Advice On Boat For Gasconade

[MarkV]

I soon plan to purchase a boat with primary plans of fishing the area of the river from Saint Robert to Jerome. Considering a small jet, either a 15' or 17' with a 25hp or 60hp. I've waded the upper river for years, but haven't boated this area. Not sure if the smaller rig would be better for this portion. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not concerned with boat speed, only fishability and safety.

Mark

[Al Agnew]

Why 25 or 60 HP? 40 HP will also work well. 25 HP probably isn't enough power for any good boat, since you lose about 40% of your power at the jet pump (a 25 HP jet will actually be putting out only about 15 HP). You need enough power to get the boat up on plane in a fairly short distance.

I'm glad you're not considering something really big and fast. I own a 1652 Blazer boat with 40 HP Evinrude, and it's all the boat I've ever needed--can fish three people, run fast enough and get up on plane fast enough to get me where I want to go without being so fast it's really dangerous. (In case you don't know, 1652 means a 16 ft. boat that's 52 inches wide at the widest point.)

Keep in mind that the stretch above Jerome has some runs that have big boulders sticking up very close to the surface in lower water levels, out in the middle where you might be likely to hit them, and the runs are slow enough that you can't see any evidence of them at the surface. I've never hit one but I've been startled to see one just as I passed by it really close! I've hit one rock going full speed, and trust me, it ain't fun.

In low water, you may not be able to run the river above the mouth of the Big Piney unless you're VERY experienced.

[Brian Jones]

A 15 or 16 foot flatbottom all-welded .100 guage jon with a 48 to 50 inch bottom will be perfect for all of the of the Gasconade as well as a lot of the Big Piney. As Al stated, unless you are a very small person and fish with very small people, I wouldn't go with an engine that was less than 40hp.

Regarding running: As long as the river level at Jerome was 2.60 or higher you should be able to run from Hwy 28 to Riddle Bridge without much trouble. The riffle right under Hwy 28 bridge and the riffle/rapids/ledge/falls at Portuguese (sp?) point are doozies. But to the best of my knowledge, all of the others are fairly easy to navigate.

[MarkV]

Why 25 or 60 HP? 40 HP will also work well. 25 HP probably isn't enough power for any good boat, since you lose about 40% of your power at the jet pump (a 25 HP jet will actually be putting out only about 15 HP). You need enough power to get the boat up on plane in a fairly short distance.

I'm glad you're not considering something really big and fast. I own a 1652 Blazer boat with 40 HP Evinrude, and it's all the boat I've ever needed--can fish three people, run fast enough and get up on plane fast enough to get me where I want to go without being so fast it's really dangerous. (In case you don't know, 1652 means a 16 ft. boat that's 52 inches wide at the widest point.)

Keep in mind that the stretch above Jerome has some runs that have big boulders sticking up very close to the surface in lower water levels, out in the middle where you might be likely to hit them, and the runs are slow enough that you can't see any evidence of them at the surface. I've never hit one but I've been startled to see one just as I passed by it really close! I've hit one rock going full speed, and trust me, it ain't fun.

In low water, you may not be able to run the river above the mouth of the Big Piney unless you're VERY experienced.

[MarkV]

Thanks Brian and Al. Regarding the HP, I was simply looking at a couple of available used rigs. Wasn't sure about the 25 jet so I appreciate your advice.

Mark

[BobK]

I too would go with a 16 X 52 with a 40hp motor with electric start. I made the mistake years ago buying a 40hp manual start....big error.