2024 G3 18’ CCJ year of ownership review

[Susky River Rat]

I bought my 2024 G3 18’ CCJ in October 2023.  For those who do not know it’s a center console with an aluminum tunnel hull and outboard Yamaha 115/80 jet.  A terrova quest and garmin strikers bow and console. 
 

My boat runs between 30 and 32.5 depending on load, current, wind etc. which is plenty fast for a rocky shallow river. This boat is not built for speed, luxury or comfort. It is function built as most river jets are. 
 

It gets on plane in about a boat length and a half which is very important. It is a very dry ride. Generally the only spray I get is from the trolling motor being stowed. Nothing from  actually running the boat. 
 

Handling is very different than even my previous jet boat. It tends to skate out hook up and than have to counter steer it back straight. To combat this I will run about 13/16 throttle than to straighten out in the direction I want go to full. This negates the over steering issue. It does not like any kind of chop and gives a very rough ride.

fishing out of this boat is a joy. I can walk all around it. I have a great vantage point into the water. It is very stable and drafts extremely shallow. I have a few minor rock bumps with it but no major damage. This boat gives the confidence to go shallow. 
 

My biggest complaint about this boat is loading it onto the trailer. It does not really self center and is very heavy to winch up. I try to keep it within about 1’ of the winch. Also being such a shallow drafting boat it will easily float over the bunks.

 

Overall this boat is exactly what I wanted and does everything I need it to do extremely well.  I even catch fish out of it sometimes!

 

[billm6767]

I had similar loading issues with my Crestliner with a 115/80 jet as well.  I'm primarily fishing in the Susquehanna as well and the combination of the jet motor having very vague low speed steering and the current of the river makes it challenging to load.  I put a set of 5 foot long bunk guide on's on my trailer to center the boat up as you load it,.

[bartnc37]

I run A 1860 seaark CC jet with a Yamaha 90/65 and ulterra 80 up front. There is definitely a learning curve. First time I unloaded the boat I ended up backwards on the pier, the only thing worse than the low speed forward handling is anything in  reverse.  Pretty much a trolling motor party for any low speed stuff.  Mine isn't that bad on chop with the mod v hull, but as stated before, it isn't a pleasure cruiser.  I was a little worried about the ulterra durability but I've beat the snot out of it and it keeps on ticking.

 I  did add a come along and some sand anchors to my supplies this year as I spent a couple hours waiting for the dam to open and bring up the river last year, shallow sandbars and fog are a bad mix, but I had a rare summer Friday off so it was go time.

  Overall a great rig for a shallow,stump and rock filled river , wife and kids like being able to go up to no mans land and have huge sandbars all to ourselves as the only other people that can get there are the occasional canoe/kayak. 

[Susky River Rat]

@billm6767 I generally do not have to many issues with loading anymore. My tracker 160 has a jet and I understand all the jet steering it’s just the lack of forgiveness of loading this boat over that one. 
 

@bartnc37 yeah I hate reverse. Not only is it pretty much useless if you are shallow it redirects all the dirt/stones/sticks off the bottom up into your intake.