Picking a all-purpose jon for St Louis - including the Meramec

[Dashunde]

Hi all,

I'm trying to settle in on what hull I want to buy for use on all of the waters around St Louis... Meramec, Quiver, Missouri & Illinois rivers.

 

I'm thinking a 14 footer semi-V would work fine, but the catch is that I want to "float" it on most of the Meramec when levels permit. (is that just dumb?)

My wife and I like to float with the kid and I think the Meramec is the cleanest waters with the best scenery we have available around here, but we're not crazy about needing a canoe too.

I have a nice 2hp, 6hp 4stroke and 15hp and I'm trying to pick a hull that'll work decently on all waterways with just a quick motor swap.

I'm also adding a tiller handled trolling motor for silent running if the floating thing works out.  

 

Ideally, we'd put in somewhere (seeking location recommendations) West of Pacific, motor upstream and float back. 

 

Currently at the top of my list is the Alweld 1444 FV double seat - it has a V nose that transitions to a flat bottom at the transom. 

They also have 1442 V that is 5.5 deg at the transom, its a little cheaper too.  Both are around 250 pounds empty.

My hopes are it would be fine on larger/rougher waters doing 20mph or so with a 15+hp, yet still flat enough for a shallow draft with a 2-6hp despite my 240 pound fat arse in the back.

 

Or should I just add a flat-back canoe for the floating stuff and move up to a 16 footer with a 25-35hp for other waters?

Waddya think?

 

[fishinwrench]

16' minimum.   A 14' (if you are pushing 240 and plan to take on other passengers) is borderline insane, especially on the Missouri river. 

The best all around Jon in existence is a 1648MV with 20" transom.  It will do it all, and do it safely while still floating in ankle deep water.

[Brian Jones]

 

Ideally, we'd put in somewhere (seeking location recommendations) West of Pacific, motor upstream and float back. 

Not trying to burst your bubble, but you're not going to be able to run upstream from Pacific with anything but a jet unless you're willing to get out and pull the boat through shallow riffles and shoals OR you go during periods of high flow which generally, during those times, that part of the river is not fishable due to the dirty water that the Bourbeuse  dumps into the river at Moselle (Chouteau Claim) Access.  In fact, IMO anything above George Winter is going to be problematic in a prop boat most of the time.  

[Al Agnew]

I agree with Wrench and Brian.  There's no free lunch and there's no do-it-all boat for as wide a range of waters as you're talking about.  Your 14 ft. semi-V idea is probably poor for all of the different waters...too small to be seaworthy on the Missouri and Mississippi and not worth much on the Meramec and Quiver.  It's the big water of the Mississippi and Missouri (especially the Missouri--there are places you could use about anything on the Mississippi above the locks and dams) that is throwning a monkey wrench in your plans.  People float the Missouri all the time in canoes and kayaks, but the prudent among them wear their lifejackets and are extremely careful around wing dams and in barge traffic.  And they only go downstream.

As Brian said, you do have the option of getting a craft small enough and light enough that you can use the small motor on it on the Meramec (and I guess the Quiver) and be willing to drag the boat up shallow riffles (and paddle it back down those riffles).  It's doable.  But that leaves the big water out as far as a fishing craft.  You could even use Wrench's suggestion of the 1648 modified V with the understanding that it would be more work dragging it up riffles on the Meramec but usually possible, and it could possibly be used with plenty of caution on the big water.  But eventually one of two things will happen--either you grow disenchanted with one type of water and want your craft to be a lot better for the others, or you'll decide you really need better craft for each of the different waters.  Either way, you'll then probably want to dump the 1648 and buy one or more different boats.

[mjk86]

Not trying to burst your you or e, but you're not going to be able to run upstream from Pacific with anything but a jet unless you're willing to get out and pull the boat through shallow riffles and shoals OR you go during periods of high flow which generally, during those times, that part of the river is not fishable due to the dirty water that the Bourbeuse  dumps into the river at Moselle (Chouteau Claim) Access.  In fact, IMO anything above George Winter is going to be problematic in a prop boat most of the time.  

under normal conditions you can make it up to the 141bridge by prop (mine is 17ft mod v with 40hp prop).  AAlthough there is a questionable stretch where 44 crosses the river.  

[mjk86]

Sounds like ya just gotta have lots of boats!   

[Dashunde]

Lot of info there, and thanks for all of it.

Well... I stumbled upon a 2005 Lowe MV1462 (high sided deep/mod V) with a 15hp Yamaha 4-stroke and nice trailer, all of it is in like new condition, I dont think its even broken in yet.  Its been sitting silent indoors for 8-9 years.  Still has the sharpie marks on the bottom of the hull where they laid out their rivet holes.

I took it out on the Quiver the other day, it does fine, needs ballast or another person up front and I've determined that I detest 15+hp tillers, so its getting forward controls asap because I much prefer a steering wheel and for better balance.  It hit ~24mph with just me weighing down the tail, and should do even better when I move forward, raise the motor a bit, and can use a trim position up from dead bottom.  It has lots of spray and pulls right hard enough to annoy me plenty as-is.

So its not so hot for the Meramec, It'll be a bit heavier with a steering wheel, its also only .050 metal.

I know the 14 footer isnt ideal for any of the STL waterways... but it fits in my 3rd car garage and leaves room for the mower, grill and plow tractor

Its a shame about the MO being dicey, I'm only 10 minutes from the ramp at Augusta, its even angled upstream instead of sideways to the flow.
But I know a guy who regularly puts a 14ft Tracker in at St Charles...?

Now that you know what I have - Where are a few good places I should use it?   Keep in mind, and I know this is blasphemy around here... I dont fish, dont even own a rod, but I love boating and you folks are the ones to talk to about that around here

Also... since I'm already here.. would my boat be any good on the Gasconade if I put in at Hermann or Gasconade MO?