I’m thinking of a boat

I'm thinking about getting a boat.  I'm not sure of what kind that I need.  For the most part, I don't fish.  I want it to access my hunt'N area.  I just want to use it to get to my area to hunt...not hunt out of it.  One of my former Marine buddies, for whatever the reason thought that I want to duck hunt out of it.  Then, he finally got the idea that I want to use it to get to my honey-hole...correct, I want it for clandestine insertion (that he understood).

Preferably, I want to be able to go back up stream, but it could also be used to get wet (put it in the river), float down, hunt the other side of the river, and then float down to a dif spot to get out.

Also, I'd use it to float down the river, once in a blue moon.  That brings us to another issue, fluctuation of flow.  The thing will possibly be used in high water, to dragging on the bottom.  I want be running rapids, per se, but 2-3' swells.  My Marine friend says that I want to avoid a john-boat (which he has, and swore that it was what I need, until I got it through his thick head of what I wanted it for).

I'm looking at an aluminum or fiberglass boat 12-14' and probably V hull.  Orrrr, a canoe.  I wonder if those types could be used on the river, and how much motor it would need to go back up stream.  

I talked to another guy, a canoe purist.  He has done the Grand Canyon, twice and has otherwise canoed just about every navigable stretch of water w/in 300 miles of here.  He is pretty much an expert (if you don't believe it, ask him) and he is even an expert on stuff that he has only done once.  He says they they run the river all the time on regular boats.  At first, he said that is what I should get.  Then he said a standard canoe w/a motor adapter and that a 2-4 HP motor would move it just fine.  He also said that I should avoid a square stern canoe (and based on what he said, I think that it is what I should be looking for) as they are a pig in the water (I want to stay dry, I've been thrown out before), are heavy (15# extra, whoop-dee-doo) and are wider (all reasons that a purists would hate one, but reasons that would make it more desirable for a goober, like me, that is using a motor).  He says that plastic is the way to go (actually, the new high-tech stuff, that is a plastic-laminate-plastic sandwich).  I tend to agree w/that.  He also said, AL drags on rocks.  Now, that is data that I can use.  But, my Marine friend says Al can take a lick'n (like a Timex) and keep on going.  He said that fiberglass is more fragile.

At the moment, I'm thinking of a standard plastic Old Town canoe, w/a motor attachment and out riggers to keep it from tipping.  I note that Cabelas has em in their catalog for $220 (and I can't imagine why anyone would buy something of such a simple design).  They would keep the thing from tipping.

So, what do yall (youse guys) think?  V-hull, or canoe?  AL, fiberglass, plastic?  Square stern.

As a side note...how is trolling motor power measured?  I see them listed from 30-50# of thrust.  What does that mean?

No NO NO What you think you need is not big enough, trust me. A year after you get one you will find you needed the 16 or 18 footer. I have an 18 foot boat that will go Any place.But now I want a 20 footer. I have been on river runs with 24 and 25 foot diesel boats that could go in even less water than me.You need a jet!!! I've used ours for many hunting trips hauling out deer,sheep, and elk with the weather so cold the ice is sticking to the hull. If your going to use it in the cold like we do you need an inboard jet that drains out when ever you pull her out .We can do a new years duck trip on the river or Tiber if you can get it in the water. Ours has a canvas top and defrosters with propane heaters,you have to have a windshield and a windshield wiper. Don't be put off with the size you'll "NEED" is later, I have 4 gun mounts for hunting and would like to have a camping top one day to cover the hole boat for over night trips. We did a 380 mile 3 day trip with 3 people and the 18 footer was "Tight" to say the least... The only other option would be a 18" square john with a 45 hp "Mud buddy" motor but there again in 3 foot waves your going to get wet. Look at a good used Hewescraft or custom weld with nothing less than a 200 hp jet, there again trust me on that too. 

No ramp? no problem!

Edited by d4570

.........as for a motor, I doubt you'll find an electric motor that will push you upstream fast enough to keep you from going insane unless it's real slow moving water. Speaking from experience with my canoe.

I will bet cash money one man can't load a deer in a canoe and stay dry.

A small gas motor and one man back there to run it pulls the front end of a 17' canoe up out of the water so it's hard to see what's right in front.

Boy I hope Stinky  Didn't try the canoe thing with a moose and didn't make it back out !!!!

I presently own 4 boats, just gave one to my son.

FIRST, what is your budget?  How far upstream in, what river?  Hunting what?  One man?  2 men? 3 men?

do you want or need to launch by your self off a road or shore without a ramp?

NEVER put a side mount gas motor on a double ended canoe.

 

 

HOW True!!!!!!

canoes are very unstable,  especially when lightly loaded as you would be without game going in.

the side mount puts the weight of the motor off center, over board.  In addition the motor torque running, but especially turning is also off center.  the motor is trying to tip you over.

in packing a canoe, you want everything balance along the center line.  motor torque and weight of an off center motor can't be balanced and it changes with speed.

Just a bad device, unless you are using a small electric on a pond, certainly playing with matches in a river current, asking for a wetting, and loss of equipment, or life.

Square stern canoes (aka freighter types) are fine with small outboards. 

going upstream against the current is tough with Small horsepower and wide or deep boats, so flat bottoms like the aluminum john boats are very good.  The river guide boats are great, but not in you $$ range, and they are made primary for floating DOWNSTREAM.   

canoes sound good because they are inexpensive,, shallow and narrow...but they are long.  a small motor on  a canoe going upstream, is difficult, even a square stern, as if the current gets even slightly off your side, it will turn around instantly.  Meaning going into hunting in the dark , upstream can mean you will be pushed around quickly and be heading downstream.

I've fished the gunnison and the Colorado.  Both can be whitewater to medium flowing streams.   Don't know where you plans may take you!!!  BUT  If you have 4 foot depth for the channel, or more; I recommend an aluminum 16 foot vee- bottom or a 16 foot john boat with at least 20 horsepower.

Boating is  dangerous, and hunters that use boats are dangerous.  we fished tow guys out of the Ohio river who where trying to get to a deserted island to hunt deer just 2 weeks ago.  They lost guns etc, but not their lives.

If you are not an experienced boater, id not suggest you hunting plans.  If you want to study, and take some boating classes first then, at a minimum, run that stretch not hunting 10-12 times.  get to know the river and the currents and how you boat reacts..in daylight (no blowing snow, rain)  also try to run it in high fast water, again getting to know it.  IF you shoot and elk or even a big mulie with two guy late, you could be coming out in the dark and in terrible wind and water conditions.  also these waters have flood control dams and release high volumes of water down stream without notice, so the current could be ten times greater coming out than going in.

This is  little long, but I got to say, wearing float coats is a must in this situation (I even carry extras onboard).

 

Posted: 04 March 2010 at 23:40 | IP Logged

stinky......an example of the semi-v hull type jon boat...now you don't need the blind part.  It has a front deck & rear deck. 

Here is my big duck boat a 16ft Alumacraft Waterfowler with an Avery blind and Evinrude 25hp outboard for an example.  I bought this used as you see it w/trailer for $1700 in 2008.  Boat is 2001 & trailer is 2002 & motor is 25hp Evinrude 1978.  Go shopping USED to see what you can find out there.  This is not a row boat.....too wide....paddles or push poles when motor can't be used. 

                                                                             &nbs p;                                                                 &nbs p;    

 Blind in UP position      

BEAR wrote: IBD,  you growing hay in tht boat????

at least you didn't accuse me of "baiting".........