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Post by Stef on Apr 19, 2008 7:48:11 GMT -6
Thanks for everything guys.. another question:
Do these engines can take a lot of rain/snow ( water - melted snow ) ?
Stef
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Post by rk660 on Apr 19, 2008 8:58:32 GMT -6
motors will stand up well to weather, they all are just common small 4 cycle motors, honda, briggs, kohler motors
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Post by mustelameister on Apr 19, 2008 22:39:44 GMT -6
Stef--two things about running these motors in weather below freezing.
1) If you get any moisture in the shaft, and the shaft freezes, you're going to have problems turning the engine over since it's direct drive. There is no neutral. I carry a Bernzomatic trigger start propane torch in an ammo box in the boat for quick start emergency fires and for warming up the shaft if necessary. Hasn't happened in ten years or so, but sure ruined a morning deer hunt one year.
2) Second problem area arises very often if not taken care of before cold weather--the throttle cable. Your throttle is on the handle, and the cable snakes back along the handle, hangs down a bit, and then up to the engine. Rain will normally cause water to collect in the bend of this cable, and when frozen, will prevent you from adjusting the throttle.
To solve this problem before cold weather, you can disconnect the throttle cable, pull the sleeve off, and fill it with WD-40 with a squeeze bulb having a fine point end.
Otherwise, I have experienced no problems running these throughout the winter. Early spring walleye fishing finds me skidding the boat across the ice 'till I hit open water, then firing up the motor and getting on up the river.
Most of the electric start models have a pull cord. My 35 doesn't, and I run two batteries in the back as a backup. The Honda 9 hp in the picture is also electric start, recharges the battery as it runs, and does have a pull cord.
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Post by billkasten on Apr 20, 2008 5:26:21 GMT -6
I've got a 9 hp. on a 14 ' lowe jon boat w/ a briggs engine .It works fine till you get in real strong current then I think a 16 to 20 hp. would be better. You can get up stream with it but you wont get there very fast. No problems so far with the prop. Its a go devil . I bought it used.
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Post by kelly on Feb 28, 2009 22:32:46 GMT -6
Anybody else using longtails for trapping-what is your setup?
Anyone else besides RK660 using Scavenger longtails?
Thanks!
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Post by yoteler on Feb 28, 2009 22:50:13 GMT -6
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renny
Skinner...
Posts: 57
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Post by renny on Mar 1, 2009 8:30:09 GMT -6
Anyone run a jet? I see a couple go devils every year on the river and there is no comparison... I can see how jets would be absolutely worthless on certain waterways but for the river here its the cats meow.
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Post by yoteler on Mar 2, 2009 2:46:04 GMT -6
renny I know there are alot of seadoo sport boats out on the mississippi river durning the summer time, having a good time. But if they would try to get through some of these area's in the pics, they would have some major problems, with mud, sand, grass and weeds. The owners of them boats would spend more cleaning, then playing
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renny
Skinner...
Posts: 57
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Post by renny on Mar 2, 2009 7:21:03 GMT -6
I can tell by your pics that a jet wouln't be worth squat there, at least when those pics were taken. The 2 river systems in my back yard are rock / mud bottom and can get very shallow. Grass is not a problem during trapping season, but ice sure can be. I run a 16 foot flat bottom welded aluminum with a 60/40 jet with a stick steer (meaning you sit up front). It need 8 inches or so to get on plane and can run through 3 - 4 inches of water. Top speed is around 24 MPH. Hell of alot quicker than a go devil, but it aint the 4WD that the devils are.
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Post by makete on Mar 2, 2009 15:52:31 GMT -6
Why not just use a airboat?
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Post by mr. finch on Mar 2, 2009 17:09:35 GMT -6
ever run them in a sand bottom?
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Post by rk660 on Mar 2, 2009 18:03:38 GMT -6
air boats are big, heavy and expensive, plus so loud they will rattle your brain. Most have a 4 or 6 cylinder motor, and would be too heavy to portage w/o a boat ramp to unload. The ones Ive been around anyways.
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Post by anonymous on Mar 2, 2009 18:43:06 GMT -6
i run 35hp longtail on a 18ft alweld i put 24"x 24" pods on the back for more float not as fast as a outboard but almost impossible to get stuck. in sand run wide open then lift the motor to coast over the shallow spot - drop it back in and away you go
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Post by yoteler on Mar 2, 2009 18:48:10 GMT -6
renny I agree, they are for sure a 4WD of motors. What type of jet engine do you have on your jon boat?
mr. finch is your ? towards the Go-Devil's?
rk660 those airboats are loud. I was set up for Duck hunting one morning about 1 mile from the the boat launch sleeping in my boat, and I heard it start up. It would me up very fast, cause I have never heard one b4. I thought a barge was trying to go through the back channel I was on.
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Post by Jason Cox on Mar 2, 2009 19:03:20 GMT -6
after this year I agree go-devil is the way to go they are the 4x4 on the water
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 2, 2009 19:31:10 GMT -6
Here's the smaller rig again. Two students and gear and we got it up on plane even busting the ice here last fall. Here's the same boat up on the trailer, and you can see the channel irons bolted glued to the transom. The brackets for the wheels are inserted into these, so a fella can flip the wheels down, pick up the bow, and "walk the boat" when you need to. Wheels then flip up when in the water. Spotlight on bow bolts on and off, outlet box bolted on under the small bow seat. Spotlight has short cord with plug. Bolt it on, plug it in, switch in back allows me to turn it off/on while running the motor. Step-daughter in the 18' flat with the 35 Go Devil. Forgot which dance she was all slicked up for last year. If you look at the back corner of the boat you can see my electric switches. Plate got busted off doing something or other, but I run all 12 volt electrics through regular boxes with switches. Then through 1/2" PVC pipe up the side of the boat to the bow light and spotlight. Both motors have alternators. Nice for extra electrics. Now I've got a buddy working on a setup that will allow me to hang the Grumman sport boat with 2 hp Honda off the side of the 18' flat. Zip up and down the river with the big rig, and when I get to those back sloughs that can't be accessed from the big river, I can slip the smaller Grumman off, drag it over land, slide into the back slough, fire up the small 2 hp and work sloughs that normally don't see much action. One more year 'till retirement . . .
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Post by mr. finch on Mar 2, 2009 19:45:27 GMT -6
renny I agree, they are for sure a 4WD of motors. What type of jet engine do you have on your jon boat? mr. finch is your ? towards the Go-Devil's? rk660 those airboats are loud. I was set up for Duck hunting one morning about 1 mile from the the boat launch sleeping in my boat, and I heard it start up. It would me up very fast, cause I have never heard one b4. I thought a barge was trying to go through the back channel I was on. yes it was you guys ever try to run them in a mostly sandy bottom type area?
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Post by crichards on Mar 2, 2009 19:53:19 GMT -6
RK 660 is the scavenger made in Iowa....looked at them at Mason City......
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Post by RiverRat on Mar 2, 2009 19:55:24 GMT -6
Made in Marble Rock IA
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Post by RiverRat on Mar 2, 2009 19:55:47 GMT -6
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