Differences In River Boats

[taxidermist]

Supreme, yea it looks nice, but we all know looks don't catch fish.

Shawnee, I don't know anything about these boats, hear they are good but don't know.

J&S They have changed hands, seem to be nice boats.

Next seems all the motors under 25hp are no built by Tohatsu. (except Hondas)

Why would brand make a difference and why a jet over a prop.

I have been looking at the J&S boat in a wider 47 inch bottom with either a 15 prop or 25hp jet. My thinking is the wider jet would float in shallowedraft and navigate some areas I would like to fish at low water.

Thanks John

[Danoinark]

Won't the jets pick up more sand, gravel, moss, debris and god forbid didymo on the rivers, and can you even put a jet in reverse?

[John Berry]

I own a Shawnee, my second one. They are built very stout. Mine is 48 inches wide and incredibly stable. I find a mercury fifteen horse two cycle engine to be the way to go.

[Don Allenbaugh]

Have the Shawnee "commissary" 48 inch boat. Stable and I love it. Have a 20 hp jet and can go anywhere on the river with no generation. Yes you do get grass etc but just knock it out. Reverse works like the reversers on a jet passenger plane. Hard to manuever in reverse but you get used to it.

[taxidermist]

IS there a 07 or 08 2 stroke 15 available?

Merc make a 25 hp in a jet and they all have a door of sorts that covers the jet and forces the water down and under for reverse.

Yea I like the idea of the wider boat these days. The river jon is a bit narrow and taking other out fishing is ok, but our limit is 3 in the boat including me operating it.

On the Comm. boat at 48 inchs what is the draft ?

Thanks John

[John Berry]

It is my understanding that two cycles are a thing of the past. I do not know the draft but it is not a whole lot. I can comfortably and safely carry five in my boat including me.

[taxidermist]

Thanks John.

Yea, I have been looking at new motors and all the four storkes are built by the same plant in China. Yamaha is the only maker that has a 2 stroke and its the 25hp at this time.

While in Kansas City a few weeks ago I found a dealer that had all the motors side by side and sure enough they are as he said all Tohatsu built, bolt for bolt the hoods are some different and the shifter Mercs and Mariners have the handle forward/reverse shift.

I do remember seeing Mr Berry up at Rim with a boat load of people.

I am thinking at lest a 15hp on the wider boat. The jet motor seems like a good idea but I have zero experience with a jet and would like to see how they handle first since the cost is a good bit more.

Thanks Taxidermist

[John Berry]

Mr. Berry is my father. Terry met him at Conclave last year. I am John.

[Steve Dally]

Just purchased my first and went through some of these questions. I was picking the brains of every guide I saw on the what why etc.

When I moved to Arkansas basically everyone told me that the Supreme's were the best _pricier but the best.

Finally ended up with a Supreme 2000 9.9Merc 4 stroke prop.

The bigger 2060 would be nice, but the opportunity came up on the 2000.

I was looking for a propboat on advice of a couple of friends but particularly after fishing with one, Kevin brandtonies. The jet is great for shallow running, but harder to get a controlled drift with. Kev reckons he uses way more gas, has to work more, to keep the boa drifting when you are fishing. Upside is he doesn't have to worry about a lower unit/prop.

You mention looks, yep it looks sweet, but very good layout, love the rod trays for flyrods _ you can even travelwith rods in there _ runs nicely even with some big clients and a bunch of gear.

And as for looks not catching fish _ first guide trip out 60+ fish in the boat. LOL

The other thing I like about the Supreme's is resale value. Which mens they are pricier to get into but they sell extremely quickly second hand and don't devalue. Even well used guide boats LOL

Supreme is under new ownership, John Quintrell is a good guy, fly fisher too, they are keeping making the true Supreme's 2000 2060 etc but looking at larger wider boats. They have also upped production so you can get them faster.

Chad Johnson, who used to work here got "poached" by John as their new sales manager, looking to expand dealerships and markets.

I mention this cos I know Chad was doing a lot of testing, measurements on draft, etc etc etc.

You can get them through www.supremeboats.com.

Cheers

Steve

[taxidermist]

Thanks for the information. Does anyone know where Shawnee is located. I tried to google them and stuck out.