Advice on running a V-Drive in shallow waters

[TylerO]

I'm a soon to be SV211 Team Owner who will spend some time running in the lower Colorado (sand bars, very shallow spots) and am looking for advice/tips on running my V-drive in these waters and on getting passengers on and off the shore from the boat without damaging the hull or drivetrain. I'm leaving behind a custom jet boat (for obvious reasons) but I was spoiled running in shallow waters and beaching the boat. Any advice out there for a Jet boat convert! I performed several searches but couldn't find much out there.

Thanks!

-Tyler

[Mikeski]

There is a guy using an electric trolling motor mounted to the platform for shallow water maneuvers somewhere on here, MBO or wakeworld.

[AbunDiga909]

Yes, just search every post on three of the biggest forum sites related to watersports and I'm sure you'll find something! :lol:

Sorry, I just found that one a little amuzing. Kind of like telling me to go find your black suitcase at the airport....

[TylerO]

AbunDiga,

You nailed it. I searched for about 15 minutes and well, you saw my post. So how to you drop folks off on-shore? I have to balance between protecting my dark blue hull and the wife and kids who don't want to swim to shore with all the gear in tow.....

[AbunDiga909]

Priorities first - Quality of colored hull over prefrence of passangers... :lol:

On a more serious note, try Anchor Buddy. We got one for vacatoin, but never ended up using it b/c we had a dock fortunately.

[clubmyke]

ran ino that situation too.. this is my tempory solution till a better one presents itself

anchor the front of boat in waist deep water ( or a lttle deeper) and physically lift/carry the wife, kids, items off the platform onto the shore...

it is a little extra work but not that bad....

if someone has a better idea...please let us know !!!!

[clubmyke]

btw tyler... is your 211 at m20 marine yet ????

i recently remember a new 211 with the zr6 motor. (slobber....drool

:thumright: )

[NautiqueJeff]

anchor the front of boat in waist deep water ( or a lttle deeper) and physically lift/carry the wife, kids, items off the platform onto the shore...

Yeah, that's what we do too. My boat never gets closer to the shore than this:

[clubmyke]

jeff,

thanks for the comeback...

what are you using for anchor, rope, and method of anchoring ?

thanks,

mike

[Grant_West]

Im with Jeff and the ancor buddy tip. I never have or never will beach my boat (on peroupous). I have been on the CO river and yes it is scarry, The water is at places is low and its co clear you can see the danger lurking below. As far as not hitting a sand bar thats all up to you my friend I would say 50% Skill and 50% Luck.

Get a ancor buddy. when they are fully streched the can go out like 50 feet. so park you boat far enough away so that at a full stretch you not going to hit the shore. When I do myn I have it set up so your about waist deep water in the back so you get wet getting in and out, At least your not going to hit your prop and prop.

I would also get one of these, It make you feel like if you do hit somthing your whole weekend is not over

[AbunDiga909]

Also, as shown in Jeff's picture of his boat, go in stern first. This way, you can carry people to shore easier, and, if you do hit anything, it will be the prop oppose to the gellcoat on the hull. Why is it better to scratch a prop than the hull? Because you get new props every so often, you can never get a new hull. This is extra impt. if you have a colored hull and care what your boat looks like when on the trailer. :wink:

[TylerO]

Good advice Jeff!

Clubmyke, not yet. I'm due late Jan/early Feb

Whitechocolate I will defintely pick up the extra prop kit. Seems like a no brainer. Where did you get the kit?

[Grant_West]

The case I got from the Local Dealer, $150 comes with puller and wrench
The prop is a extra $350 -$400

[darrel409]

Ive had a place on the Colorado River for 15 years and clubmyke is on top of it. Three feet is plenty to anchor in and shallow enuff to walk to shore. You dont need the anchor buddy, the current always pulls the back end down river when anchored at the front. Dont need much chain either, 5 ft is plenty. Always keep an eye on the water level. Know when your stretch of the river is up or down. For us its up in the morning and falls throughout the day, it will be different on different stretches. Mid afternoon the sandbars are up and you really need to pay attention. Hitting them is part of boating on the river, like Whitechocolate said, always have a spare prop. Another tip is to always play upstream. If you hit, run out of fuel or break down for any reason the current will always take you home. Just be sure to always have beer in the cooler and a strong battery so the music doesnt die, it may be a long float home. Also dont worry about the "swirls" on the water they wont tell you of underwater trouble, watch for submerged logs and sandbars. Tyler, what part of the river will you be riding? We are below Parker Dam and above Palo Verde Diversion Dam on the lower Colorado.

[Hollywood]

If you carry around a tube, use that or another inflatable. They're not totally useless!