What’s a good flat bottom boat for small shallow rivers? What’s everyone’s favorite make or model?
Dink buster
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What’s a good flat bottom boat for small shallow rivers? What’s everyone’s favorite make or model?
Are you portaging or carrying the boat at all? How many people?
We carry our Jon boats so we opt for the smallest lightest weight we can find. But, we lose out on weight capacity and HP…
From the small amount of research I’ve done, most Jon boat weren’t too much different between brands. However, scanoes and sport boats are another option.
Small boat for me and wife. Maybe me and a couple kids at a time. We have a family boat for big water. Just want to go on smaller river near us. Thinking about kayaks too but 3000 plus for nice ones.
I am thinking of something similar. There are not many around me. Any recommended websites or dealers for finding one on-line?
I have a 14L the ‘L’ is for light-have always enjoyed fishing out of it more than a canoe or kayak. The lighter gauge does mean I have to be careful not to drag it on rocks too much. I would not go shorter than 14 for 2 people. (they can be hard to find in this state)
Small boat for me and wife. Maybe me and a couple kids at a time. We have a family boat for big water. Just want to go on smaller river near us. Thinking about kayaks too but 3000 plus for nice ones.
If you decide to go with kayaks or a canoe cheaper plastic ones are great for small rivers. They slide over rocks.
I use a 12 foot aluminum Lowe Jon boat to float small rivers in the summer and on small ponds/marshes in the fall to hunt ducks. Some of the areas I get into are only inches deep and it drafts through that with 2 people and some gear. I used to have a 10 footer but that just wasn’t big enough for 2 hunters, decoys, guns, and a big clumsy hunting dog.
My alweld has held up great since 2012.
My SeaArk MVT has held up great, had some harry situations and left with just a few dents and scratches. No rivets is nice.
Go with at least a 48 inch wide floor. 36 gets tippy. May as well just get a canoe if under 48.
-J.
Go with at least a 48 inch wide floor. 36 gets tippy. May as well just get a canoe if under 48.
-J.
Ditto!
48 inch most definitely. Have 48 and pretty stable. Cousins 36 seemed more wobbly and drafted more water.
Mines a 72, can take a leak while standing on the gunnels and she won’t even move.
Don’t assume the 12′ will draft shallower than the 14, the opposite could be true. (did I open a can of worms?)
Don’t assume the 12′ will draft shallower than the 14, the opposite could be true. (did I open a can of worms?)
Wider bottom will draft less.
Agree with all here. 14′ Lowe, it’s a mid 70’s, 48″ width. Doesn’t leak a drop and have a 25 Johnson on the back and a front troller. I won’t be portaging that beast anywhere though but stable and bullet proof and runs shallow water well. Fins and feathers rig.
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