Back to John Boats & small outboards - save gas

**stringerfull** · 07-10-2008, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Pop Rivers

I guess it is time to go back John Boats and small outboards. 3 gallons of gas is all one needs for the day. Gas @ $ 4.05 gallon in my neck of the woods and is climbing, where will it end ?

To be really honest, we caught as many or more fish and had just as much fun anyway, when using small boats and motors.

I wonder if one of those 75 to 100 mile scooters can pull a john boat ?

I fish 6 days a week with a 14 foot boat and 5 hp engine. The farthest I go is 5 miles from the dock. It takes about 40 minutes to go that five miles but I use less than a gallon. I've got lots more time than money so no problem.

**J White** · 07-11-2008, 10:13 AM

I can fish all day on two or three gallons in my big boat, if I fish
and don't sightsee

Getting it to the lake though, now that's another story. I've been
sorta looking around at john boats too. They sure do want a lot for
them in the classifieds

**oldbigun** · 07-11-2008, 12:42 PM

I'm like you Jeff, I don't burn much gas fishing it's the getting there that takes it's toll on me.

**BULLFROG-1** · 07-11-2008, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Beatlespin

Same problem here in LA (lower Alabama), gas is now at $4.00 per gallon and with two bass boats, one with a 200 Merc and another with a 150, I had a choice of making a change or taking up golf. I changed, I sold both boats and down sized. I now have a 16 ft. GatorTrax with a 36 hp. surface drive mud motor on it. The longest ride to one of my best fishing spots is 20 miles one way and it takes about 4 and 1/2 gallons of gas for the round trip, which I love. Another advantage that I have is I can now fish spots that no one else can get to. With this rig, stumps and logs are no problem, grass and lilly pads are no problem and in shallow water (I'm talking 3 inches) it actually speeds up. So now I can go places that most can't and I'm not worried about the weekend crowd. It runs about 26 to 28 mph and after getting it I wouldn't have another outboard.

I have thought about a similar rig~~~~~~~~a little smaller motor

**Southeasttackle** · 07-18-2008, 02:31 PM

I fish in a 14 foot jon boat with a trolling motor only. You can't catch fish going 40 mph.
Most of the best lakes don't require a outboard anyway.

**vhouston2** · 08-02-2008, 06:16 PM

I parked the big boat and went back to a 16ft Weldbilt and 25 hp Yamaha with 40lb thrust trolling motor to troll the big lakes in North Mississippi.....boat travels 30 mph on full trottle and handles rough water extremly well. The boat, trailer, motor, seats, and trolling motor was under $7,000 and I can see it will pay for itself in fuel over the long run. A good day of fishing barely burns up 2 gallons of gas (I troll with the electric motor). Seriously, this boat is as comfortable as the big boat and simple to maintain and fish from. I also think my catch rate has increased from last year and its sure alot easier to trailer.

**rieve** · 08-03-2008, 09:41 PM

my 225 efi mercury probably gets about a mile per gallon seriously. fishing the river in arkansas i use around 40.00 worth of gas every trip i should seriously downgrade. even though gas has gone down to 3.67 here it still ain't cheap.

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