A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
1,554
Re: A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

i plan to hand launch my new to me 12' aluminum jon boat, i have been in the yard trying to figure the best way to load it on the truck, i dont have the motor on it yet, it is pretty heavy, i only had to put it up on the ladder rack 1 time to determine it wont be hauled up there:rolleyes: i rotate truck tires and carry tranmissions around, and am considered very strong by my peers. with my 6 hp outboard i think it would be a real strain. now i will be moving mine by myself so i plan to make a bracket i can attach to the transom with clevis pins, the bracket will have an axle and 2 tall mower type wheels. this can be removed and stowed once in the water, then reinstalled before retrieving. i will soon be doing, maybe a thread with pics
 

kfa4303

Banned
Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
6,094
Re: A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

You shouldn't need a 25hp. Shoot, a good 9hp 2-stroke can push a Gheenoe near 20mph. The hp ratings on the Gheenoes are underrated as well. While they're rated for 10hp, lots of folks will actually put upto 20 hp motors on them. It's really a matter of weight and torque than hp. Here are some vids of guys getting good speeds out of little motors.

Bryce 13ft Gheenoe - YouTube (little man with a little 6hp)
6 HP 4 Stroke Gheenoe Highsider - YouTube (here's another guy cruising along nicely with just a little 6hp)
15'4 Gheenoe running shallow - YouTube (this guys getting 21 mph out of a 9.9hp !!!)
Gheenoe running airboat trails!!! - YouTube (gettin' real skinny)
 

pootnic

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Messages
447
Re: A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

I wouldn't totally write off a fiberglass.
Years ago I took a mold off of 14' aluminum I had and made a fiberglass jon boat,probably only weighed 200lbs.
I did it for reasons similar to you but I found the aluminum was more "sticky" and the fiberglass would slide/pull across the rocks and ground easier.Plus I could fix any holes in fiberglass easier then aluminum.Back then I only had a 2hp Yamaha and a 30lbs electric but it was enough to get along all days fishing(no big currents)...Hope a picture shows up here:
C34427.jpg
I could handle it by myself,although it became a big chore at times.
I think in your situation,an electric winch might help to get a boat back up the hill....should be no trouble getting it down:)
 

skibrain

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 17, 2004
Messages
766
Re: A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

My dad had a Gruman Sport Boat for many years. They are 14' and wider than canoe. Here it is when he first got it (over-powered with a 15hp, they are rated for up to 10hp). He later put a 2 stroke 4 hp Johnson on it (nice and easy to carry) and it was perfect. Also has oar locks.

361021721.jpg
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,750
Re: A fishing boat and motor light enough for two to carry up and down river bank?

i plan to hand launch my new to me 12' aluminum jon boat, i have been in the yard trying to figure the best way to load it on the truck, i dont have the motor on it yet, it is pretty heavy, i only had to put it up on the ladder rack 1 time to determine it wont be hauled up there:rolleyes: i rotate truck tires and carry tranmissions around, and am considered very strong by my peers. with my 6 hp outboard i think it would be a real strain. now i will be moving mine by myself so i plan to make a bracket i can attach to the transom with clevis pins, the bracket will have an axle and 2 tall mower type wheels. this can be removed and stowed once in the water, then reinstalled before retrieving. i will soon be doing, maybe a thread with pics

Motor should be removed when loading in the truck.
You don't want that hanging out the truck unsupported.

With a ladder rack, you should be able to rig up a nice loading aide.
 
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