|
Forums59
Topics1,027,850
Posts13,748,956
Members143,678
| |
Most Online36,273
Jan 23rd, 2013
|
|
 How shallow can I go?
#13909052
03/03/21 01:24 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 54
BAR
OP
Outdoorsman
|
|
OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 54 |
I have an older boat that I can't find any specs on. It is an '81 McKee Southporter 18.5. There is no jack plate for the outboard. I've been in water around 2-feet but I am afraid to go any less. Is there a way to take a measurement or some written info out there about draft? What about consideration for the load? The USCG plate says it'll hold a lot more weight than I put in it. How does that factor in?
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909063
03/03/21 01:32 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,688
tmd11111
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,688 |
Being 40 years old I imagine it has some sort of scum line on the hull. Just measure from there to the keel.
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909177
03/03/21 02:28 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
Where are you fishing?
Running aground in the bay is just something you do.
Pat Goff Seadrift TX ![[Linked Image]](https://i.ibb.co/X48Kbbq/scooter-shallow.jpg)
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: Pat Goff]
#13909262
03/03/21 03:21 PM
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132
Tiltman
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132 |
Where are you fishing?
Running aground in the bay is just something you do. Or on any random lake if you are me......
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909370
03/03/21 04:28 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
I guess I really need a airboat. Have progressively gotten shallower running boats. My current jet scooter is perfectly happy running in less than two inches of water. It won’t go in one inch. Guess how I figured that out?
Had to drag it sixty yards to get to four inches to get up and going again. Not fun by yourself. But it’s part of the deal.
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909378
03/03/21 04:36 PM
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132
Tiltman
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132 |
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909459
03/03/21 05:39 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
What is really a friend.
I carry a small come along. I use a mud anchor and can stab it 15’ out and just winch it along even on dry ground. It’s slow but steady. Gives you time to reconsider your decisions.
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13909855
03/03/21 11:03 PM
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132
Tiltman
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,132 |
lol thats awesome....I actually have and electric winch and when stuck bad I will go get an axle shaft and pound it into the muck to pull on if I nothing is close enough.
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13910069
03/04/21 01:45 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
Electric winch would be cheating.... ![[Linked Image]](https://i.ibb.co/QnHCsVf/oops2-zps8fddef2c.jpg)
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: Pat Goff]
#13911006
03/04/21 09:05 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 555
Austintatious
Pro Angler
|
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 555 |
I guess I really need a airboat. Have progressively gotten shallower running boats. My current jet scooter is perfectly happy running in less than two inches of water. It won’t go in one inch. Guess how I figured that out?
Had to drag it sixty yards to get to four inches to get up and going again. Not fun by yourself. But it’s part of the deal. Ohh come on now... what sort of fish are there in 2 inches of water!!!!
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13911033
03/04/21 09:28 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
It’s the two inches to get to the back lake that’s two feet deep.
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: Pat Goff]
#13912767
03/06/21 03:04 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,069
ShinerInTx
Extreme Angler
|
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,069 |
Electric winch would be cheating.... But how was the fishing...
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13913245
03/06/21 05:28 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
Maybe this makes it easier for the unwashed to get... Sight fishing redfish is what we do. You gotta get to the lakes to get them, and most of the cuts to get in the lakes is pretty dicey if you can't run through snot. ![[Linked Image]](https://i.ibb.co/YRhBzpv/contee.jpg)
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13913300
03/06/21 06:53 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 828
IslandJim
Pro Angler
|
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 828 |
If you ain't been aground, you ain't been nowhere! IslandJim
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
|
|
|
Re: How shallow can I go?
[Re: BAR]
#13913419
03/06/21 10:04 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993
Pat Goff
TFF Guru
|
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,993 |
If you have a proper flats rig navigating gets pretty simple. Dark bottom? You’re good. Also know a wave can only be half the water depth. 6” wave is a foot of water. I can run just about anything but oil slick shoal water, so it’s pretty easy to see where you don’t belong.
I can’t tell you how many pot lickers I’ve pulled off sand bars because “you ran through there”. Gotta know your equipment.
Pat Goff Seadrift TX
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|
![[Linked Image]](https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/userpics/2022/08/full-102740-150678-mako.png)
![[Linked Image]](https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/userpics/2022/08/full-102740-150679-tt.jpg)