We’re making progress! The boat and trailer were delivered by the Power Lodge and The Boat Center has the 115/80 Yamaha jet rigged and test fired. The plan is to put it on the water Monday afternoon for a test rip or two before the rest of the rigging starts. I was out this morning and snapped a couple pics. This is one GIGANTIC boat that I’d really going to open up some fun skinny water opportunities!
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Very cool…. looking forward to the first videos and shows it will make possible! You’ll be scratching waters I typically think of only as an option when in my kayak.
Dream boat right there. 
DT
I call “shotgun”. 
Is the plan to have seat bases in the floor or tripod leg style seats that can be placed any where at any time? I’ve been in a couple open boats with the tripod leg seats and it sure was handy for putting a seat exactly where needed for any given task.
Just keep the interior really clean to avoid tangles when you take a fly fisherman out with you. Just sayin’….. 
S.R.
Is the plan to have seat bases in the floor or tripod leg style seats that can be placed any where at any time? I’ve been in a couple open boats with the tripod leg seats and it sure was handy for putting a seat exactly where needed for any given task.
Honestly not sure yet. My first instinct is to go with no chairs just to keep everything as wide open as possible. I’d have a cushion to sit on at the tiller, a stand up pedestal up front…and the passenger(s) can sit on the front deck facing backwards when running from spot to spot. I just can’t see giving up floor space for seating that will only be used when we’re on plane.
That said, we’ll see. I plan to use it a time or two before committing to anything.
What do you give up/gain with the jet? I know the thin water plus, but what about speed? Maneuverability? Fuel economy?
I was hoping to see a center console with stick steering 
Either way that is going to be a nice rig you have there sir. Definitely has some elbow room 
I was hoping to hear the resident technician would get an invite for the test flight,er,uh,ride,dang!
James:
Very cool!!! I have a pair of friends that guide on the WI R. between Wausau and Merrill and have been on board Brad Wirt’s boat twice… It was very cold this day, but we got my Bro his PB on a very cold November day last fall… We left Wausau at 7:30 a.m. at 27 mph at 10 degrees up to Merrill on the 30 minute ride, it was -5 wind chill. This fish was our only of the day around 2:00 p.m.
46.5″ around 25#
You’ll love it!!!
Mark
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What do you give up/gain with the jet? I know the thin water plus, but what about speed? Maneuverability? Fuel economy?
Tom, Not to speak for James but I’ll relate my personal experience.
Biggest gain is the ability to run thin water. What you loose for that is HP and fuel economy. In James case, he will carrying the weight of a 115HP and only getting 80HP out of it.
Fuel usage will much the same situation. The engine will suck fuel like a 115 and will definitely be using more than what a typical 80HP would burn. You gotta pay to play.
The other up-side to the jet is the lack of an exposed prop and lower unit means no (or very very reduced) risk of damage when running skinny water.
Maneuvering is indeed a bit different. Slow speed maneuvering is where one notices the lack of a skeg and the steering benefits it provides. Basically, you have to have thrust to have any steering. No coasting into the trailer or up to the dock and turning the motor to steer. The jet does not “steer” unless there is “thrust”.
Biggest gain is the ability to run thin water. What you loose for that is HP and fuel economy. In James case, he will carrying the weight of a 115HP and only getting 80HP out of it.
I’m used to feeding a 300. This 115/80 will sip in comparison.
I was hoping to see a center console with stick steering
Those center consoles are nice rigs but some of the uses I have in mind will require max open space. One of the things Pat and I need to figure out is how to get his 4 wheeler in and out.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
What do you give up/gain with the jet? I know the thin water plus, but what about speed? Maneuverability? Fuel economy?Tom, Not to speak for James but I’ll relate my personal experience.
Biggest gain is the ability to run thin water. What you loose for that is HP and fuel economy. In James case, he will carrying the weight of a 115HP and only getting 80HP out of it.
Fuel usage will much the same situation. The engine will suck fuel like a 115 and will definitely be using more than what a typical 80HP would burn. You gotta pay to play.
