Boat for the sound/snohomish,cowlitz rivers

[Thenewguy]

The title says it all- what would a good boat be some medium to large rivers but could still handle the sound? I don't think I am up for tuna any time soon but like to hit port Townsend and maybe make a run to orcas? I have a small jet boat and a crestliner super hawk right now, but would love to end up with just one boat. Thought about an outboard jet,  and I could replace the foot... any wisdom out there?

Thanks

[dscubame]

http://www.wooldridgeboats.com

[Stein]

What's your budget?

[thegeneral]

http://www.wooldridgeboats.com
Tell them what you want to use it for and they will build it for you.

[2MANY]

Talk to Danny.

[Swatson]

+1 for Wooldridge.  Here's my 17' Alaskan XL that I had built last year and I've pretty much fished every fishery around with it except the really big open water.

[Swatson]

Yes, talk to Danny at Wooldridge!  He's the man!

[bullfisher]

X2 for Wooldridge. They've been doing it for over 100 years now and they're right in your backyard. Grant and Glenn will be honest and tell you what works and whats a gimmick.

[Antlershed]

Wooldridge boats are very nice, and the Alaskan is a great tributary sled. If you plan to be on the sound when the wind kicks up, you will get pounded in an Alaskan. I've had my Willie Raptor in the Satsop, Chehalis, Cowlitz, Columbia, Nootka Sound, and off the coast at Westport.

[Mfowl]

A 20+ ft Alumaweld Super Vee with a 150-200hp jet on it would handle your needs as well. You could find a used one easier than having a boat built for you. Theres a reason its the #1 guide boat in this region.

[bullfisher]

Wooldridge boats are very nice, and the Alaskan is a great tributary sled. If you plan to be on the sound when the wind kicks up, you will get pounded in an Alaskan. I've had my Willie Raptor in the Satsop, Chehalis, Cowlitz, Columbia, Nootka Sound, and off the coast at Westport.

Agreed.
 As good as the alaskans are in skinny water I couldn't own one. A sport or super sport like this is supreme! 

[Stein]

The main problem you are going to face is that what makes a good river boat and what makes a good sound big water boat are opposites in several areas - most importantly the hull design and protection from the elements.  I think you have to figure out what water is most important and then try to get by in the other.

It's probably easier to get a river boat in the salt on the right days then to get a salt boat up the river.  Either way, you are going to have to make some substantial sacrifices.

[Pnwrider]

Keep the small jet for the rivers and get a bigger deep v for the sound. Two boats is a reality my wife had to learn to come to grips with...


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[Antlershed]

Keep the small jet for the rivers and get a bigger deep v for the sound. Two boats is a reality my wife had to learn to come to grips with...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I second this if it's a possibility. All depends on how much bigger water you want to fish.

[Thenewguy]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

[Henrydog]

You will loose at 1/3 of your horsepower with a pump so if you go that route make sure you get the most HP you can

[dscubame]

You will loose at 1/3 of your horsepower with a pump so if you go that route make sure you get the most HP you can

Take this advise to the bank.

[Taco280AI]

You will loose at 1/3 of your horsepower with a pump so if you go that route make sure you get the most HP you can

Can he tighten that 1/3 of his hp? 

[Henrydog]

Actually Taco you can, with a metric socket set from Harbor Freight, a couple of friends, and a case or two of beer.

[eastsidemallard74]

Depends on your budget, I would also look at rh boats. I'm not an expert but for a fully rigged boat your about 30ish compared to the super vee for 50ish. I'm buying one this winter, and ill use it for guiding lakes and the Columbia

[Antlershed]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

Yes, outboard jets suck (literally) in big water. My Sportjet in my Raptor has zero cavitation issues, but my old boat (20' NorthRiver with SJ) cavitated quite a bit. It's all in the design of the hull. Problem with outboard jets, is the shoe is normally level with the bottom of the transom, making it prone to sucking air in choppy water.

[bullfisher]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

Yes, outboard jets suck (literally) in big water. My Sportjet in my Raptor has zero cavitation issues, but my old boat (20' NorthRiver with SJ) cavitated quite a bit. It's all in the design of the hull. Problem with outboard jets, is the shoe is normally level with the bottom of the transom, making it prone to sucking air in choppy water.

Thats why Wooldridge has perfected the jet tunnel. Airless water to the pump even in chop, and it raises the pump out of harms way, making the hull the lowest point in the water instead of the jet foot. Its also effective at reducing slide out when cornering.

[Antlershed]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

Yes, outboard jets suck (literally) in big water. My Sportjet in my Raptor has zero cavitation issues, but my old boat (20' NorthRiver with SJ) cavitated quite a bit. It's all in the design of the hull. Problem with outboard jets, is the shoe is normally level with the bottom of the transom, making it prone to sucking air in choppy water.

Thats why Wooldridge has perfected the jet tunnel. Airless water to the pump even in chop, and it raises the pump out of harms way, making the hull the lowest point in the water instead of the jet foot. Its also effective at reducing slide out when cornering.

I haven't been in any of the newer Alaskans, but have two buddies with Xtra Plus, and they cavitate like crazy in the Columbia chop.

[bullfisher]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

Yes, outboard jets suck (literally) in big water. My Sportjet in my Raptor has zero cavitation issues, but my old boat (20' NorthRiver with SJ) cavitated quite a bit. It's all in the design of the hull. Problem with outboard jets, is the shoe is normally level with the bottom of the transom, making it prone to sucking air in choppy water.

