Jump to content

How far up can a boat with a prop go?


MoFisher22

Recommended Posts

  • Members

Recently bought an aluminum bass tracker with a 25hp on it. Mostly going to be putting it on Truman but I was wondering how far up river I could make it? Bell Chutes? I know it depends on specific water level at the time but I was just curious if any of you could help me out. TIA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It only takes knee deep water to safely run a prop outboard.  You just have to run it slowly a few times until you learn where to go.   

Go ahead and smack the prop (lightly) a few times so you can get a feel for what prop smacking water truly looks like.    You'll be surprised at how shallow you can run.   And it's really not a big deal to hop out and pull over a shoal on the way up.  No worries on the way back down.... just raise the motor and drift over it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

It only takes knee deep water to safely run a prop outboard.  You just have to run it slowly a few times until you learn where to go.   

Go ahead and smack the prop (lightly) a few times so you can get a feel for what prop smacking water truly looks like.    You'll be surprised at how shallow you can run.   And it's really not a big deal to hop out and pull over a shoal on the way up.  No worries on the way back down.... just raise the motor and drift over it.

At normal flows some of that boat dragging is going to be a long haul.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate it. I’m 26 and in decent shape so I probably will experiment with the dragging although the boat mentioned above does look like it’s probably quite a bit lighter than mine. I’ve only floated the gasconade in my kayak and never went below Jerome in an effort to stay away from jet boats. I guess my question now is how close to the confluence with the Missouri is there still a stable smallmouth population? Assuming at some point it becomes a LM/Spots. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/22/2020 at 4:45 PM, fishinwrench said:

20130717_131518.jpeg

This old creampuff here made ALOT of river miles.   Screenshot_20200422-164202~2.png

Zero busted lower units, and only one trashed prop. Screenshot_20200422-164128~2.png

Lol. That's a long shaft too.

 

"Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously."

Hunter S. Thompson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

Lol. That's a long shaft too.

 

You're used to seeing a lower cowling (makes the shaft look shorter).   That's a 17" shaft, and you can see I have it shimmed up 3/4".  

Those old small diameter prop motors are the best for running shallow rocky rivers. With the motor tilted up you can run them in 10" of water and still pull cooling water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.