gotmuddy said:My 1836 has severe limitations in the shallow water department. I am thinking a 1648 would fix it, maybe even a 1548.
Brian J said:gotmuddy said:My 1836 has severe limitations in the shallow water department. I am thinking a 1648 would fix it, maybe even a 1548.
My first experience with jet boats was running an 1836 Alumaweld (before they became Xpress) with a 25 tiller handle Mercury that belonged to my father in law. We tried to keep the boat as light as possible; one battery that served as power to both the 12 volt trolling motor and engine, a six gallon fuel tank and minimal gear. Though it was unstable and sat very low in the water while floating, it planed easily with two grown men and we ran some amazingly shallow water with it. Three people however bogged it down considerably.
Fast forward a dozen years. I purchase a bigger jet boat, father in law sells that boat but keeps the jet and I purchase a 1448 riveted Alumacraft. With the exception of a two feet extension to the front deck that is supported by legs, the boat is bare and is equipped the same as the 1836. With me and a small amount of gear in the boat ( my weight varies between 220 and 235) it will plane fairly easy. With our two daughters (10 and 8) in the boat with me, it will still plane but struggles. But put an adult equal to my size in the boat with me and it will not plane at all. Though people will argue with me and say that a 25 is plenty of engine, in my experiences jets that are less than 40 HP are pretty ineffective; unless you fish by yourself and travel light.
Enter your email address to join: