorepowerboats.com

[tickbait]

take look at a boat called the Inshore 16 go to www.inshorepowerboats.com

So Roy who built the Shawnee Boats has sold the business. I had my name on a waiting list supposedly for 2-1/2 years. I'd be very interested if it is in the same shop building where Roy built them, just a little west of Mountain Home or was that Yellville? I'm going down to the Buffalo River June 3 - 9 and I'd like to put a order in.

[tickbait]

So Roy who built the Shawnee Boats has sold the business. I had my name on a waiting list supposedly for 2-1/2 years. I'd be very interested if it is in the same shop building where Roy built them, just a little west of Mountain Home or was that Yellville? I'm going down to the Buffalo River June 3 - 9 and I'd like to put a order in.