Skagit River

[CP]

How far up the Skagit can you safely motor with a prop boat?

[CP]

No one?  How about the stretch between Hamilton and Birdsview?

[Fishmaker57]

Not advisable, unless the river is very high. If you know the river well, and have a short shaft motor, there are a few stretches you can run....but bring extra props!

[7mmfan]

Realistically, you can run most of it in a prop boat. The stretch between Hamilton and Birdsview is tough though, mainly due to wood more than depth. There are a lot of deadheads and sticks in that area, and the water is usually off color making it hard to ID them at speed.

[lokidog]

I used one of these on my 15hp on the Chehalis, it saved me a couple of props.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/mac-s-prop-savers--river-runner-prop-guard-35-70-hp--P011025632?pCode=11025640&&mrkgcl=481&mrkgadid=3076579626&cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC%3ENonB%3EProduct%2520Type-_-11025640&product_id=11025640&creative=108421551724&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxrbwBRCoARIsABEc9sgSlpJ-XE5Mhi8O12AjPrJ8M7KwC2xdTSiORsDCfaiPxqeuk1llg0QaAnR_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Make sure your engine mounts are tight and you have a cable attaching it to the boat. My 15 rode up a dead head once and lifted off the transom, no cable. I snagged it off the bottom of the river about three months later....

[CP]

Thanks for the replies. 

[KP-Skagit]

We pulled the tilt lock off my dad's short shaft so it just flips up if you hit anything. Pain in the butt if you have to use reverse much though. We run the south fork with that on the back of a flat bottom boat. At this point I know it well enough to run at a good clip. Can't speak for the upper river but I am sure that knowing the water is key.