Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide
Boating => Shallow Water River Boats and Jet Boats.. => Topic started by: dpkdavis on March 12, 2009, 08:27:08 PM
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I just purchased a Gheenoe classic and planed on having the bottom line-Xed, talk to a dealer today about outboards and he stated i would lose 10 to 15% of my hp based on drag from the line-X !!????
thanks for any and all feed back.
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LineX has a smooth finish, it shouldn't cause anymore drag than the boat itself does :-\
Grumpy
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I hear it can be put on smooth or rough, mine was rough, I'd say you will lose a little speed, but the protection is worth the trade off.
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Line X is a pretty versatile material that can even be applied in different colors, smooth or textured, and in various grades as well. they even have stuff that will withstand explosions. Here's a product listing. I am pretty sure you will sacrifice some speed but unless you plan on skiing behind that Gheenoe, it won't make a lot of difference.
http://www.linex.com/product_list_114.shtml
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I had a riverhawk and if you use the boat in the river you are going to get scratches, grooves, digs, and any other gnarly thing you can think of on the bottom. Furthermore, who cares if it takes 2 more minutes to get up river, at least you will get there safe and keep the boat in good condition.
Icthus
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I've given a lot of thought to Line-Xing my Gheenoe. I've had some people say it's the best thing ever; others say it's a waste of money and it doesn't offer much protection unless you lay it on so thick that the weight is an issue.
I know I don't like the way Caney Fork rocks treat gel coat. I might get it done one day - I'd love to hear more feedback from folks who have done it.
bd
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I've given a lot of thought to Line-Xing my Gheenoe. I've had some people say it's the best thing ever; others say it's a waste of money and it doesn't offer much protection unless you lay it on so thick that the weight is an issue.
I know I don't like the way Caney Fork rocks treat gel coat. I might get it done one day - I'd love to hear more feedback from folks who have done it.
bd
What he said. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Smooth finish. It doesn't have to be so thick it weighs the boat down. I'd do 1/8th to 1/4 inch and not fear a rock.
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I talked with the line-X guy and did my math based on what i want covered only looking at adding 31 pounds of weight, and it may slow me just a little but for what i get in the way of protection i think its a smart way to go. Not joking but the same guy who told me i would lose 10 to 15% of my hp told i should just put it on the inside, but he also told me i was stupid if i was to go to a jet outboard on it to, he was more than happy to sell me a used motor he had, was even the wrong length he told me i didn't need that stupid jack plate either to.
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I've seen a Classic with a 25/20 two stroke Mercury Jet, I had a customGheenoe LT25 with a 25 four stroke jet, Gheenoes are great small river boats, but the are not and I repeat not JET hulls.
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I've got a wooden Driftboat with Line-X it will take a lick... The Hiwassee rocks blasted it about four or five trips.. no holes no leaks...weight vs. protection of Fiberglass or worse a hole in the boat... Plus thirty pounds is like one wet wading shoe....
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I've seen a Classic with a 25/20 two stroke Mercury Jet, I had a customGheenoe LT25 with a 25 four stroke jet, Gheenoes are great small river boats, but the are not and I repeat not JET hulls.
Why not? I don't know a lot about jet outboards and I would like to hear more details about your opinions on this.
Thanks,
bd
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I've seen a Classic with a 25/20 two stroke Mercury Jet, I had a customGheenoe LT25 with a 25 four stroke jet, Gheenoes are great small river boats, but the are not and I repeat not JET hulls.
Why not? I don't know a lot about jet outboards and I would like to hear more details about your opinions on this.
Thanks,
bd
Just not enough transom area (width) combinded with a lack of hull surface area to really work w/ a jet.
The 25/20 Mercury on the Gheenoe Classic was my orginal jet project. The boat never performed like I hoped it would. >:( I sold it. It was nothing like my ole G3 w/ the Yamaha 40/30 which is awsome. :o Thanks to the economy I no longer own it.
IF ANYONE WANTS TO PUT A JET ON A GHEENOE OR RIVERHAWK I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST IT.
A much bettter option would be a nice Light Weight 2stroke O/B up to a 25hp or a Smaller 4stroke 15hp or smaller(due to weight). I would also use a jack plate and mount the motor as high up as possible.
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Interesting. I have a Gheenoe classic and one of my long-term goals was to put a jet on it. I've got a short-shaft 15 hp on it right now, and I'm just not happy with how much water it takes to run it. Everything else is perfect - I couldn't imagine a better boat for the type of fishing I do on the Caney. But it just doesn't run shallow enough with the outboard.
It's unfortunate, because I can float the boat in about 3 inches - but it takes at least knee deep water (maybe a little more) to run the outboard. I was hoping I could put a jet on it and at least be able to run in a foot of water or so.
