Question about boating in unknown waters

[APKape]

I've always been leary about boating in timber. I always shut the outboard off and used the trolling motor to get around in the trees. I notice a lot of angerls are more daring than I and cruse through timber at or above idle speed; sometimes well above idle speed.

The first time I hit a tree dead on with the trolling motor and heard the sound of my boat's fiberglass cracking, I did not dare idle through timeber with my outboard. What I want to find out is how do you all get around trees. Do you find it safe to idle through timber with your outboard or are you just as FREAKED OUT ABOUT IS AS I AM?! Or can the outboard or prop take a hit or two from trees? Or do you tilt your outboard as far as it can go without the prop coming out of the water?

[Just Jiggin]

Really depends on the lake & how well we know it. If its brand new area I watch the GPS & try to find the channel & stay in it. We do alot of idling at Truman. I have bent 2 shafts on my trolling motor over the last 1 yr. I dont think the prop will take much of a hit with out brakeing some thing.

[rugsrme]

I'm looking forward to the advice on this topic, I was afraid of tearing up my plastic trolling motor prop let alone a prop on the outboard.

[LBM]

I trim the outboard up as far as I can where it still propels me and just proceed very slowly.

[JohnnyLaw]

scared to death to run the big motor anywhere near timber!!!! I always use my troller and watch the water ten feet infront of me with a death stare!! I also always lift the big motor almost completely out of water, this is my first boat and timber makes me a nervous wreck! but I still manage to get into it:D I `ve already had to replace the mounting bracket on my troller after running into a stump and only the second trip with this boat to the lake,,,I was hotttt!! its an old Johnson troller so it took many hours of searching the net and phone calls to find a replacement, but I did , just makes me a little more alert when I`m in timber

[mduncan62]

I watch the map, stay in the channels. In areas I know pretty well, I'll run the motor through the timber. Not to say I haven't hit a LOT of stuff in the water. Was under the boat today replacing a board on the trailer, and I think I sold myself on staying with aluminum. Seeing the dents I have put in this thing over the years and it's still strong and no leaks made me pretty happy. I know I'd have busted some holes in the glass boat if I had one.

No matter how careful you are, things can still happen. Running down the middle of the channel, there's always a possibility that there's a barely submerged tree coming downstream. Good to take caution, but some things are out of our control.

[gabowman]

My home lake is full of what was standing timber, now just stumps both above the water line and just below it. Usually what I do is trim the motor all the way up to where the intake accepts water for the pump and I keep kicking it in and out of gear just enough to keep me moving till I get across the timber. 'Course one thing that helps me is I have a Carolina Skiff which means a very shallow draft...6" or less when idling. Unless the lake gets muddy I can usually see any stumps my boat will hit and there's usually not a problem. I too see some boats ocassionally that are planed off crossing the stumpy areas...just figured either they dont know any difference or dont care. Luckily never witnessed anything really bad happen to anyone but I have seen some hit something, shut off, and not go anywhere too.:o Theyre idiots.:rolleyes:

If you use the big motor just use extreme caution and keep it as slow as you can with your motor trimmed up. AND....always attach the safety line that runs to the switch!

[olesilverside]

But I have had my hydra sport on truman for over 20 years and the trees I have hit, been on, been pulled off of if it would have been aluminum It would be a total wreck....... I think we were hung up on at least 10 trees tops today alone and hit that many with the trolling motor on #2 speed..... but you gotta get into the stuff to get to the good fish.... went back into a long cove this am and don't intend to go back ever again, some just aren't worth it, during high water it was a real producer but now that Truman is almost normal it sucked.. wasn't worth the things we hung on for no fish...... Just have to make your own judgement call on the timber...... we liked to of crapped our pants when we saw the stumps we were going 35 mph over a week ago...... some looked scary as hell....... so we slowed down and used the big motor very slow until we got out of it...... First I must sugguest a Stainless Steel Prop, and how my motor guide prop takes the abuse it gets is beyond me...... after all it is just a 3 blade plastic but soft on the ends with lots of flexibaility in it..... as for running the big motor just stay in the channel with a good GPS unit and lots of caution or know the area in all other places...... good luck...... been many a lower unit torn up on Truman Lake..this is why boat insurance is a must, they replace lower units and stainless props..... been there......

[rugsrme]

First I must sugguest a Stainless Steel Prop

Which reminds me, if I get my stupid truck running this week, I want to get my boat down to you and would like some help choosing a new prop for my motor, the old alum. one is really chewed up.
Also, allot of you are talking about using your electronics to navigate, what if you don't have one? is it just stupid to get up into the trees without one? (slow and careful of course)

[Fishtaco]

I think this all depends on your experience and the type and weight of the boat.

I have a small light fiberglass boat and I take it anywhere it will float and fit in/under. I have been on at least 200 stumps in the three years I've had it and the hull shows the wear. But, I bought it in rough condition, so I'm not complaining.

I feel that a heavy boat is at a big disadvantage in thick water (what we call it when its thick with stumps and timber). You have a higher inertia and it takes more energy to stop or lift the boat, so... you take more damage when you hit something, even at low speed.

My whole boat, with two big men, outboard and fishing gear out the wazoo is well under 1000 lbs. I would guess we weigh in at about 800lbs and 550 of that is nothing but fishermen.

But, having said that, I run the trolling motor in thick water 99% of the time. I worry more about rebar and steel that has been driven into the stumps over the years in an effort to try and mark them that has rotted away above the water, but is in good condition just below the surface. That will hole a boat in a heartbeat.

I've scarred two aluminum props and I wish there were a stainless available for my little 18HP, but if there is, I haven't found it yet.

Slow and cautious is the way, and don't be afraid of thick water, just learn to respect the heck out it and how to enjoy it.