Wife Green Lighted Getting A Bass Boat. Need River Jet Set Up Help On What To Get.

[Duckbutter100]

I have made a few trips in a buddies 17' stick steer Xpress with a 60/40 Merc tunnel jet. Its  seems to work well for most places we go locally fishing thru river shallows. The only time its not good is if we go to Erie or the lower Potomac which if you dont know is much bigger waters for normal river fishing and can get scary very quickly with a little wind and that type of boat.

 

 

My question is do they make anything in the 17-19' area with a jet set up that can be used in shallow rivers and also some larger area's like Lake Erie. Im very new into looking at boats so Im not for sure what Im even looking for as far as new or used or semi-v, jon boat (grizzly type) etc. I was hoping to get some advice from someone familiar with this type of set up and where I can use and shouldn't use it. I plan on using this for fishing only.

 

Im about 5 minutes from the upper Potomac(shallow) so I want a boat I can use locally. At the same time if we make a few trips to Erie each year I would like something I could use up there. I need Alum. hull obviously but with no boat dealers in the area my choices are very limited.

 

I dont have enough lake fishing near me to go with a glass boat so Im kind of stuck but wondered what other folks in this situation may be using. Its almost like I need a river set up and a lake set up but I doubt Im going to get the green light on 2 boats so Im looking for something that can do both adequately. 

[flyfisher]

there is no place you can't take a jet but you have to be more careful in grass areas when idling around as it can clog the intake.  My dad has an inboard jet tracker and takes it on lakes about 30% of the time but they really shine on shallow rivers.

 

WWW.riversmallies.com has a lot of guys running jets on shallow rivers so yuo might want to chek out the site and do a search to see what is there as far as info goes.

 

If i was going to fish lakes as often as rivers i would look at an outboard jet simply beacuse it can be easier to unclog when needed.  I know when i am in the market for a boat i think i am going ot go with an outboard jet for the ease of cleaning should i clog

[Duckbutter100]

Does your Dad have a 185 Pro jet or something like that? 

[Fishes in trees]

If it isn't necessarily about money, check out Riverpro boats.  They are made in Hillsboro, Mo outside of St. Louis.  They haven't been in the news recently, but several years ago, In-fisherman magazine raved about these boats, about how they were absolutely the best shallow river fishing option available.  They aren't cheap, but they aren't totally out of line for what you get either.  I don't have one because in the waters I fish, they aren't necessary.  If my closest best fishing was a shallow river, this is what I'd have.

[flyfisher]

Does your Dad have a 185 Pro jet or something like that? 

yup that is the exact boat he has i think lol....and yes the Riverpro is one of the top boats out there but everyone has their preference.

 

A lot of companies do make outboard jets boats too like G3 and xpress boats i beleive.  WHen creating a jet it has to have a tunnel hull to help in drawing water into the intake and keeping the draft shallow while on plane.

[slonezp]

The great lakes can turn on you in an instant. I would be very leery about taking a jet boat out on Erie. Guys who run big water regularly will go so far as putting on a 4 blade prop to get more bite.

[BrianinMD]

Check out pajetboats.com

[Duckbutter100]

The River Pro's are about 10k out of my range. PAJETBOATS looks like an option. I wish they listed some price sheets on their site. I

[BrianinMD]

Send them an email, they are quick to respond and provide all the info you need.

[Duckbutter100]

Send them an email, they are quick to respond and provide all the info you need.

Done..see what they say. 

 

I talked to the folks at Tracker today and they offer zero jet boats. Too bad i was liking the 1860 Grizzly.

[Koofy Smacker]

Most popular one up on some of the upper reaches of the susquehanna are the G3 jet boats. Thats mainly the reason I went with a G3 prop was because the dealer was the best I had ever dealt with (plus I adore that boat). I have seen a lot of them and everyone loves them. They will come with Yamahas since Yamaha owns G3 but they are a great motor. If I were you I would look at the console steer versions however because it gives you a lot more visibility in front of the boat to look for obstacles which in a river are everywhere.

 

I would take a look at all the closer dealers and see what they have to offer

[Duckbutter100]

Im probably going to head to Harrisburg(about 2hours away) and check them out. I know Bigbee, Ducky's and PAJET are in the area up there. We actually fish up there a lot and I seen a few G3's on the water. 

 

I know the bene's of stick steer but def want a console steer.

 

How well does your prop go in the shallows? We fished a lot in Goldsboro and right there at the statue near the I-81 bridge last year in fall and I dont see how a prop would have made it around very well. 

 

My problem is the only boat service center I have near me that can do warranty service is for Mercury motors. Im worried about buying a non-Mercury just to have the closest service center being 2 hours away. So in my mind I almost need to find a Merc powered boat.

[Comfortably Numb]

Guy by me in Central VA make nice Jet boats for the James River. He uses Rhino hulls and custom builds whatever you want.

 

http://www.jamesriverjets.com/Boat_spec.htm

 

He also does alot of Elecric boats with the same hull and a big electric outboard. They haul.

[Koofy Smacker]

I actually got the boat in Harrisburg at Lakeside Marine. JC and Tom are both great guys to work with and really know their stuff. I got a prop because I really dont fish rivers. Most of the time I am on lakes or down on the Susquehanna flats with a few bigger further lakes thrown in. I wont run in less than 2 feet just because of how much the transom leans back when getting on or getting off plane. If your looking to do rivers at all I wouldnt think twice about going jet. Thats really the only way to go in the river category.

 

To be honest all of my local dealers are all Merc certified and Harrisburg was the closest that is Yamaha and I still went that route. Havent had a single hiccup with her at all and I have done most of the minor maintenance stuff myself like the impeller, oil, spark plugs etc. In terms of the boat I have yet to see one with a better fit and finish than a G3 in a tin boat.

[flyfisher]

get the UHMW if you can too.......everyone i know who has it loves and those who don't want it.  it really helps to protect the boat and slide over any ledges or rocks you may run into.

[Duckbutter100]

I guess boats sale are thru the roof this time of year. I emailed three different places earlier this week and have yet to get a response. I guess I will go back to patiently waiting.

[flyfisher]

A lot of these places are in essence custom boat builders....you might get a better response with a phone call