Shallow water boat options

[Gekhang]

Looking to get a new boat this year and i need it to be able to stay afloat in roughly 6inches of water. Was looking at tracker pro team txw or alumacraft pro 175 as a few options. any other recommendations around that price range? would like to have it be a bass style boat.

[BartmanMN]

Look up Shallow Sport boats, they are used on the flats and use a tunnel prop. 6 inches, no problem

[delcecchi]

Aren't flats boats in general set up for that?

[Gekhang]

thats what im told. just wondering if anyone had one or could give a recommendation. my brother who's paying for half of it, wanted a jon boat, but for around the same price we could get a bass boat style.

[TR21HP]

I'm not sure any bass boat can draft in 6 inches of water. I suppose you intend to use a push pole as a trolling motor wouldn't operate that shallow. Dargel, Sportsman or Gator trax are some makers of shallow boats you might want to look at.

[fish_eat_sleep]

I'm not sure any bass boat can draft in 6 inches of water.

I was thinking the same thing.. Most modified v boats would still require 6+ inches of water and I wouldn't know how to power it for that shallow of water, anything with a prop wouldn't last long.

Maybe I am confused.. Draft as in floating at a dock or draft as in fishing the shallows?

[Gekhang]

good to know. the shallow water would only be a short instance where it becomes around 6inches getting to a spot on the river.

[delcecchi]

I googled "flats boat reviews" and got several interesting links.

[Valv]

Check the Alumacraft All Weld, Crappie, and Pro series. There are some nice boats

[bASS_BLASTER]

For 6" of water, you do not want any type of v or modified v bottom boats. Flat bottom is what you're looking for. Alumacraft and G3 boats are the two mfg I can think of for affordability and the type of fishing you're doing. Of course there are other offshore flat bottoms they use down south for redfish, snooks and bone fish but those boats run $50K+

[suncruiser234]

A flat bottom Jon boat with pods on the transom will be what you want.

[bASS_BLASTER]

A flat bottom Jon boat with pods on the transom will be what you want.

+1

I guess if going into 6" of water is more important to you than speed, stability, cutting through wakes & chops then that is the boat.

[fish_eat_sleep]

Go alumacraft if its in your price range. Pretty durable boats, especially compared to a pro team 175. The welded mv series looks solid. and the riveted ones are good too.

[TruthWalleyes]

If your talking 6" in a river, that means you've got to worry about deadheads at any depth. I'd go riverpro if you have the money.

[Brad B]

If your talking 6" in a river, that means you've got to worry about deadheads at any depth. I'd go riverpro if you have the money.

river pros are nice but are about 10,000 more than the Alumacraft that was mentioned. I would personally look at getting a 1656 or 1860 G3 gator tuff Jon with a jet drive outboad. the 1656 is right around 16,000 and the 1860 is right around 18,000. this will be the river boat I get after my current boat is paid off.

[Gekhang]

thanks guys, maybe then i can convince my brother not to get one and just settle for a nice bassboat.

[BrandonN]

Jet boats are the way to go in water like that. I run a 16' alumacraft with a 30hp engine and I can easily run in 6". I run the snake and rum river and sometimes you have to run long sections of flats sand bar's and in the rum river there is a lot of stomps and not having a prop sure makes it nice.

[Note from admin: Your post has been edited. Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[wastewaterguru]

I like my chances in 6 inches of water with my boat.....and it isn't a true flat bottom.

If only running through short stretches of 6 inches, a tunnel hull, or mod-v with an outboard jet works great too.

[TruthWalleyes]

Jet boats are the way to go in water like that. I run a 16' alumacraft with a 30hp engine and I can easily run in 6". I run the snake and rum river and sometimes you have to run long sections of flats sand bar's and in the rum river there is a lot of stomps and not having a prop sure makes it nice.

[Note from admin: Your post has been edited. Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

Whats the price tag on a 30hp

[SneakAttack]

I have a 14' flat and a 13hp longtail motor, rig goes great in the rocky rivers and if it gets beached its light enough to pull it over