Goaround
Active member
Long story... I'll make it short.
Never owned my own boat before, did alot of research and ended up purchasing what I thought was the optimal layout/size/HP for what I was planning on doing. I live just off the Arkansas river and fish in streams/rivers that feed the river. I was at first wanting a flat jon but getting caught out when they open the dams or in the wind could end poorly on the river. Also I will run long~ish distances from the ramp by my house so I wanted something with a bit of speed so I wouldn't waste half my time just getting there (Have a family so fishing time is limited).
So I purchased a Xpress X17. LOVE the layout, rides great, almost 50 mph on most days. However I have come to realize that with all the submerged lumber/stumps around here I end up taking FOREVER on the trolling motor running upstream dodging stuff once off the river. I have already bumped into a few things and spent some cash fixing broken bits...
If I put a jet lower on my Etec 130 and set it up correctly would I be able to pass over with little drama the laydowns and stumps below the surface, or will this pad hull boat still draft to deep? I could take off my jackplate and raise the transom? Maybe have someone weld in a tunnel???
I'm not looking to make gopro videos of me jumping things, just want to get home to my family safely without tearing my equipment up. All while not staying out for 6 hours just to get there and back...
Or should I just sell the thing next spring and buy a different boat???
Thanks
Never owned my own boat before, did alot of research and ended up purchasing what I thought was the optimal layout/size/HP for what I was planning on doing. I live just off the Arkansas river and fish in streams/rivers that feed the river. I was at first wanting a flat jon but getting caught out when they open the dams or in the wind could end poorly on the river. Also I will run long~ish distances from the ramp by my house so I wanted something with a bit of speed so I wouldn't waste half my time just getting there (Have a family so fishing time is limited).
So I purchased a Xpress X17. LOVE the layout, rides great, almost 50 mph on most days. However I have come to realize that with all the submerged lumber/stumps around here I end up taking FOREVER on the trolling motor running upstream dodging stuff once off the river. I have already bumped into a few things and spent some cash fixing broken bits...
If I put a jet lower on my Etec 130 and set it up correctly would I be able to pass over with little drama the laydowns and stumps below the surface, or will this pad hull boat still draft to deep? I could take off my jackplate and raise the transom? Maybe have someone weld in a tunnel???
I'm not looking to make gopro videos of me jumping things, just want to get home to my family safely without tearing my equipment up. All while not staying out for 6 hours just to get there and back...
Or should I just sell the thing next spring and buy a different boat???
Thanks