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Thread: Gheenoe

  1. #1
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    Default Gheenoe


    Anyone fish out of a Gheenoe? I’m half interested in one for small rivers and backwater stuff. I could see duck hunting some out of it too. Thinking small long tail mud motor.


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  2. #2
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    After seeing one swamped when a quick storm came up on a lake in Fl, I don't think I would ever want to fish out of one. They don't appear to be much more stable than a normal canoe.

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    Actually they are MUCH more stable than a canoe. Not the same animal and while they look similar, they are flat bottomed and classified as a skiff. However, the 15 4 highsider is classified as a canoe by the USCG and thus has the highest capacity rating.
    That's what I have, a 15' 4" highsider.
    There are some older models still around (lowsiders) with less depth than the newer Highsiders.
    The Gheenoes are stable enough to stand and fish, and move around in. I can walk from front to rear. They're very popular in Florida with a huge following and are highly modified with raised casting decks and some with raised poling platforms, which is a testimony to their stability.
    The Classic is the same length but a foot wider than the 15 4 highsider. It's a family owned business in Titusville with one brother running the factory and another running Custom Gheenoe next door. They customize them with center consoles and as noted above. Many people add a false floor of PVC board or similar with additional flotation built in. Some guys search and buy old used ones and refurbish to sell. They lend themselve to user modifications and repair if necessary.
    The 15 4 is rated for a 9.9 hp but I have a 6 hp which pushes me about 14 mph. From what I've read from others, the 9.9 will push it aroung 17-20 mph all dependent on what other weight you have onboard. I sort of wish I had gone with a 9.9 but that adds another 45-ish pounds. There is also the a 13' model but I have no experience with that.

    As far as use, while the new highsider has adequate freeboard, it is not necessarily a big water boat. More specifically I should say, it isn't a rough water boat. You can swamp one with big waves or big wakes from big boats. It is a simple matter to install a bilge pump or carry a hand pump if swamping is a concern. Heavy batteries or other gear strapped in could possibly overwhelm the built in floatation. I have a hand pump but never had issues. It's also a lightweight, thin fiberglass hull, so it won't take hard banging across rocks or stumps. Heck, it's about the cheapest thing you can buy.

    So realistically, and like any boat, it needs to be used within it's limitations but it is no more limited nor less capable than a typical Jonboat of similar size.

    After almost a year of use, I'm loving mine and it's very comfortable as a one man fishing boat, allowing multiple tackle bags, rods, coolers etc. I have a custom aluminum grab bar in mine, deep cycle battery, two small 12v batteries for fish finders, a 50 pound MinKota trolling motor. The grab bar is almost a necessity, making it much more comfortable and safe walking from front to rear, or running the outboard standing up. I back the trailer in and push it off with a long rope. Reload the same way, very easy for one man to handle launching and loading.
    Two men can fish out of it but one pretty much needs to stay in front and one in back...not a whole lot of room for crawling over one another. It's certainly a step up from kayak fishing and like I said, no more less capable than a Jonboat of similar size. It's just the ticket to get back in the swamps and tight places or small lakes. And it can handle pretty much any water, heck they use them in open bays down in Florida, you just need to mind the weather.
    I had to drive from NC to FL to get mine as they're kinda scarce in these parts. The orders, particularly the custom ordered boats can be a wait. As I said, they are very popular in FL. There is a young guy on YouTube that fishes for snook, reds, trout in a 15 4.(and catches some impressive fish) Look up Justin Menendez. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...nendez+gheenoe
    Last edited by Bigtrout; 03-19-2021 at 01:16 PM. Reason: clarity
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  4. #4
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    There's a guy that fishes out of one at my home ramp. I'm pretty sure he don't have any stability problems in his by the way he jumps around in it and the water and weather he fishes in. He has a 75hp on his. Pretty sure he has paid a fine or two because of that. Ive always wanted one myself.

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    I've got a 13'er. They are pretty stable, and track very well through the water pushed by a relatively small motor, or even just a trolling motor.

    None of them are rated for anything near a 75 HP. No way. I have a 6 HP on mine. They are made to be light, shallow going boats, but they are not tanks. The fiberglass is pretty thin and flexes under force. They are not made for banging into rocks or oysters either.

    IMO, they shine on backwater creeks, small reservoirs and ponds, where you need to be portable, go shallow, and be pushed well by a small motor. Mine is more than capable within the creeks on my local reservoir, and I rigged it up with a 4-rod driftmaster up front for tightlining. It doesn't get used much anymore since I often have multiple companions these days.

  6. #6
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    Thanks for the information. I guess I’m going to add a small Jon boat with a mud motor to my fleet. I really wanted a Gheenoe to work out but I will be crossing logs and bumping into stuff with this rig. If it’s that thin it’ll never work. Plus a yearly trip to Arkansas trout fishing. Plenty of rock scrapes there.


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  7. #7
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    Yeah, if lots of rocks and stumps is in your future then aluminum may be better than ANYthing fiberglass.

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