In-Fisherman Feature, Page 3
Boat
Basics
Most of the jet rigs used for catfishing are aluminum john boats
equipped with outboard motors. A few builders, particularly in Missouri,
install V-8 car engines equipped with pressure pumps in john boats,
but these are more suitable for pleasure boating than for fishing. Mercury Sport Jets,
on the other hand, are sold only to boat manufacturers who install
them in boats specifically designed for their use.
“The real difference between my boat and a john boat,”
Turner says, “is the reverse chine. When a john boat’s
on plane there’s lots of spray along the side of the boat.
This spray sometimes is higher than the gunwales, depending on the
size and speed of the boat, and represents unused energy. A reverse
chine harnesses this energy by directing the spray back toward to
the water, creating hydraulic pressure that provides more lift at
slow to moderate speeds.
 “I
intentionally designed my boats with an exaggerated reverse chine
to maximize this lifting effect and increase the amount of wetted
surface while the boat’s planing,” Turner continues. “Veteran
boat builders said that my reverse chine was too steep and wide,
which increases drag and reduces top-end speed. They’re right,
but I’m willing to sacrifice a few miles per hour from the
top-end to increase low-speed shallow-water performance.”
The reverse chine also allows the boat to shut down in shallower
water without contacting the bottom. Cut back the throttle on a
flat-bottom rig and the boat immediately sinks into the water, even
before coming to a full stop. A reverse chine, though, continues
to provide lift so long as there’s forward momentum. Water
filling the pump intake provides additional lift in the back of
the boat, allowing it to settle in water less than a foot deep.
The point here isn’t to suggest that every catman—even
every cat-man who fishes shallow rivers—needs a jet boat. If
your fishing is confined to a stretch of river you know like the
back of your hand and you’ve never so much as nicked a prop
in all your years afloat, you probably don’t need a jet. But
if you want to navigate virtually any stretch of any river with
the same confidence as local anglers, a jet probably is the right
choice.
“I like to think of jet boats as user friendly,” Turner
concludes, “but people shouldn’t get the wrong idea about
their capabilities. A skilled operator can go almost anywhere in
a properly rigged jet boat, but my fishing rig isn’t designed
for extreme boating. Run a jet the same way you would a prop and
it probably will last a life-time. Best of all, with a basic knowledge
of reading rivers, you’ll never have to worry about hitting
rocks, sandbars, and other obstructions. If you can’t see it,
you probably won’t hit it.” |
