Will seem like a bragging, boasting, gloating... but it's just excitement!

[tboydva]

OK, so it's pure excitement that I'm posting here. For years, I've watched the jet boaters pop right up over riffles while I'm in my canoe steaming. As I've gotten older, I've also gotten more frustrated with the logistics required to move vehicles up and down river all to get on the water by 10:00 AM! With so little time and few days off, I want to make the most of it! So, with a deep-v already in the garage, no storage space and a screw loose, I finished my 2 year search (looking, discussing, wishing, complaining, etc). I just couldn't pass up this jet boat:

It's a 2004 16 ft. Rhino jet boat. Here's the stern - with rod holders:

Here's the tunnel hull with a Merc 60/40 jet drive (I've always been an OMC guy, but hey, gotta branch out a bit):

My sometime fishing partner (but more into hip-hop now!):

And perhaps my future fishing ally - torn between the stick-steer and his Nintendo DS!:

The only downside is that I'm terrified of running upriver over riffles still. Took her out on the upper Potomac (in a stretch I know) yesterday. WOW!!! She really flies and from all my reading, one has to stay up on a plane - I know I ran over some spots that were less than ~10" deep. We ran up one stretch that on drifting back down (with the hull at full displacement) we scraped a few rocks.

So - again, sorry if this seems like a brag, but I can't stand the excitement and I guess folks lurking here can appreciate it! The upper Potomac is turning on - was out for about 4 hours yesterday and we caught about 20 smallies - I caught one ~16", the rest were not spectacular. But hey, it's fishing on a "new" boat and a day out of work! The Shenandoah has several stretches where I've dreamed of taking a boat like this. And my brother-in-law has staked out areas of the Juniata (in PA) that are awaiting for early next month!

[Grey Wolf]

Congrats on the new boat and no you're not bragging , just elated.

[Addicted to Smallies]

Congratulations!  I'm one of those "canoe guys" you see on the Upper Potomac these days.  I love my canoe for getting into the hard-to-reach places, but I have to admit I've looked on with some *** at those jet boats, too!

You're right about the smallmouth bass turning on around here, too.  I had 2 great days late last week, too, including 4 fish over 2.5 lbs and 2 fish over 3 lbs -- HUGE for the River Bend / Senneca Breaks area where I was fishing.

[Chris W]

Nice boat, I have always wanted a jet boat. There are a couple of rivers around here that would be perfect for one of those. Hope you enjoy it.

[Dave T.]

Good for you man! You're going to love that rig in the river.

[tboydva]

Thanks gents! Took my other boat (Lord, the wife is going to be jealous) over to the Bay (near Oxford, MD) today in the rain and cold. Striper bite was wide open. My two old friends (both visiting) and I quit counting at 100! Hopefully, we'll see you Northern VA locals out there on the Potomac or the Doah this Fall!

[5bass]

[movedhere] Smallmouth Bass Fishing [move by] five.bass.limit.

[sodaksker]

Congrats on your new rig.  Have a blast in it.

[oteymc]

Nice rig, I hope you have a ball in it. 

[TopDog]

Congrats man!  Killer looking river boat!

[NateFollmer]

Nice! I love jets. It always amazes me how skinny the water is and they still get through. I know a guy thats building an inboard jet... Crazy stuff!

Congrats, you WON'T regret that purchase!

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

Congrats on the Awsome boat

[Fishing Rhino]

Enjoy it in good health.

[Jason Penn]

congrats on the new boat!!!!

I feel your excitement, I just got a 2002 PT175 this week.  After years of fishing out of small boats I don't have a clue what it's going to be like out of a stable boat!

[Strike King]

It looks great!! Use it often

[Glenn]

Sweet ride man!  I have a glass boat, and often wish I had a boat like yours, just so I can get into spots my boat can't reach!

Congrats!

[SusqyMusky]

Hey Tboyd.

Nice rig. Congratulations on the purchase.

If you have any ?'s on jet boating send me a pm and I'll try to help. I'm on my 3rd rig now. I switched from outboard to inboard on my last upgrade.

You're not running shallow until you feel the boat lift up under you. When the water gets real thin, it compresses and the higher density will lift the hull.

Just remember with the tunnel hull the boat usually hits before the motor does.

[farmpond1]

So, you're saying, in order for the boat to have a really shallow draft it has to be "on plane" which, in turn, means it has to be moving pretty fast?!!!  I can see how/why you might be nervous about this.

Good luck with your new ride.  d**n the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

[Redlinerobert]

Awesome boat!  Congrats on that as well as the 100+ day of stripes! 

[senile1]

Very nice ride.  I'm sure you will enjoy it immensely. 

[fishfordollars]

Congratulations on the new ride. The pucker factor with those boats is outstanding.

Enjoy.

[BrianinMD]

Congrats, excellent boat for the upper potomac!!

Hoping to get out this saturday for a while, will probably head up to Dickerson. Its a long walk but worth it if the warm water is flowing. Glad to hear there are still some fish biting up there.

[northern basser]

SWEET!  I used to own a 17' alumacraft river runner w/ a 65hp yamaha jet.  When the economy went bad it had to go.  I REALLY miss it though. 

W/out a normal lower unit fin,  you have to be carefull at high speeds not to turn too quick or they will actually slide.  It used to freak me out at first till I got used to it.  They are really cool setups though,  enjoy!!!!