WANTED: Jon boat w/25HP Jet Prop

[Mark]

I'm looking for a used or new 18-21 foot jon boat with jet prop motor. Anyone know where I can find one? Any help is appreciated.

Mark

[jdmidwest]

No luck over the weekend? Did you go to Doniphan and check things out there? There should be some used boats for sale this time of year.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Good Jon boats on good trailers seem hard to come by, even without motors.

[Mark]

Hey, JD, we are stopping in at Doniphan Friday morning on our way to Eleven Point - thanks for the tip. Snap and I have been keeping our eyes open for the past year or so, nothing ever for sale with jet prop in our area, internet or St. Louis papers.

Again, JD and OAF readers, we're 50ish and make 4-5 trips a year to the Eleven Point and have seen the river from a canoe many, many times. We're not the type that are gonna be racing up and down the river - I know from personal experience that those types can ruin a trip for others. We are wade fishermen and will use the boat as a taxi. We find that we just spend more time in a canoe than we like, especially at the end of the day we are always "making time" to get to our takeout when it's prime time for fishing. Plus we like camping for a week at a time when school let's out (we're both teachers) and a motorboat would make that much easier. (Trips to town for supplies, and eliminates the shuttling of cars and the hauling of canoes back to the nearest access upstream from camp.)

I do understand and can appreciate everyone's comments about motorboat use on the Eleven Point detracting from the enjoyment and sererity of the primitive wilderness experience for others in canoes. That is what we LOVE most about the Eleven Point River and will try our best not to be a nuisance to others.

Thanks JD and anyone else who can give us a lead.

Mark

[Wayne SW/MO]

Given the fact you're ready to wade, and there's two of you, could you use a prop guarded motor?

[jdmidwest]

Mark, if you are coming from STL try this place. Scenic Rivers Boats & Motors

7027 Stormy Ln Bonne Terre, MO 63628 (573) 358-7040. Should be on the way off 67 Hwy and is close enough to Black and Current rivers to offer a jet or 2. Also, pick up a trader paper when you get down south and see what is in it. We fish out of a modified Tracker 16' Panfish special with a 25hp Merc jet. The front stick steering is great for seeing the river in front of you while you are motoring. The shop in Doniphan modified the transom for the extra height. Good little boat to handle in tight spots, but the hull is thin, light gauge alum. and can't take much abuse on the rocks. A prop would be tough there, the advantage of a jet setup is that the drive is usually even with the bottom of the hull to skim the shoals. Ours will run in about 6" to 8" of water depending on the load. The way the riffles have flattened out over the past several years combined with the low flows, we still have limits of how far up you can run the boat.

[Mark]

Thanks Wayne and JD,

Hey Guys, your terminology is WAY over my head - I know nothing about motors - all I know is there is a 25 HP limit on the Eleven Point - we're hoping to find used boat and used/new motor - hoping to stay under $4,500.

Wayne - I'm assuming a prop guarded motor is a regular propellor motor with a guard around the propellor?? Not sure if that would work through shallow rapids like a jet propelled motor. Would it??

JD - we're from Ste. Genevieve so Bonne Terre store is close - we'll check it out. Stopping by Doniphan store Friday morning. I like what you said about them knowing exactly what we're looking for and easy to deal with.

This weekend is a good example of why we would like a jon boat with jet prop vs. a canoe. It's going to be a little chilly, and even an experienced canoeist tips over once in awhile. (It's been about 4 years since I tipped) It would be awful cold getting wet this time of year.

Any help you guys can give would be apreciated.

Mark

[Wayne SW/MO]

Wayne - I'm assuming a prop guarded motor is a regular propeller motor with a guard around the propeller?? Not sure if that would work through shallow rapids like a jet propelled motor. Would it??

No, basically what it does is allow you to run into shallow water without losing the prop. With the motor tilted you can into water about 3-4 inches or so deeper than the boat at low speed. You would then have to pull it over the shoals. They were somewhat common before jets. A lot of giggers had pitchforks strapped to the lower unit.

It might be something to consider if you can't come up with a jet.

[Mark]

OK I know what you mean. Anyway, we'll keep that in mind, but really want a jet motor.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Don't blame you, but.....?