Is there a perfect boat?

[skibum]

With Keith and Henry being one of the few people I know that doesn't fall under this rule, Anyone who buys a G3 jet automatically looses 50 IQ points. Don't believe me? Try watching them on new water. They just become numb to the "I can go anywhere no matter who or what gets in my way". Lol. Seems most of the new G3 owners forget about the leaves, grass, gravel, or other people/boats. Of course this is just personal experience, but I'm sure I've heard this saying somewhere before.

But man what a nice boat!!

[FairWeatherFisherman]

Originally Posted by Brookinator

I'm curious how a RiverPro type inboard jet would compare. Never ridden in one, but I've been reading up on them lately and wonder the same thing as the original poster. They're supposed to be more efficient than an outboard jet and go pretty fast (not as fast as a new bass boat, but nearly as good as a center console I think). They also look to be layer out nicer than most jons.

Anyone have any idea of the performance and ride on big water? Nearly as good as a bay/bass boat type?

They make a 20' model, not sure if that would be too big for the Hooch? They make them in center and dual side control type.

I have a boat very similar to a RiverPro. Kent helped me winch it off the rocks a few years back and from 9 years experience, I can say the weight can be a real problem if you get it stuck on something, which would be very easy to do on the Hooch and many other of our local rivers, at low flow. Mine is pretty good on the big water though, not as good as my 20 foot bass boat that I fish out of in the winter, but much better than the jet jon boats.

[henryc]

Originally Posted by Kent

Henry, what rivers do you run your jet on?

I fish my jet on Lanier (very little), Allatoona (during May-Sept), Hooch from around Cobb 41 (below), MFD, Bull Sluice and Trout waters below Mckinnis Ferry...what's your point Kent?

[Kent]

No point, Henry...just curious.

[Brookinator]

Originally Posted by FairWeatherFisherman

I have a boat very similar to a RiverPro. Kent helped me winch it off the rocks a few years back and from 9 years experience, I can say the weight can be a real problem if you get it stuck on something, which would be very easy to do on the Hooch and many other of our local rivers, at low flow. Mine is pretty good on the big water though, not as good as my 20 foot bass boat that I fish out of in the winter, but much better than the jet jon boats.

That's something I hadn't thought of. Is it really tough to navigate a river like the Chattahoochee, or is it just something you need to be careful with? I would never try the flying over rocks stuff they show in videos.

Whenever I get a new boat I was thinking a river pro type would let me run on the lakes pretty well, but also be able to run up rivers around here. I probably wouldn't want to have to deal with 2 big boats, or using a jet jon on a reservoir. Also, even the nice jet jons, I'm just not huge on the layout and stuff.

What is reliability/maintenance like on an inboard jet? Do they start up easy?

[FairWeatherFisherman]

Originally Posted by Brookinator

That's something I hadn't thought of. Is it really tough to navigate a river like the Chattahoochee, or is it just something you need to be careful with? I would never try the flying over rocks stuff they show in videos.

Whenever I get a new boat I was thinking a river pro type would let me run on the lakes pretty well, but also be able to run up rivers around here. I probably wouldn't want to have to deal with 2 big boats, or using a jet jon on a reservoir. Also, even the nice jet jons, I'm just not huge on the layout and stuff.

What is reliability/maintenance like on an inboard jet? Do they start up easy?

Navigating them can be pretty tricky, especially when going downstream, the runs are hidden by the horizon, compounded by the current pushing you to decide quickly. Even areas you might know at one flow level can seem pretty different (in a bad way) at different levels. I've got a 250 Mercury Optimax in mine, and the reliability has been outstanding. Over 9 years I replaced a fuel pump and had a low water pressure area leak of the motor/pump liquid welded. Maintenance is not that easy for the Optimax, so I let the dealer do it all (Boats With Gusto at Lake Oconee). They have a top inboard jet guy there. The Optimax starts very easy every time (except the one time when I lost the fuel pump).