16' Sled...enough for the Columbia?

[guitgary]

I recently purchased a 16' smokercraft with a 60hp jet (40hp to the jet). I am wondering if this is enough boat and motor for the Columbia? Not interested in going downriver as far as # 10. Mostly Cowlitz mouth upriver.

Thanks for the help!

Gary

[No Wishin Just Fishin]

Yes if you take necessary precautions the boat will be fine. If you see 3 foot whitecaps i would leave it on the trailor but it will be fine for normal conditions. I used a 16foot alumadrifter with a 15 horse prop for years and only ever had a problem once when i didn't watch for the wind at Tongue Point. Oh ya, don't forget everyone in boat wears a PFD at all times Good Fishin

[lost_sailor]

Nice to have some kind of kicker for backup.

You'll be fine in good weather. Wind makes the difference. I've seen that boat out at the CR buoy!

[Thumper]

I fish the Columbia often in our little dinky 16-ft. jon boat. No problems. Course I don't venture out when the NW wind is roaring in the summer with 3 ft. whitecaps. Common sense is the rule.

[ 03-16-2003, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: Thumper ]

[Wood Shampoo]

I have a 16' flatbottom Smokercraft with a 115hp jet and fish the Columbia year round. Like stated earlier, if there are whitecaps, don't go. If you know your limits, you should be fine.

Ty

[1pump]

I have a 15' open Klamath that I take out as far as buoy 20. Whitecaps and a 3' chop don't stop me, but it gets mighty wet and you can't let your attention wander for a second. I would take it to 10 but it would have to be a rare calm, clear day, and I'd bug out at the first sign of a stiff breeze.

[feisty's wife]

I have been fishing the cr in a 10 ft pelican with a 5 hp motor for the last two years,no problems, I never went too far from the mouth of the Lewis, nener went out on windy days, ALWAYS split if the wind came up, always wore pfd....now I have graduated to{DRUM ROLL< PLSE} a 14 ftr with a 15 hp motor, man, I feel lost in that thing, but safety will prevail. Safety first, always, always alert. Flame on....smiles

[guitgary]

You guys are the best! Thanks for the info. I am not new to boating, but after reading some of the nightmares happening on the CR...I thought I would ask some of my ifish buds about it. I always require PFD in my boat and will certainly look out for the wind. I have a 6 HP kicker just in case. After that...I guess I paddle!!

Thanks again!

Gary

[WaterDog]

guitgary, your boat isnt gray and maroon, maroon top and a center console is it? :smile:

[Hogmaster]

I had a 16' tired Valco sled with an even more tired 50 Merc jet on it. Fished the big river many times. It takes awareness for the reasons already mentioned.

But be aware of this. It is one thing when you can see whitecaps, or even if they are forecasted. In those cases pay heed. The water often looks easier from the shore than it is when you get out on it.

The thing is, some times there is little warning. Yesterday was a classic example. The day started with a fairly mild east wind that made the river riffle just a tad. Then it got nice enough but as the day went on the breeze shifted to the west.

Finally a big cloud bank came upon us. If you were watching it took a good 20 minutes to arrive. But you have to watch. We were well prepared, but when it hit it created 3 and 4' rollers and a fierce westerly. When bigger boats went by whitcaps would form off their wake. The issue with a 16' flatbottom is there typically isn't much freeboard at the back of the sled. Especially on anchor, when the west wind an chop comes, you risk taking water over the corners of the boat. If you have a good bilge, be prepared to use it. If not, get one.

Again, I did this a lot in my youth with no sinkage or worries, but plenty of wetness.

The bottom line is keep an eye to the sky. If a system is moving in, you will likely be much more comfortable and certainly a lot safer if you are docked or trailered by the time it hits...

:cheers:

[ 03-17-2003, 06:51 AM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[DAB]

Guitgary.
I have an old 16 foot flat bottom smokercraft with a 40 Hp. Main and a 9.9 Hp. kicker, works ok for me on the C/R and the willie met. I don't fish at Astoria with it cause I have seen how you can get into trouble and not even be aware of it till it's to late. Longview is about as far down river as I fish with it.
Like anything else you have to use common scens what ever you do.
DAB

[DAB]

Guitgary.
I have an old 16 foot flat bottom smokercraft with a 40 Hp. Main and a 9.9 Hp. kicker, works ok for me on the C/R and the willie met. I don't fish at Astoria with it cause I have seen how you can get into trouble and not even be aware of it till it's to late. Longview is about as far down river as I fish with it.
Like anything else you have to use common scense what ever you do.
DAB

[ 03-17-2003, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: DAB ]

[Tyee Haven]

Guitgary,
I had a 16ft Whitewater Marine semi vee sled that spent a good deal of time in the CR. It also made a few trips to B10. The last trip to B10 was like glass when I arrived and 4+ft chop on the way back. I was bobbing like a cork and getting wet but the boat handled the water nicely.
DJR

[Fishin Magician]

I take mine out but I am extra cautious and watch whats going on around me more than usual while out there. Just use common sense and you should be fine.
John

[Gizmo Man]

gg: what are you concerned about in that big sled :smile: .

I have a 12' with a 50 pump that I use out there. The key is to watch the wind forcasts and when they start forcasting above 15 mph time to find something else to do. Inside the rivers you usually do not have to worry unless you hang out up at blue creek where all the 20 footers try to sink you running up and down the river.

Giz...

[Mr. Carp]

Guitgary,
IF you do as everyone else has stated, you'll be just fine. We had a 17' GIII (Jon Boat) with a 140hp pump and used it on the mouth of the Cowlitz all the time. The GIII had lower sides than your Smoker Craft and was OK. We took a few waves over the back like Hogmaster said, but that was due to some real (insert bad word for people) going on a half plane right through our hogline and just about swamping us. My brother ran from Kalama to the Mouth of the Cowlitz on a 3ft chop day. Rough, wet ride, but made it OK. Like lost sailor said, you have a boat tha some would take to the ocean. We were fishing up @ Neah Bay last year for halibut 18 miles out in Canadian Waters and there was this 14ft Livingston with a 15hp Johnson. There were some 10ft rollers at times out there and they ran all the way out there from CAnada. Good Luck fishing!
RRM graemlins/applause.gif

[Chrome Bumper]

First few trips try to stay upwind and upriver of your take out. Start small and work your way up. Remember conditions can change in a heart beat, and slow down for rough water.

[guitgary]

Sincere thanks to everyone. I have learned over my 50 years that it is, in fact, better to be safe than sorry! Numerous broken bones and torn muscles over the years have finally convinced me of this.

I will keep a sharp eye on the wind and weather...start upriver from my launching place and require PFD at all times!

Thanks to all...see you on the river! I'll be the one staring at the clouds and wind!!!!! Thanks

Gary

[Chrome Bumper]

By the way. When the wind is running the opposite direction as the current, standing waves can form that are hairy, even in good size, v-hulled and enclosed boats. Watch for these conditions. Just 20 yard one way or the other can make a difference. John Day river launch near Tongue point has a nice variety of sheltered waters and good access to the big river. Watch out for the shallows though, or you may be spending the night on your boat waiting for high tide.