Mac's River Runner

[justbehindit]

I bought a River Runner to put on the '82 Johnson 70 hp Sea Horse, and bought the model that goes up to 70 hp. For whatever reason (this is a replacement skeg), the Model B will not mount as shown, and fits too far forward compared to the pictures, doesn't follow the contour of the skeg and doesn't cover behind the prop with the backup protector.

Anybody use this product and have recommendations?

 

[oklahomariverfisherman]

Re: Mac's River Runner

I was getting ready to post a question about Mac's river runner too. I was thinking about purchasing one, and would also like to see why it is not fitting your outboard. I would also like to hear from someone that has used one before to hear how they work. I am not trying to hijack your thread, but I would like to hear from you as to if you got it to fit. I just got a barely used outboard and would like to keep it in good shape.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: Mac's River Runner

I had one ages ago on a much smaller outboard. It killed my speed (like I said, MUCH smaller outboard, like 35hp I think), but did it's job as described. I fish a lot of flats and shallow areas, and while it does protect the LU from underwater strikes and rocks, plowing through a sandbar with one is not recommended. It will stop the boat instead of go through the sand. I'd rather just deal with it. I run my current 55hp engine with nothing on the LU but the prop (of course), and f I hit something it's not locked into run position, so it will just tilt out of the water. Done it before.
If you don't fish a lot of shallow stuff but want submerged item protection, it does a decent job.

 

[oklahomariverfisherman]

Re: Mac's River Runner

I was going to mount it to a 9.9 Nissan. I have a 14' boat that I use in the river to set limblines and hunt feral hogs. There are submerged hazards everywhere and I want to avoid them with this new outboard. My old outboard suffered several shear pin breakages to this river last year, but it was a pos so I wasn't worried about it. Is it pretty easy to take off for lake fishing then? If it slows me down that much I may strictly use it when in the river. Will the holes hurt me if I remove it?

 

[oklahomariverfisherman]

Re: Mac's River Runner

I can't even find dimensions on it. I am reconsidering my purchase. I don't see any complaints about it not fitting though. Just the drag. Did you try to contact the company?

 

[oklahomariverfisherman]

Re: Mac's River Runner

Found the site of the manufacturer. http://www.propsavers.com/index.html There is a 1-800 number, so I would try to call that. They are made in Canada, so the company probably cares what you think of their product. If not the manufacturing would probably be outsourced to China. I am going to contact before I order and make sure on the size. The only differences the site talk about are on Honda motors and 6 to 8 Hp. Good luck man, I am looking for good news!

Cabelas has 30 reviews, mostly good for the product and only one complaint about it not fitting a evinrude 25 hp. It rated at 4.4 stars.

 

[justbehindit]

Re: Mac's River Runner

I've been a little busy with dog training stuff and hunting season so I haven't monitored this thread in some time. My 18' StarCraft gets 32 mph empty with just me in it and 26 mph with two adults, 2 Labs and 8 dozen decoys. I cannot throttle up just anywhere due to the bottom of certain bodies of water such as Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron. My concern winds up being the granite of Saginaw Bay, which we have in abundance up here in Michigan where the glaciers formed the land and lakes.

I sent Mac an e-mail and he called me the following Monday. He asked that I send the runner back to him instead of Cabelas, and exchange it for the larger model which covers 75 hp and up. My skeg diimensions are 9 1/2" front to back, 5" top to bottom, 10" along the leading edge of the skeg, and 3" along the bottom. The B model doesn't go half way up the skeg, and the prop guard doesn't extend beyond the prop as the pictures show.

Not sure if this important or not, but the skeg was a weld up replacement after I knocked it off last year on the granite.
I'll post up with the C model comes in and I hopefully get it mounted.