The other up-side to the jet is the lack of an exposed prop and lower unit means no (or very very reduced) risk of damage when running skinny water.Maneuvering is indeed a bit different. Slow speed maneuvering is where one notices the lack of a skeg and the steering benefits it provides. Basically, you have to have thrust to have any steering. No coasting into the trailer or up to the dock and turning the motor to steer. The jet does not “steer” unless there is “thrust”.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting it out Monday. I’ll report back findings once I have a chance to get it on the water. I’m honestly not quite sure what to expect. I did a lot of research before making the purchase, relied on the input of a few guys that I trust, but I’ve never been in this hull and motor combo.
Nice rig you lucky dog.I wish i had that down here on the wi.river and a few on the miss.
Nice rig you lucky dog.I wish i had that down here on the wi.river and a few on the miss.
Koonce tells me he knows a couple of killer stretches on the lower Wisconsin River that are next to impossible to fish from a prop boat by mid summer that we plan to check out.
I would say no seats and bring a cooler that you can put where you want for seating.
I’d have a cushion to sit on at the tiller
Yep, never understood putting a seat post directly in front on the tiller handle. That seat position is useless. Same set up in my Jon boat.
-J.
I’d have a cushion to sit on at the tiller
Yep, never understood putting a seat post directly in front on the tiller handle. That seat position is useless. Same set up in my Jon boat.
-J.
Agreed. It is basically physically impossible to steer that tiller sitting in the seat in that factory base.
My guess is I’ll spend most of the time driving standing up. I’ll need to come up with an “oh crap” bar to hang on to like the one in the photo. I might have to have something made custom because I’d want it to fold down and out of the way versus being fixed like the one in the photo.
Very nice rig!
Come up to the Beaver Islands area on the Mississippi River just south of St. Cloud State University in September/October and film a show. The stretch from the dam to the country club golf course is accessible only to waders and jet boats. I used to wet wade that area 4x a week in my teens and early 20’s. That’s where I cut my teeth as an angler. You’ll pound smallies that have never seen a lure before!
So what are the dimensions on the boat? Best thing I ever did was pull the back seat out of my navigator and sit on the back deck along side the tiller arm to drive. Im still looking to part with my navigator and go with a bigger jon.
Sweet looking rig so far.
Very nice rig!
Come up to the Beaver Islands area on the Mississippi River just south of St. Cloud State University in September/October and film a show. The stretch from the dam to the country club golf course is accessible only to waders and jet boats. I used to wet wade that area 4x a week in my teens and early 20’s. That’s where I cut my teeth as an angler. You’ll pound smallies that have never seen a lure before!
I can assure you they see plenty of baits up there.
So what are the dimensions on the boat? Best thing I ever did was pull the back seat out of my navigator and sit on the back deck along side the tiller arm to drive. Im still looking to part with my navigator and go with a bigger jon.
Sweet looking rig so far.
20 foot length X 96″ beam. Once I get it all put together let’s get together on pool 2 and take it for a rip.
James if you want to break that boat in and get it’s first scratch a few of us have been talking about doing another run up the kettle to sandstone.
One of the things Pat and I need to figure out is how to get his 4 wheeler in and out.
Buy two sets of folding Aluminum ramps. Use one set off the bow and cut the other set down to the bottom deck. Use a pin or bolt to keep each bow ramp in place while loading/unloading. If the boat is big enough you “may” be able to keep the wheeler on the casting deck but that’s something you’ll want to test before a big adventure.
I’ve been running a 25hp Merc jet on a 16′ riveted Alumacraft since 2009 and love it. Back when I towed with a Suburban I made a platform and used aluminum ramps to drive my ATV up on the boat. I highly reccomend installing a pad eye and using the ATV’s winch to assist loading and unloading, it gives you much more control and the ATV wont flip backwards, and it doubles as a hold down when securing the atv.
This looks like too much fun!
I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting it out Monday. I’ll report back findings once I have a chance to get it on the water. I’m honestly not quite sure what to expect.
Did you get out yet? One piece of advice if you decide to run at O’Dark thirty
in the morning; Make sure you know the exact location of that mud flat in the river bend. It’s no fun when the jet runs out of water and the boat bottom is sucked in tight to the mud. No need to ask how I know. 
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