Videos of shallow water running are misleading if you don't understand water hydraulics. When you get into the real thin stuff, water doesn't compress, so it actually lifts the hull. As long as you've got enough water to feed the tunnel to the jet intake, you're going forward. Right up until the tunnel loses it's prime, and down you go. So when you watch the running over short stretches of sandbar and such, they're basically just sliding over it, because there's nothing under the bottom of the hull, you'll slide a very long way.

Did they ever say what that hull actually weighed? Remember that shallow water ability is like four wheel drive, it just gets you stuck twice as far back in the gunk. When you're in the gunk, you gotta get out of the gunk.

I just bought a 20' section of HDPE double wall culvert pipe. Had to cut it into two 10' sections to get it in the bed of the pickup. The stuff is tuff as nails and you can drive a dump truck over it and it won't collapse. I was able to lift each 10' section by myself and Im an old. I guess if this boat was 1" or more thick all over, it would be heavy, but so is a Fiberglass boat.

I don't see how the Prop and Skeg on the motor ain't taking a huge beating in that rock laden river water. Never mind, I should have read Pat's post above first. Very cool!

Jet drive.

Pat, I looked at some of the specs on other models and they seem heavier than aluminum. Similar to fiberglass boats of the same size (Their 20' river boat with steering console weighed right at 1200#).

Most impressive thing to me was durability. But if they get soft at 90° that won't cut it around here.

How long until the Texas sun eats the plastic

There's a reason the majority of their dealers are all in the northern US (8 of 13 in Alaska), Canada and Russia. Temperatures don't get above low 70's most summers based on my 8+ years living in Alaska.

Sent them a message and already got an email.


Carrie Pearce <Carrie@wooldridgeboats.com>
Attachments
10:27 AM (3 hours ago)
to me

Hello Bob,

Thank you for your inquiry. A brochure and price sheet for the NEW Wooldridge Rogue HDPE boat is attached for your consideration.
I will have one of the guys reach out to you in the next few days. We're rolling out this boat for the first time at the Washington Sportsmen's Show this next week so please be patient as they will be very busy. We've received dozens of inquiries about the Rogue but I am flagging yours for a return call.
Best regards,
Carrie Pearce
Office Manager

1303 S 96th St.
Seattle, WA. 98108

Office: (206) 722-8998

carrie@wooldridgeboats.com

https://www.wooldridgeboats.com/

This is a copy of the email/message I sent them:

Interested especially in the ROGUE but all your boats have interesting aspects. My questions:
All models:
- upright flotation if capsized/filled with water?
- can you customize? I'm expressly interested in raised decks with storage and deck lid access similar to what is seen in modern inshore bay boats and bass boats?
- also interested in seat placement (mostly pole mount on the front deck) and the ability to mount battery trolling motors
Rogue:
- Specs such as weight, beam, build lengths, ability to have a steering console, motor HP limits on separate models.
- Also an extended front deck (down here in the South raised fishing decks is helpful on lure presentation).
- It appears that portable fuel tanks are placed forward under the small front deck, is this the desired design (weight forward as much as possible)?

Thanks for your time. I am quite impressed by hull strength, draft, and performance on your boats. Down south, especially Louisiana, but all the coastal areas there's a large niche market for specialized shallow draft aluminum boats (think brands like Havoc, Excel, and Gator Tail). I just happened to find a video on a fishing forum online --- Texas Fishing Forum. Almost 120,000 registered users.

Thanks again, you have a heckuva product I think,

Well if they will melt on a trailer when it gets hot I’ve heard enough.

I've owned lots of bass boats. I really like the current one. It's a Tracker 15' camo with a 25 hp four stroke Merc with tilt.
Motorguide, Humminbird and a Power Pole unit.

I only fish small waters now and this boat is a gas.

I caught more fish when I fished out of an aluminum flat bottom with a 40hp 'Rude.

The melting thingy is obviously a concern here in Texas.

HDPE plastics have come a long way in the past 20 years. In the oilfield, they use plastic pipe that is rated up to 180*F on the regular. And I know of at least 2 companies that are in process of testing formulas to operate at 220*F. Now this doesn't necessarily have anything to do with boats, but the chemistry and technology to make high temp plastics is there.

That question is certainly on the top of my list when I talk to them. I'll relay what they say back here.

My scooter weighed 350 lbs. I could use a comealong and my mud anchor and pull it off a dry sand bar. So was pretty fearless where I ran it. The one time I listened to the gravymaker and signed up for towboat when I got the shallow sport. Thank goodness. I tried running same path I ran with the jet. Nope. And you aren’t going to move it.

When that big turd gets stuck you are stuck for good.