A week or so ago I was wondering about go devils or beaver tail motors and had a lot of good reply’s. I think now after the posts I recieved that the way to go is jet powered tunnel hull. I have only found three makes so far so who else makes them? I found information about Roughneck,Extream, and Lowe. I think thats how to spell them.
Any way do all major brand outboard company’s have jet drives available ? Thanks for the help.
I know Johnson makes one and Bill the salesman at Smittys Marine in Lake City has had one for a couple years now and has had no complaints.
Nate Cadwell
Hi…
A few years ago I ran an Alumacraft tunnel hull. It was a great boat. I ran the 16 foot model, although I know they make 18 and 20 foot models and I’ve fished out of them all. I guided in my 16 foot boat; but found it pretty tight for space when having others in the boat. That is because I ran a center console on the boat. The 18 and 20 were much roomier. The center console was great because your weight wasn’t at the back of the boat, and the purpose of the tunnel hull was to be able to run shallower water so you wouldn’t want weight in the back… also you could run the boat standing or leaning against the seat by the console and you could see great distances and keep higher speeds while looking out for rocks/ debris/ trees in the water. I ran that boat with a 50hp mercury.
Although I love my Lunds I run now, I did have a blast in that tunnel hull. It just has a totally different application than the boats I run now, and if I had the money I’d still have a tunnel hull as another boat… I never had a problem with that boat…and I’d beach it all the time… well, on purpose that is. I remember fishing some areas on the Wisconsin River where I’d be switching between jigging for walleyes in 1-2 feet of water and also pitching to certain areas for smallies….and I’d love it when I’d let my boat drift up on a sand bar for a few minutes so I could pitch to some smallies where I saw baitfish popping the surface,and then let the current take me off it again… and start fishing for walleye again… I don’t treat my pro-v like that now…. not so keen on getting that one on a sandbar…lol….
Anyway, I know where there’s a used center console tunnel hull for sale down here by me right now if you’re interested…
Good luck
Jenn
ps- why do you want to go with the jet drive? I’ve had that discussion with some others previously and just was curious why you want that… I could fly through the river in 4-5 inches of water in my tunnel hull…
Some tunnel hull boats are not designed for use with a jet,such as the Alumacraft.The tunnel is too deep and does not perform well with a jet.Lowe(Roughneck) tunnels are designed for jets.They have a web site and have a nice rig specifically set up for jets.There is a debate about weather you really need the tunnel if you are going to use a jet.With a tunnel hull you lose a little bit of lift that would make up for the inches that the intake sits below the bottom of the boat.(6 of one,half a dozen of the other).Another consideration is with a tunnel the intake will not hit as much because it is above the bottom of the boat.Well if you end up going over a rock that would hit the intake on a flat hull,its still going to hit on the tunnel hull.The boat will just ride over it and it will smack the intake.The tunnel hull may actually direct debris to your intake by the angled sides of the tunnel itself.My rig is a flat bottom and I have hit plenty of obsticles from logs to boulders.Logs are nothing,you just skip right on over them.I don’t even look out for those any more.Rocks do give you a bit of a jolt and have dinged up the intake grate but the intake grate is made up of replaceable fins and are cheap.
If you go with a flat bottom design make sur that the boat you buy does not have a center rib or strake on the bottom of the boat.This will create bubbles and your jet will not perform well.The area that the intake sits behind should be flat with no obsructions.I have a G3 that is designed this way.
One manufacturer I would suggest checking out if you are interested in a tunnel hull is Koffler.These are not jon boats but a flat bottomed vee with a tunnel designed for jet use.If you are serious about jet rigs check out Fish Rite,Duckworth,Formula Vee.and RiverPro.These are serious jet rigs for the river and all have web sites.
Mercury,Yamaha,Johnson and Suzuki all make jets.You may not find them in their catalogs or at their websites but do make them.You can also get kits to convert your own motor to a jet from a company called California Performance.Merc and yamaha seem to be the most popular.
The debate on prop vs jet is a long one.After going through many props each season fishing the Upper Miss and Minesota rivers the jet just seemed to be the answer for me.I did consider the Alumacraft tunnel with a prop motor but went with the jet.If you want to talk to guys who really know shallow water rigs check out some of the smallmouth bass websites.I would give you the link but am not sure of link policies on this site.
Thanks for the reply jenn. I’m not sure why I want a jet other than the ones I saw on boats on the web don’t seem to have much in the water. I also know what gravel does to props and I’m thinking no prop might be best. I am looking at several brands of boats and I like the idea of a center console. The Chippewa has a lot of spots only inches deep and the Red Ceder is the same. If I was getting it for the Mississippi I might go with a prop. Send me a private with some of the details on the one for sale like make, motor,year, extra’s price. I’m just getting started looking but I do like the Lowe Roughneck. I don’t need anything fancy. Thanks Steve
Hey fishhead. Those are some very serious tunnel rigs, I guess I don’t need any of those larger ones but I sure do appreciate the post. Man I had no idea there were that many choices. I have seen the Lowe Roughneck and that looks more of what I’m hunting for. I only saw it on there web page. I wish there were some around here to take for a test drive. Any way thanks for all the ideas. I need all the help I can get on this subject that I am only starting to learn about.. It sure is nice just thinking about launching and being able to go up river or downstream and not worrying weather the river will be too shallow to get back to the landing. Thanks Steve
I think Starks in Prairie Du Chien has Lowe Roughnecks, I am not sure though. I know they have Polar Kraft mod.-V’s, which are nice. Hope this helps and good luck.
Yup they have them on there web site and I plan On making a trip that way thanks.Steve
No problem and let us know what you get and how u like it.
I saw one at Smitty’s Marine in Lake city last fall. If they’re closer than Starks, give them a cal at 651-345-3990.
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