Triton_Mike

Mitchell, Your saying that the river hawk has higher sides than this and sits higher out of the water?? Your kidding me right? Now some jon boats with lower sides that might be true. But he is asking about a 1648 which has a 71 inch beam, rated for a 50hp motor, and 24 inch sides. The biggest riverhawk I have found is 15ft 8 inches and only had a 60 inch beam (11 inches less is ALOT of boat), rated for a 15hp and I can gaurantee you it doesn't have 24 inch sides regaurdless of how deep the grizzly sinks in the water. Regaurdless the riverhawk was not designed to be ran in rough water thats partially why it's called a "RIVER" hawk. The advertisements I have read on the Riverhawk clearly state river or small lake boat. Granted I have been stupide enough to 20 miles off shore to the Chandaluer islands in a 12ft jon boat but that doesn't mean I would do it in a Riverhawk. Mike

scbassin, I'm not 100% sure on your post. You might actually be right. I thought they bought the company but I am not 100% positive on that. I do know the bushwacker prop is made by kipawa. I know some folks hate the Kipawa with a passion and some love it. The reviews I have read have been mixed. I use a 2 blade speed prop on my T Motor.. T Mike

BD, The riverhawk has low sides. It's not equipped with the high sides that a jon boat has. So if your in a GOOD windstorm while on the lake your chances of not dying LOL are better in the jon with high sides. But that is IF your in a GOOD windstorm and it's got some sizeable waves. Like I said it just depends on what you want to use the boat for. Does the lakes you fish have big waves? I know of lakes that are 11,000 acres and don't really have big waves due to the layout of the lake and then again I know of lakes that are 1000 acres that can get rough in a hurry. Just depends on your usage and the lake. You might be just fine with the Riverhawk idea. It's a great boat but it has it's limits (big waters) just like the jonboat (skinny waters). I have looked hard for an ALL around boat. and one just does not exist to cover every need. Thats why I have 2 boats. I could easily have 3 for a 3rd use. T Mike

I can vouch for the stability of the River Hawk (Gheenoe type boats). Very stable and float in only inches of water. The biggest problem I have with the River Hawk is lack of space. I'm used to a Tr-20 and I want to bring all my gear, sandwiches, cokes, tackle bags and rods and other crap with me when I fish and so does my partner. I can stuff my boat full of gear and my partners gear to the brim and still not trip over anything. Thats the advantages and disadvantges between the Riverhawk and the jon. THe river hawk will probably be much easier to slide down a river bank or into a creek without a launch. Great for going over shallow shoals as well. Just depends on your type of fishing. i will also say the river hawk can't handle the chop the jon can handle due to the higher sides of the jon. If you are fishing creeks and small ponds or lakes and don't have too much gear the hawk would be a great choice. If you fish bigger waters (regaurdless of electric or gas) you'll be better off with the jon from a safety standpoint. I know of folks in jon boats that have sunk on these bigger waters of 1000 acres or bigger. T MIke

Kipawa was bought out by Motor Guide. They renamed the same exact prop Brush Whacker or something to that effect. There are NO warranty issues with Motor Guide on this prop. Mike

Very cool looking boat! You did a great job rigging it! T Mike

Having used the 987 SI for over 7 months. I can honestly say that was the best 1700.00 I ever spent on ANY fishing appliance!!! Absolutely incredible technology!! I've been told it's about to be improved upon even further in 2007 . T Mike

I don't think you'll have any problem with that Lowe's. I also have a 1648 Grizzly and chose it due to cost issues like the guy above. I just got a much better deal going with the Grizzly and I liked the way the front deck part was laid out compared to the Lowe's and War Eagles that I also looked at. I'd love to see how you end up decking your Lowe's boat out! Here is how I did mine www.tritonmike.com/boat.html T Mike

Ohiobassman, Man I wish my wife was that easy . BTW you know you can't use the side imaging very well if you place your transducer on the trolling motor.. However the sonar will work just fine. Just a heads up. T mIke

What Randall said other than the Maxxum 74 I'd get the Motor Guide Tour edition ~~~ Mike

Ohiobassman, I'll bite why did you buy 2 987's???? For one boat or 2? Mike

YEs it is expensive but there are some Lowrances that cost more than the 987si. That xbox 360 big screen Lowrance is more spensive!! The 987si is everything they say it is and more. T Mike

Bass Junky, I'm not certain you left alot of room for choices. If you don't get the analog the only thing left is digital?? But your right the digitals are FLAWLESS!! I've seen MK shafts crack just as often as I have seen MG's bend. It goes both ways. Motor Guide is experimenting with the composite shafts as we speak. They supposingly have thicker walls and they are used on the new wireless MG's as we speak. T Mike

The problems with the "rules" is that there are no "rules" to the fish LOL. There is no such thing as a "gimme" in bass fishing. T Mike

Somebody want to tell me how you would mount this 50 amp circuit breaker professionally?? http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=50+amp+circuit+breaker&pid=4884835772271097591&oid=1227632969545154859&btnG=Search+Froogle&oi=froogler&scoring=mrd&hl=en T Mike

bwhntr, If those intials mean bow hunting we have something else in common . I'm strictly a bowhunter myself . T Mike

That knot listed in the first link is the knot I use 100% of the time. It's called a Braid Knot. I've never seen it called a double cinch knot before. If your having problems with fluorocarbon breaking that there is the KNOT to use! Very good knot and like Road Warrior I don't like the palomar due to treble hooks hanging up when you pass the bait through the loop. Here is another link to the same knot but called the braid knot. http://triplefish.net/knots_.html Mike

Davo, I had a friend that had a Dual Pro that was 6 years old and 4 years out of warranty and had ONE bank go bad on him. Within 2 days he had a 2006 model replacment from Dual Pro and didn't pay a dime and he hadn't even sent the old charger back yet. Once you buy a dual pro thats the last one you every buy unless you get another boat that is. Just thought I would share that experience. T Mike

Get the prop of the trolling motor and you'll be fine. Makes NO difference what side of the boat you run it off of. I've had them boat ways and no issues. Don't sweat the small stuff. T Mike

BD Gots email??? mbucca AT comcast DOT net Mike

Falcon, If you stop by I can introduce you to the Bait Monkey and a few of his friends ;D T Mike

I will be at Bass Pro Shops representing Lucky Craft and doing seminars on the tank in Detroit Michigan on March 10-12th for their annual Spring Fling. If anyone from Bass Resource is in the area please stop by the Lucky Craft booth and introduce yourself. I would love to put names with faces! Sorry I don't have any freebies to give you but I do believe the Pointers will be on sale. T Mike

The new Tour Edition Digital Trolling motors are flawless!! A good rule of thumb is to get more than you need. You can always use less but you can never use more if you don't have it. I would say the 72lb thrust would be more than adequate for your 16ft boat. YOu could probably step down to the next thrust level and be fine as well. The motor guides weigh less than the Minn Kota's and are more compact ie take up less room on the front deck. I think Bass Pro has them on sale during their spring fling. T Mike

"If you do what you've always done; you'll catch what you've always caught" In essence be as versatile as possible and keep a diary of your outings on the water. T Mike

Also, Be darn sure to use MARINE wire and not just regular home depot wire. Big difference in performance and longetivity. You can order Marine wire from any reputable marina. Mike