I was wondering how safe it would be to launch my 14 ft modified v hull with a 10 hp motor at Leesylvania state park and run across the Potomac to Mattawoman creek?

speaking from expereincec, the potomac can get rough in that area.  i have an 18 foot bass boat; a few years ago, we launched out of pohick in the morning, ran to mattawoman and stayed there for most of the day, left by noon to head back to pohick and there were 4 foot rollers in the main channel.  my partner and i were soaking wet from several waves rolling over the boat.  glad the bilge pump worked.   i would use extreme caution

that stretch is the roughest area i have fished on the river. I cracked my transom there! Having said that there is a HUGE difference between weekdays and weekends. In my opinion...weekends NO and weekdays MAYBE depending on weather and other boat traffic.

if you can stand a little driving just launch in Mattawoman.

CHECK THE WEATHER.

Make sure the winds are calm.

Wear your PFD.

DO NOT CHANCE ANYTHING.

DO NOT CUT ANYTHING CLOSE THINKING YOU CAN MAKE IT.

As said above, the Potomac can change in a heart beat and you can put yourself in great peril in the blink of an eye. 

Not a wise idea in the spring with water temps in the 50's. Best to wait until summer time and if the worse happens and you end up in the water you could swim in. In 50 degree water you would only have 15-30 minutes before you check out.

DON'T DO IT.

Launching with a jonboat and crossing the river is a bad idea.  Some days there is barely a ripple and other days it is very very rough.  Often the river will look very calm in the morning but will liven up significantly by noon, I would hate to be in a jon boat making that run with bad weather.  Smallwood State Park or Slavins Ramp are both great launch facilities and put you right in the middle of Mattawoman which is very safe for jonboats.  If you don't want to leave VA then launch at the Occoquan River and fish that area.

Please heed the advice here.

I personally call that part of the river the "toilet bowl" because you have  traffic from all directions. That means boat wakes make conditions VERY  choppy. Even on weekdays it can get rough just from boat wakes.

I've been goin out on the Potomac for 7 or 8  years at least once a week in the warmer months. I almost never go out on weeekends. It is just too rough. My boat is fine in those conditions it just gets rough as hell

Can't ever recall seeing a 14 out there.

It can certainly be done, but use MUCH caution.

That whole area, from the power lines up to Occ Bay is  rough.

Lee

Thanks for the advice.  I will use my 18 footer instead.  I was trying to be cheap.  I was going to get the 898 SI put on my small boat 1st and then the big boat next.  I will just spend the extra money and have it put on both boats at the same time.

I used to do it with my 16 foot flat bottom all the time with no problems ever. Just look at the water when u get down to the ramp area.  As long as it isnt too nasty out there then you should be ok. Theres alot of guys who fish tourneys out there with 10hp jon boats. I have seen some days out there it was dangerous but those are the days you dont take a jon boat out there .

He has a modified V,  not a jon.  Just be careful.