Diamond101
New member
Gentlemen,
I'm looking for a little input and suggestions here as I want to build a Shallow Water Running Jon Boat. First I plan on fishing Local inland lakes no Big Water with my new SmokerCraft 1648 Jon Boat along with a couple of local rivers that can get shallow.
The river bottom is sand, gravel and small rock along with some dead fall but most of it is wide with open no real tight issues.
Now the Smokercraft Jon boat is a 1648 with a 20 inch transom and I have added a front casting deck with dry storage which will have three batteries and fishing tackle in that area along with a bow mounted trolling motor and seat.
I tip the scales at 212 pounds and will have a 6 gallon portable fuel tank and 48 quart cooler live well in the rear of the boat and powered by a 15 horsepower Nissans 4 stroke long handle tiller.
Option #1.
Now here is my question do I modify the transom and add a 6 inch high prop tunnel and a jack plate to try to get skinny when running, as I have access to a great aluminum welding shop.
Option #2.
Are can I get the same effect if I were to add a pair of Beaver Flotation Pods, a hydraulic Jack plate that is on a 4 inch aluminum set back from the transom and adding a wing Cavitation Plate to the motor to help keep water in the water pickup area.
I'm I wrong in thinking the pods will develop a tunnel effect especially as I move the engine back off the transom by 6 to 8 inches with the Hydraulic Jack plate and then trap the water with the Wing Style Cavitation plate. As I really hate the idea of cutting up a new boat when the items in option #2 can be bolted on and my over all cost will be close to the same.
I'm looking for a little input and suggestions here as I want to build a Shallow Water Running Jon Boat. First I plan on fishing Local inland lakes no Big Water with my new SmokerCraft 1648 Jon Boat along with a couple of local rivers that can get shallow.
The river bottom is sand, gravel and small rock along with some dead fall but most of it is wide with open no real tight issues.
Now the Smokercraft Jon boat is a 1648 with a 20 inch transom and I have added a front casting deck with dry storage which will have three batteries and fishing tackle in that area along with a bow mounted trolling motor and seat.
I tip the scales at 212 pounds and will have a 6 gallon portable fuel tank and 48 quart cooler live well in the rear of the boat and powered by a 15 horsepower Nissans 4 stroke long handle tiller.
Option #1.
Now here is my question do I modify the transom and add a 6 inch high prop tunnel and a jack plate to try to get skinny when running, as I have access to a great aluminum welding shop.
Option #2.
Are can I get the same effect if I were to add a pair of Beaver Flotation Pods, a hydraulic Jack plate that is on a 4 inch aluminum set back from the transom and adding a wing Cavitation Plate to the motor to help keep water in the water pickup area.
I'm I wrong in thinking the pods will develop a tunnel effect especially as I move the engine back off the transom by 6 to 8 inches with the Hydraulic Jack plate and then trap the water with the Wing Style Cavitation plate. As I really hate the idea of cutting up a new boat when the items in option #2 can be bolted on and my over all cost will be close to the same.