its time sell my boat, and consequently, time to go boat shopping :D

[jeepster]

if fuel prices are already almost 4$ a gallon now.... i dont even want to know what they are going to be this summer.....  as much as i love my boat, i think its time to let it go and find something that doesnt take 200$ to fill up (or 70$ every time i wanna use it).... besides how the hell do you get a heavy duty 20' deep v cruiser in the river? i figure if im lucky ill be able to get like $5000 for my boat

gotta cut costs where i can, and last year, i was only able to run my boat maybe 10 times due to cost of opperation (and i didnt go more than a few miles from the launch), but used my dinghy every weekend... i miss having a boat thats cheap to run, cheap to store, and cheap to tow.

so id love to find something affordable, cheap(er) to run, that still has some power to it, that can run the rivers, but also do some nice-day saltwater fishing...oh yeah, and most importantly, duck hunting!!!

im pretty sure i want a sled, but i fish saltwater too so there is some question.

 ive seen some old smokercrafts with like an 85hp suzuki jet, lots of tiller handle jon boats ( ) and the occasional hewes craft... i prefer a style with a windshield... and something around 18-20 feet...

i dont have any experiance with jets, but they seem like the smartest idea for anybody attempting the rivers... how do jets handle in open water? obviously with a smaller boat i wouldnt do the long crusing trips i like to do, but something i could use more often outweighs that 10:1

id love some input on what kind of boat i could get for under 5000$ that can be just at home up on the skagit as it can be hunting in the bay

[wildmanoutdoors]

Jets do fine on calm days. I took my 19 foot open sled with a jetted 175 to winter Harbor a few times and fished the Ocean for weeks straight. Its been to Bamfield, Neah Bay, In rough water they suk and cavitate.
I fish it all over the sound in the summer for Kings, I fished it on the Queets, Cow, Nootch, Skagit, Big C, Satsop, Lewis, Nisq ect.
The new Evi only burns about 6 gallons of fuel a day running rivers. Very economical for a sled that runs about 40+ mph. Very versitile boat!

[MADMAX]

Sold a 20 ft NW jet that I used at Seiku and Neah, did fine, lottsa gas money
went to a 22ft hewes with a 150 Honda great boat just a little big for a solo trips and I usually go out alone on the Hood Canal, ended up with an 18ft Duckworth with a 115 Yamaha and 8 hp high thrust and love it  and sipps gas But for under 5K, not likely
I looked and wanted to stay at under 12 K, that did not happen.
my 2 cents for under 5 K find a Bayrunner and try and change out the motor with a  newer 4 stroke when you can because it will proabably have a 2 stroke on it

[wildmanoutdoors]

Yeah thats the other thing, non direct injected 2 strokes eat fuel! 4 strokes or new tech 2 strokes are really good on fuel.

[Fish4Fun]

I was looking at Craigslist this morning, and saw this ad for a nice liitle river boat. If I didn't have 2 sleds already I might be looking at this one more serious.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/2293904474.html

[bowtech721]

Like wildman said an outboard jet will do fine on calmer days but very few will run in serious chop without cavitating and those boats will be over 5k. If you stuck on a windshield type boat in that price range I would look around for one of the older hewes as ive seen them come and go in that price range.

[Special T]

Macks Skeg Protector! I have one on the River Boat i own and they KICK A$$. made here in Mt vernon.. Best place to purchase is Holliday Sports on Hwy 20. For the cost of 1-2 props you can have it and i can tell you they work great! i have hit several logs and run aground numerouse times and my new prop is still good. It took me destroying 2 cheap props to buy the Skeg protector tho! 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Macks Skeg Protector! I have one on the River Boat i own and they KICK A$$. made here in Mt vernon.. Best place to purchase is Holliday Sports on Hwy 20. For the cost of 1-2 props you can have it and i can tell you they work great! i have hit several logs and run aground numerouse times and my new prop is still good. It took me destroying 2 cheap props to buy the Skeg protector tho! 

I had one too on my T8 and it along with my skeg are on the bottom of the Nootch. Lol Protect your pro yes, but not your skeg!

[jeepster]

yeah, i was considering a drift boat with a center mounted 15 horse ourboard, but a jet sled sure sounds like the most versatile boat.....

[pjb3]

I'm afraid to go boating my self this summer, last year it costed about $300 every weekend to run her, this year, maybe $500 a weekend

[pjb3]

I kinda figure my boat burns about 12 gallons an hour, THAT SUCKS

[jeepster]

I kinda figure my boat burns about 12 gallons an hour, THAT SUCKS

oh man that sucks... what are you running?

[FC]

I kinda figure my boat burns about 12 gallons an hour, THAT SUCKS

Must be a big boat! Mine burns less than 12 gallons in a WEEKEND!

[PolarBear]

Try marine diesel!  I hold 240 gallons and by summer it will be back up to $5 per gallon!  By the way, that boat is up for sale if anyone is interested.

[Skyhigh]

I went from this...



to this about four years ago and have never looked back....