River Jon?

[riverrat]

I just loaned that book to a co-worker who says he wants to build one. We'll see and I'll report the results.

[John Berry]

I am an avid Shawnee owner. I bought mine second hand and it was very reasonable. I would avoid an aluminum boat in favor of a fiberglass one. The aluminum boats tend to grab the rocks. If you have ever canoed in an aluminum canoe you know what I mean.

[Jeff House]

What size motor would be the best choice for tailwater fishing with one of these boats? I see that most of them are rated for a 25 HP limit, but would a 15 HP be sufficient for motoring against the current? Also was wondering about stability, I want the boat for flyfishing and wondered if a lean bar could be rigged in the front for standing up and casting?

[bobber]

i have a 25 hp merc (prop) on mine! had a 9.9 and it did a good job

[mwkojack]

I would avoid an aluminum boat in favor of a fiberglass one. The aluminum boats tend to grab the rocks. If you have ever canoed in an aluminum canoe you know what I mean.

Unless you have UHMW on the bottom. Unstoppable. I can run the entire Norfork without any trouble at no generation.

[RiverRunner]

I have an older Kenzie Kraft 20'6" fiberglass jonboat that I bet is 30 years old. I have had it for 8 years and I restored it to "like new" condition. I run a 15HP Mercury and it performs great and will go just about anywhere on the White that I want to go. Shawnee is the gold standard among river boats, but Supreme and AFF are good as well. I would stay away from any old River Rat Boats, they had a bad reputation for leaking around the livewell area.

There seems to be a lot of used river boats on the market now, I guess people are wanting to upgrade to the newer and prettier supreme's and the like. When I was looking for a river boat in 1998, it was almost impossible to find a used one. I like my old boat because I am not afraid to scar it up. It was built to last, and when it gets too scratched up, I just take it off the trailer and give it a fresh coat of green gel coat. Also, you could glass in a lean bar on the front of the boat if you wanted one without a lot of trouble.

[Kicknbass]

Unless you have UHMW on the bottom. Unstoppable. I can run the entire Norfork without any trouble at no generation.

I don't know what you have on the bottom of your boat, but I ripped a 3" gash in the bottom of my boat on the shoal below Gene's this winter. I would suggest extreme caution running a jet on that river w/ no generation. Too many chunk rocks and hardpan. I can run over about an inch of water in gravel, but this is not the conditions in the Norfork.

I'd listen to Berry.

[mwkojack]

UHMW is a polymer (plastic) that is attached to the bottom of an aluminum hull. Its similar to what a cutting board is made out of. Slick, boats will just slide off rocks. But you have to see it to believe it.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Its what ice skaters skate on when not on real ice. Brian

[IzardCountyRainbow]

I've got an alweld 1756 with a 40/28 jet. Always been a little skiddish getting in the Norfork without generation. Just more familiar with the White more than anything. Curious about the UMHW plastic coating. Where can you get it and how is applied?

Also, any of you Jet boaters thats got fiberglass setup, I would like to know how they perform for you. I've heard the AFF's do better with the jets, but would like hear a little more about it.