Opinions please

[Steve H]

Very nice.

[Glenn Hawkins]

Let us know how it performs.  I think you will be all 

[lawnman]

Well it did a lot better, not night and day difference but enough better.  I took out all the wood floors and wood platform in the back that weighed about 75lbs together when i got home.  Have not had a chance to take it out again but should be better.  Overall I am very happy with it.  I am still thinking about sell the hull and going with a rivited but I like the toughness of the welded.  Still tweeking it out but am very happy with it.

[David L. Darnell]

When you wan to race

I lost quite a few MPH from putting battery under the front hatch, and trolling motor off the front really slowed me down. But still lots faster than the Gheenoe.

[lawnman]

I do have a tm mounted and battery up front.  The back end of the boat still seems to want to dig in.  I never guessed the .5 inch wood floor and back hatch supported with 2x2 would add up to 80lbs.  Removing those should help.  I read somewhere where it takes 1 horsepower for every 35lbs.  What size gas tank are you using David?  Steve at Lawrenceburg Marine said he put the gas tank in the front a lot of times.  I have a 6.5 tank but, I have a 3 gal. in the garage that I might put in to see if it makes much difference.  Also saw a plate that mounts to the bottom of the jet kinda like a fin you put on a regular prop that would seem to help it plane off quicker.  I know I put one on my 20 hp prop on my previous boat and it made a real difference.  Still tinkering but it is a sweet motor.

[David L. Darnell]

I have 2-3 gallon tanks in the rear, but I drive from the middle of boat, mine is a remote. Your's will set up much different than mine.

Don't be afraid to move the motor up and down, even a 1/4" can make a big difference.

[jarrod white]

 I have of the fins you are talkng about Chad, and I will sell it cheat. It is aluminum and made for a jet.

[lawnman]

I talked to troutt and sons and they think the motor needs to be moved up, he said they put the same motor on 500lb boats all the time.  Thanks Jarrod, he said without power trim the fin will actually cause more drag and decrees performance.  Man these jets are very picky.  Mine is set dead level with the bottom of the boat but the guy said with the 4 strokes they have set them as much as 1.5" above the bottom of the boat.

[MikeA]

The are picky and they suck overall. I should have stuck with a prop boat...

[lawnman]

Well I finally got it setup just right.  Taking all the wood out of it helped more than I imagined.  Boat planed off well and pretty quick it the Cumberland River going upstream and even better going down stream, pretty decent flow in the river today.  I am going to get rid or the 6 gallon tank for a 3.5 and keep a 2 gallon can under the front deck area, also going to hook the electric start to the trolling motor battery in the front.  Those 2 things will get rid of another 50lbs in the back.  This has been a frustrating process but the results are pretty sweet.

[grumpy]

Chad

Unless you're doing a lot of running, that 3 1/2 gallon tank will last longer than you think. I like to have never run the 6 gallon "break-in" tank out years ago on the jet sled.

Grumpy

[Troy Basso]

Aww heck boys there is not a darn thing wrong with a river hawk. In fact I am going to add one to my arsenal this spring. All I will say about the riverhawk hate is this..... I bought a factory second fly rod once... got a really good deal. When it broke I was just SOL because it was a second and came with no warrenty.

[West TN Fly]

Mike,
      Are you serious about the prop vs jet statement - if you were looking at an Express 1546 for lake and river fishing would you go with a 25 prop with jack plate set up???

Not trying to stir up anything but Troy a bad factory second rod vs a bad factory 1st run series  boat are two different topics -

[David L. Darnell]

I'd look real close at this


http://www.mudbuddy.com/Mini%20HD%20Lite.htm

[MikeA]

There are alot of issues with jets. They are great for getting shallow so if that is where you spend most of your time do a jet. If you want a general purpose rig the prop is the best bet.