I don't know how much a jack plate would help. It's my understanding that with a prop drive, you can't raise the cavitation plate any higher than the bottom of the boat. I could probably gain a few inches with a jack plate, but I don't think I could raise it as much as I want.
bd
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I don't know how much a jack plate would help. It's my understanding that with a prop drive, you can't raise the cavitation plate any higher than the bottom of the boat. I could probably gain a few inches with a jack plate, but I don't think I could raise it as much as I want.
bd
you are correct about the height of the cavitation plate. Ideally, it would be level with the bottom of the boat
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bd with that I'm going to pick your mine, after a great dealing of reseach on my part and a great deal on a used one, i felt the gheenoe was the best way to go for me to fish the caney and upper cumberland, have the trailer and boat just about rigged the way i want, now its time to start talking motors, the gheenoe is set up for a 15" motor i have a jack plate on mine based on the guy i got it from had a 20" motor on it, if i could get some feed back here on my below questions from any and all:
I have a 15'6" classic line-X covered bottom, I'm 235 pounds and mostly fish by my self, with this lets talk motors
thinking 2 stroke carb. over 4 stroke ?
15" motor and take my jack plate off or go with a 15" on the jack plate or a 20"?
25hp is max for the boat go with that? i did check the weight diffenace of a 15, 20, and 25hp very only a few pounds ?
tiller or go to the middle with a stick, based on only one person in the boat and all the weight being at the back of the boat (me, gas tank, motor etc)
my goal is to put in at the dam or happy float the river and run back up river
thanks
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Keith
You'll get more HP out of a 2 stroke motor, you could use a 20 & still have more power than a 25 4 stroke, the 2 stroke will also get you out of the hole quicker & be a lot lighter.
Then, there's that oil mixing deal & a lil more noise with the 2 stroke :( i always hated that.
Grumpy
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Gentleman,
Gheenoe's are a great little boat. A two person boat in my experience and opinion.
Great design, with an almost cult following, here is the place to go for Gheenoe questions and opinions. http://www.customgheenoe.com/forum/
I'd stick with a 15hp 4 stroke. Check with RedDog for a ride in his Classic with a 15 Honda on it. She travels 18mph with us two upstream against one generator, not bad ;)
There is not a perfect boat or setup, you can get close but not one boat that will do it all.
If the LT25 had of handled the jet motor like they will a prop motor, it would still be out in my garage and I'd not be rigging the new Tracker modified-V I replaced it with.
To give you an idea, the people pushing a LT with a prop motor, jack plate and trim tabs, are getting 30+mph. I got a streaking blink you eyes of 12mph with the jet :o
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That's awful! I don't understand why there's such a big dropoff in mph with a jet. ???
bd
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The weight of David's motor combinded with a lack of enough transom width.
When a jet motor goes from an idle to wide open. Where you will find you operate it most of the time. It is like a vaccum. It sucks down the rear of the boat. If the transom and bottom surface area are not wide enough the boat will never plane out fully. Unless, you have a bunch more of horse power. 20-25hp just won't do it on a Gheenoe/Riverhawk.
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The weight of David's motor combinded with a lack of enough transom width.
When a jet motor goes from an idle to wide open. Where you will find you operate it most of the time. It is like a vaccum. It sucks down the rear of the boat. If the transom and bottom surface area are not wide enough the boat will never plane out fully. Unless, you have a bunch more of horse power. 20-25hp just won't do it on a Gheenoe/Riverhawk.
man, that just sucks!!
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Hmm. Well, I guess I'm glad I got this information. You gentlemen just saved me $3,000.00. :)
I definitely would have been putting a jet on the Gheenoe at some point before I read this. Now I'll have to reconsider.
I guess the next step is to evaluate what I can do to run my prop drive motor shallower. If I could get it to run in 12" or so, I'd put one of those Mac's River Runners on it to protect the prop and I'd be happy. Needing 2 ft to 2.5 ft of water to run without hitting rock is not satisfactory.
bd
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BD,
Go over to the Gheenoe board and ask questions, with the understanding that most of them have never seen good running water ;D, most are coastal and inshore users.
But, you will get some ideas.
I'd look into jack plate, large adjustable trim tabs.
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BD, here is the jack plate I put on my boat. Tons of adjustability and super light as well it is easy to mount and you can even adjust it on the water if need be. Mind you, not hydraulic but I didn't see the need for that plus I didn't want the extra weight.
http://www.bobsmachine.com/ - Navigate to the Convertible Jack Plate
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Thanks, Steve. A jack plate is going on my "I want" list. I don't think I'm interested in a hydraulic - too much $ (even if it's still 1/3 the price of a jet). A convertible or manual jack plate might be a good compromise between a fixed plate and a hydraulic.
bd
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bd, here ya go! This is over on go LSN...
http://www.golsn.com/listings/recreational_vehicles/boats-water_crafts/812234.html