Gheenoe opinions, thoughts and experience wanted.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I just bought a 13 foot Gheenoe.   It came with a two stroke 7hp motor.  I have been reading alot on them, but there is not much on the ozarkan area.  Seems like they would be excellent.   Does anyone here have experience with one?

[ollie]

I thought at one time Phil rented some out, but not sure.

[wily]

i've had two of them, but sold the last one in 2010 or so.  they are great boats with a cult following in southeast.

i really liked the boats -- they were stable for me and young sons.  i had a 5hp johnson that i used, and used it to fish spring river in oklahoma for white bass...back then i had a ranger boat that couldnt go past 10 bridge.  mine didnt have enough motor to get up on plane to take advantage of the shallow running capabilities so i hit a rock or two hundred...i always kept a couple sheer pins in my wallet...and never got stranded.

my first one was made in arkansas -- i bought it from a guy in little rock -- he used it on the heber springs tailwater he said.  i wore a hole in the transom from dragging it around on gravel bars.  i cant remember all the details about the manufacturer in arkansas but they were made there in an effort to expand brand and increase the distribution.  i think the second one was made in florida but cant remember for sure -- it was newer/nicer and i didnt keep it very long.

the boats are heavy -- best to have a trailer -- i never did -- i would have to put it back in the truck when we were done...and it was tough to do by myself, but i am not a big guy.  that's why i had small motor too..i just took every thing apart and slid into a truck.  the reason i got rid of them is because of the weight, and the difficulty in loading/unloading. 

[hoglaw]

Very stable and comfortable.  Yes, they're heavy.  Not a great boat for small stream stuff, but better than a canoe for mid-sized water.  Reasonable multi-purpose boat.  My family has a few (on the Little Red near Heber oddly enough) and they are perfect for that river.

[kjackson]

Have you visited micro skiff.com? There's a wealth of Gheenoe info there.  

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I have not.   I will,  thanks for the info.  DC 

[Bird Watcher]

I just picked up this 13' classic on CL for 80$.  I removed the livewell and I'm attempting to make a poor man's layout boat for duck hunting out of it. I guess you can't really see the boat now that I've attached a blind to it.   I put my 6.5hp longtail mud motor on it and it handles pretty well.  I don't have any experience using it.  All I've done is sea trial it,  but it definitely didn't seem that heavy to me.  I can manhandle it.  I'm probably just a beast...

 

 

 

[Greasy B]

I ran across two dudes drifting down river Y in one last month. The boat had a 20 Jet on the back, 24 volt trolling motor on the front and rowing oars in the middle. One of the few times I seen a boat that I truly admired. 

[BilletHead]

   Nice Chris,

Looks great. Guess you are thinking flooded timber again this year or are you going to be one of your a river of four buddies?

BilletHead

[Ozark Sweetwater]

1 hour ago, Greasy B said:

I ran across two dudes drifting down river Y in one last month. The boat had a 20 Jet on the back, 24 volt trolling motor on the front and rowing oars in the middle. One of the few times I seen a boat that I truly admired. 

Are you sure it wasn't a Towee? A Gheenoe doesn't handle a jet. You described my Towee to a tee.