So I have a 12 year old son who just loves fishing and I use to live for it. Time to get back into it for him. We want to get a boat trailer combo. I have been doing a ton of reading and a ton of video watching. We camp on the Northfork of the river and I wanted to be able to fish there. Here is what I think I have figured out. Aluminum John boat with a Jet outboard on it or a sport jet inboard. These will both run in skinny water and roll over gavel to smaller rocks under the water. They will run on plane in as little as 3" of water. I have 2 boats I am looking at 1 is a 18' Tracker with a SJ and the other is a 16' jon boat with a 48hp jet drive outboard and stick steer. As a disabled vet I prefer something that is easy and safe to run on the river. I will do very little to no lake running maybe some of the bigger areas down near the upper Potomac etc. If I do run on a lake it would be on Gaston when I go see my buddy who lives there.
My questions are what style and configuration power boats are most folks using?
What advantages and disadvantages do you think about each type?
Not looking for speed (50-60 mph) per say but what is the min power you think you need for each type to get on plane in a reasonable space with the average river condition?
Fish ability of both types?
Ease of pulling off a bar if it gets stuck?
Anything else I may be missing.
Thank you for your time I do need a power boat as I have tried Kayaks and Canoes and with my medical issues just do not work for me.
