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Post by mustelameister on Mar 2, 2009 20:06:32 GMT -6
Finch: yes it was you guys ever try to run them in a mostly sandy bottom type area?
I do run the sandy Wisconsin River here, and your prop will literally "melt" if you don't think about what you're doing.
Meaning, if you're up and planing, and you see a shallow sand flat ahead, you can push down on the handle, get the prop half out of the water, and you'll "scoot across" those sand flats still up on plane if you've got a good head of steam going.
Takes a while to get the feel of that. Your speed will be reduced, but this way you've only got maybe 4-5" of prop below the water's surface max. Any shallower than that and you'll probably be outside the boat walking it to the dropoff.
If you decide to try and blast your way off of sandbars by digging the prop into the sand and cranking on it, you will wear that prop down in no time.
I mentioned once before that my Go Devil dealer here in Fox Lake told me a story of a fella who took a unit up to Alaska and ran some aluvial river up there, and the grit in the river wore that 9" prop down to 5" in less than a day.
I have no experience with jet drives.
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Post by mr. finch on Mar 2, 2009 20:24:17 GMT -6
well dont sound like a motor i could use then my river system is a sand bottom for the most part and is like that for miles
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 2, 2009 20:34:20 GMT -6
Here's what I run on the big river. Like I said, if you know where you are with respect to the "channel", which changes with every water event, you can keep your prop. Otherwise, you'll be rebuilding or buying new at least every two years if not annually. Cost of doing business on this river.
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renny
Skinner...
Posts: 57
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Post by renny on Mar 3, 2009 7:11:57 GMT -6
yoteler -- Its a Merc....
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Post by trappnman on Mar 3, 2009 8:34:36 GMT -6
your stepdaughter needs a job during the convention, she can work at my booth............
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Post by mr. finch on Mar 3, 2009 9:25:20 GMT -6
almost dont seem worth it if just running this kinda of motor is going to wear out the prop all the time due to sand
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 3, 2009 11:09:31 GMT -6
Steve . . . Mr. Finch--Guess the question is this: How deep is the water you're running in? If it's sand bottom and you've got three feet all the time, no big deal. But if you know you're gonna be digging sand with the prop, then you may have to rethink this. Again, not knowledgeable in jet motors. Can you suck sand up in those and still run? Don't know. Two things deter me from running the jet motor: 1) Go Devils satisfy my needs, I know their limitations, and I've had very good luck with them for 20+ years. 2) The price tag of the jet motors. Best bet would be to find someone local that runs jet motor and see what they think about your particular stretch of the river.
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renny
Skinner...
Posts: 57
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Post by renny on Mar 3, 2009 17:08:57 GMT -6
mustelmeister..
yes, you can suck up sand with a jet and still run. I wouldn't want to pack it full..... By the looks of your pics, navigation would be no problem.
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 3, 2009 21:17:20 GMT -6
Two more points of consideration. 1) Mud motors have air cooled engines. No water intake. No worry about freezing temps and having to drain the water after using. 2) If you ever have to run the boat through this stuff, no problem. We run both rigs duck hunting, and can get way back in the thick of it. Doubt if you can do that with a jet motor. But then, the consideration was for a sand river. Just tossing this out there.
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Post by RiverRat on Mar 3, 2009 23:49:28 GMT -6
I just wish they made them a little quieter !!
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Post by mr. finch on Mar 4, 2009 1:25:13 GMT -6
see my main river is pretty shallow with the avg. depth being 4 feet. most of it is a sand bottom with alot of other debris all through out it. it will got from 4 feet to 6 inches real fast. with big holes pot marked all through it.
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Post by 17HMR on Mar 4, 2009 7:13:54 GMT -6
It seems to me if the crick is worth going up, it may be worth a new prop every couple of years.
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tzone
Tenderfoot...
Posts: 10
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Post by tzone on Mar 4, 2009 8:15:28 GMT -6
River rat if you want them quieter you can run a spark arrestor and it quiets them down a bunch. I run a short shaft and love it.
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Post by kelly on Mar 4, 2009 15:18:48 GMT -6
mustelameister;
Are you running 15" or 20" transons? Thanks!
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Post by Jason Cox on Mar 4, 2009 18:01:14 GMT -6
I think that a go-devil would be the best for your money the prop may wear out every couple of years but that is with a lot of use and they are only about $225 cheap enough and you can go where no one else can.
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 4, 2009 22:14:10 GMT -6
15" on the 14' V-bow, 20" on the 18' MV Lowe
The 35 hp Go Devil is a special order for the 20" transom.
IMO, the newer mudmotors are fairly quiet compared to the older models, especially the single cylinders.
Also IMO, the cost of a new prop annually is worth the access you'll have to areas others avoid for the same reasons.
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Post by Stef on Mar 5, 2009 10:14:28 GMT -6
Thanks guys for all those good post!
BS engine, do they last? or should we go with Honda engine?
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Post by mustelameister on Mar 5, 2009 10:53:04 GMT -6
If given choice in the same horsepower range, I'd go with Honda.
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Post by anonymous on Mar 5, 2009 18:19:29 GMT -6
i think the briggs starts easier in the winter but not as quiet
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Post by yoteler on Mar 6, 2009 7:08:37 GMT -6
The Go-Devil I use is a 23hp VANGUARD. It is more quiet the my 9 hp Go-Devil. Have not had any problems with my big motor. The prop is still in good shape. Starts great in the cold weather, just make sure your batt. is good. I have lights wire onto the boat aswell, the Go-Devil does and awesome job for re-charging the batt. if it needs it.
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