Thats why Wooldridge has perfected the jet tunnel. Airless water to the pump even in chop, and it raises the pump out of harms way, making the hull the lowest point in the water instead of the jet foot. Its also effective at reducing slide out when cornering.

I haven't been in any of the newer Alaskans, but have two buddies with Xtra Plus, and they cavitate like crazy in the Columbia chop.

Not sure what your buddies are powered with but the boat in the pics I posted above had next to zero cavitation issues at astoria, bouy10 and 5 days in the san juans. My friends alaskan XL hasn't been in anything bigger than lake washington but did not cavitate when I was with. Every other alaskan I've been in wasn't in anything bigger then the chehalis. I've had more cavitation cornering my prop boats than I ever had with that wooldridge OB jet. Its not impossible to do, but you'd have to dang near get airborne.
Air wants to get out from under a boat. A 10° vee gives it an easy out. Protect the jet foot with a short, well designed tunnel and bingo. Airless water.
I wanna say glenn perfected that in the 80's but I could be wrong. I heard he scraped a lot of boats trying to get it right.

[Stein]

Cavitating isn't the big issue in the salt with a jet boat, pounding waves on a 15 mile run with a 10 degree hull will ruin your day much more than gulping a bit of air.

[fowl smacker]

Also a jet near the mouth of the Columbia or on the salt can suck up sea weeds bad.  If you do get an outboard jet, make sure to get an extra lower unit with a prop.

[Swatson]

I get no cavitation on the Columbia in my Alaskan XL and just fished Astoria on Monday.....However Yes, the ride is a rough SOB when the water gets rough.  It all comes down to what you primarily want it for.  For me 85% of my fishing is done on smaller tribs, Cowlitz, and lakes and just have to deal with a rough ride for the handful of times I'm out in the salt or Columbia each year.  If I spent more time out in the salt that I did side drifting for Steelhead I'd probably go with something different though. 

[Antlershed]

Is there much of a big water benefit to an outboard and swapping the prop and jet?

Thanks for all the information so far

Yes, outboard jets suck (literally) in big water. My Sportjet in my Raptor has zero cavitation issues, but my old boat (20' NorthRiver with SJ) cavitated quite a bit. It's all in the design of the hull. Problem with outboard jets, is the shoe is normally level with the bottom of the transom, making it prone to sucking air in choppy water.

Thats why Wooldridge has perfected the jet tunnel. Airless water to the pump even in chop, and it raises the pump out of harms way, making the hull the lowest point in the water instead of the jet foot. Its also effective at reducing slide out when cornering.

I haven't been in any of the newer Alaskans, but have two buddies with Xtra Plus, and they cavitate like crazy in the Columbia chop.

Not sure what your buddies are powered with but the boat in the pics I posted above had next to zero cavitation issues at astoria, bouy10 and 5 days in the san juans. My friends alaskan XL hasn't been in anything bigger than lake washington but did not cavitate when I was with. Every other alaskan I've been in wasn't in anything bigger then the chehalis. I've had more cavitation cornering my prop boats than I ever had with that wooldridge OB jet. Its not impossible to do, but you'd have to dang near get airborne.
Air wants to get out from under a boat. A 10° vee gives it an easy out. Protect the jet foot with a short, well designed tunnel and bingo. Airless water.
I wanna say glenn perfected that in the 80's but I could be wrong. I heard he scraped a lot of boats trying to get it right.

150/105

[Antlershed]

I get no cavitation on the Columbia in my Alaskan XL and just fished Astoria on Monday.....However Yes, the ride is a rough SOB when the water gets rough.  It all comes down to what you primarily want it for.  For me 85% of my fishing is done on smaller tribs, Cowlitz, and lakes and just have to deal with a rough ride for the handful of times I'm out in the salt or Columbia each year.  If I spent more time out in the salt that I did side drifting for Steelhead I'd probably go with something different though.

But you don't have to compromise that much. You don't need a 10* hull to track well side drifting. My forward helm Raptor with a Sportjet tracks as good/better than any boats I've previously ran, it's got a 24* entry, but is still just 10* at the transom. Cuts thru chop a lot better than a standard 10* all the way thru. Certainly not bashing Wooldrodge boats (I used to own one), but there are other options depending on the ultimate intended use. 

[SpringerFan]

Edge Marine Sport OS. We love ours. 24ft. Deep Vee. Wide. Solid. Big fishing deck.

[bullfisher]

Hull design won't always save your arse..     

[Thenewguy]

Thanks guys, I think a deeper v inboard way be the trick for me. I tend to stay close if the chop is more then a couple feet. I like to use the boat in small rivers mostly to get to shore fishing opportunities.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Lund Makes nice boats.

[lokidog]

Our 19' Alumaweld Stryker would have been a good compromise boat.

It handled some pretty rough seas in the nine years we've had it out here, but it only had a two foot or so draft including the engine.

One thing to watch out for, if you are going to be beaching it much, is that the larger boats seem to be quite heavy.  As an example, a couple of times the wind/waves turned the Alumaweld sideways and kind of pushed it onto the beach, but I was able to get my back under it and push it off again.  I don't think I could do that with the Hewescraft I now have and I have to be much more aware of that potential.