Shallow Draft Trapping Boat- what do you reccomend

[martyb]

I'm seeing some opportunitys to clean up on beaver, rats, and coon on our shallow rivers but they are too shallow to do much floating with a 14' sea ark loaded with gear and two big guys. The critters are there but cant really access them by dragging a boat downstream to the next bridge for five miles. Not enough daylight or back muscles.

Can anyone reccomend a boat/motor setup that would work in shallow sandy conditions?

[17HMR]

Marty, I tried that same thing a couple of years a go and wore my butt out in a week, walked more than rode in the boat. If I ever do t again it will be with a air boat, I seen some waterfoul hunters going over some 2 inch deep water with one, but you could hear them coming for a couple of miles.

[ColdSteel]

Depends on how deep the water is you are trappping.I have a16' wide bottom with a 65 hp jet drive wide open I can run in 5 inches of water with 2 men in the boat

[Horn]

Go-Devil on a Jon boat does not need much water.

if going the Go devil route get as much HP as you are able to afford as the weight is about the same for a 10 hp as a 25hp.

I have an older 8.5 hp and its a heavy SOB but we can go many of places that an Outboard would never think of making it.

No reverse and a different turning radius requires a bit of forward planing but I think its worth it.

Mike

[Jason Cox]

Mike is right the go-devil is the way to go

[thebeav2]

Use two boats and split up the load

[bblwi]

Does anyone that posts here use or know of someone who uses say a 14-14 foot flat bottom or modified flat bottom boat with say a 15-25 horse motor that runs in a shallow drive position with a basket or wire protector around the prop and lower unit?
If so how do they work and how much hp does one lose running in that mode?
Thanks,
I am leaving no for 2 days of Christmas and all the trimmings!!!!
Merry Christmas to each and everyone one of you.

Bryce

[rk660]

If money no object, jet drive and tunnel hull boat supposed run as shallow or even shallower than mud motor. I do get tired of lugging the scavenger up and down a bank.

[ColdSteel]

I love my jet and like I sai dI can run in 5 inches of water.My boat will hit before the motor will.One major drawback to the jet is they are not good on gas

[possumblaster]

I run a 14' Lowe wide body-60" across the beam.Runs shallow with all my equipment in it.Put a 9.9 4stroke Mariner on it-short shaft.Starts easy-uses little fuel and no mixing.I don-t have a basket over the prop and ding the crap out of it. Gonna run it till it's round. It has taken a BAD lickin and never sheared a key-it's set up to ratchet before it shears the key. A go devil would probably be a little cheaper,but I didn't know about them when I set the boat up.I have noticed that it pays to experiment some to balance the boat forward and back-you can cut a very shallow draft if you pay attention-maybe four inches.

[trapperjoemo]

Does it have to be a boat?? Have you considered a 6X6 Argo or Max?? They float, and can go 2-4 mph in the water with the tires spinning. You can also mount a small outboard on the back and get 5+mph out of one. That is what I`ve heard. I researched some years ago, but have never used one. I always hated draggng the gravel bars etc... How cool would that be to just drive right across!? I suppose you could pull a small boat too.

Food for thought.

Joe

[turbines]

Here is a link for your review, I have been looking at these boats for river hunting coyotes.
I saw some of the models while working in Alabama. They don't have that many distributors, in fact the closet one to me is in OK or AR.
I see on their site that they also offer a model with a tunnel hull.
I think this would be a good hunting sneak boat.
They have several widths (beam) and lengths. Camo is available also.

www.boatingatlanta.com/River%20Hawk/riverhawk1.htm

I'm not sure of the weights tho. I would like to be able to lift and scoot it into the back of a pick-up. The motor rating is up to 10hp, I think

[mustelameister]

Shallow sand is rough on props. If you're digging in sand for a season, figure on buying a new prop annually. For a Go Devil that will run you about $200. I've had 9" props go to 7" in one season when the water dropped.

Air boats are the ultimate for both open water and ice up, but . . . the $#%@ noise is enough to keep me from going that route. Maybe I'll change my mind someday, but up to now I can't stand the things. That and I can't rationalize it at this point in my life.

Retirement on the horizon, however, and maybe an air boat won't be that noisy anymore . . . doggone versatile that they are.