[MNichols]

Got a good starter boat for ya Charlie, trailer and 55 hp motor. And it's a real zodiac.. Gonna need to put in some sweat equity though.

 

[MNichols]

From my first

sport boat trip..

I'm the one on the right. in the above photo

Motors galore

 

[BGillespie]

Grand Canyon

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Here’s a dumb question. Do you snout guys have to get lucky with a lottery like normal people or is there some kind of better odds since you own a snout? I mean you have so much invested and it seems like it’s hard to draw a permit at least I’ve never drawn one? Seems like a lot of money to maybe not be able to go? Maybe there is a secret society of snout guys that wear robes and do weird shite then get to go with each other’s permits? Gotta get one lol!

 

[MNichols]

Here’s a dumb question. Do you snout guys have to get lucky with a lottery like normal people or is there some kind of better odds since you own a snout? I mean you have so much invested and it seems like it’s hard to draw a permit at least I’ve never drawn one? Seems like a lot of money to maybe not be able to go? Maybe there is a secret society of snout guys that wear robes and do weird shite then get to go with each other’s permits? Gotta get one lol!

Nope, the bean counters don't care what you own Charlie, Yes, it's hard to get a permit these days since Wreck.gov made a total mess of the system, and IF I were to tell you about the secret snout society, I'd have to kill ya..

 

[Big Wave]

Last I checked “Wreck.gov” isn’t running the Grand Canyon lottery. But yes the rivers these boats are suitable for are few. So lots of them may not get out of the stable very often.
There is a guy in GJ that has a sweet S-Rig and has probably 30 + people applying for GC permits He seems to get it out every year.

 

[BenSlaughter]

Would be sweet for mid-high water Main Salmon...

 

[Big Wave]

I guess motors are allowed up there. How often do you see them?

 

[BenSlaughter]

Pretty rare on private trips, although my first trip, we had one. If you were in a hustle, it would make life easier.
Occasionally on a commercial trip. Then, of course, all the jet boats...

 

[MNichols]

Last I checked “Wreck.gov” isn’t running the Grand Canyon lottery. But yes the rivers these boats are suitable for are few. So lots of them may not get out of the stable very often.
There is a guy in GJ that has a sweet S-Rig and has probably 30 + people applying for GC permits He seems to get it out every year.

Naah, there's lotsa places, problem is usually you cant get a permit for a 300 mile trip like in westwater, deso, or hells ,and then there needs to be water in the river, these boats have those little twirly things that stick down from the boat a foot, and they don't like rocks... And they are Very Expensive when you do kiss a rock...

 

[Big Wave]

Naah, there's lotsa places, problem is usually you cant get a permit for a 300 mile trip like in westwater, deso, or hells ,and then there needs to be water in the river, these boats have those little twirly things that stick down from the boat a foot, and they don't like rocks... And they are Very Expensive when you do kiss a rock...

Charlie a better solution at least for me is to rent a S-Rig or Snout from Cieba rather than own one. I don’t think I would feel comfortable renting one now with the low flows the Grand Canyon has been having. The last full season I worked down there they were releasing steady 8,000 I did fine but I was at the top of my game back then. I wouldn’t want to buy a new “twirly thing“ for Scotty Davis.
Oh by the way he wants to know you have experience with a “twirly thing” before he will rent it to you.

 

[tBatt]

 

[Pinchecharlie]

I got a itty bity twirly thing on my raft and I’ve done one entire trip with it on deso lol. But I’d like to trade in the 4hp for 60 lol! Be terrible to flip one !!! But awesome to have all the comforts!

 

[Big Wave]

Picture #1. Your just displaying your motors or storing them. You don’t haul them into Deso that way right? Or shut my mouth again to the guy who wanted to haul his motor on his transom. Nice looking stable. I guess that’s what we should call horse power.

 

[wack]

Almost 5 years ago now, but getting towed on a Paco through Deso was fun after a few beverages.

 

[tBatt]

Picture #1. Your just displaying your motors or storing them. You don’t haul them into Deso that way right? Or shut my mouth again to the guy who wanted to haul his motor on his transom. Nice looking stable. I guess that’s what we should call horse power.

Somehow ended up with too many motors. Some say I was bored. Definitely didn’t run them like that.
20 for Cat.
5 for Westwater.
Not sure what I’d take down Deso. Depends on the flow and number of boats I guess.

I think going from 5hp to 20hp I’ve gained 2 mph on the double wide and burn 2x the fuel.

I essentially ran at 1-2 mph faster than the current but it was easier to eddy out and make the ferry/safety at the Cat takeout with the bigger motor.

End of the day I should have just bought a 9.8 and had one motor.

The Tohatsu/Merc/Nissan 9.8 is a smaller displacement twin cylinder nearly identical to the 9.9. I think the 9.9 is 112 lbs and the 9.8 is 89? Only river I know of limiting HP is the Main Salmon, with 1 motor under 10hp for a “kicker” and somehow it doesn’t change your permit. Not sure the deal with Lower and Hells.

snout/J/S-rigs and sport boats are a weird grey area there. I’ve heard if you get a paddle permit over a motor permit, just be sure to have a set of oars and oarlocks for paddle rig compliance.

 

[Big Wave]

Somehow ended up with too many motors. Some say I was bored. Definitely didn’t run them like that.
20 for Cat.
5 for Westwater.
Not sure what I’d take down Deso. Depends on the flow and number of boats I guess.

I think going from 5hp to 20hp I’ve gained 2 mph on the double wide and burn 2x the fuel.

I essentially ran at 1-2 mph faster than the current but it was easier to eddy out and make the ferry/safety at the Cat takeout with the bigger motor.

End of the day I should have just bought a 9.8 and had one motor.

The Tohatsu/Merc/Nissan 9.8 is a smaller displacement twin cylinder nearly identical to the 9.9. I think the 9.9 is 112 lbs and the 9.8 is 89? Only river I know of limiting HP is the Main Salmon, with 1 motor under 10hp for a “kicker” and somehow it doesn’t change your permit. Not sure the deal with Lower and Hells.

snout/J/S-rigs and sport boats are a weird grey area there. I’ve heard if you get a paddle permit over a motor permit, just be sure to have a set of oars and oarlocks for paddle rig compliance.

I bought a 5 hp Tohatsu from Dave MacKay this fall. He kept pushing the 8hp but the 5 is going to be fine for me. If the stars align and Grand Canyon ever gets water again and the big if the permit. I would just rent a boat from Cieba. The last one I rented from him was pretty sweet.

 

[azpowell]

Somehow ended up with too many motors. Some say I was bored. Definitely didn’t run them like that.

I feel this, I have 4 x 30hp Tohatsu's, an 8hp Honda, and a 60hp Tohatsu.... was pretty close to pulling the trigger on a 90hp Suzuki, but it was a 25" shaft and the deal wasn't too good to pass up.
i will be ordering a 6hp Tohatsu this spring as a spare for my sport boat.

 

[tBatt]

I feel this, I have 4 x 30hp Tohatsu's, an 8hp Honda, and a 60hp Tohatsu.... was pretty close to pulling the trigger on a 90hp Suzuki, but it was a 25" shaft and the deal wasn't too good to pass up.
i will be ordering a 6hp Tohatsu this spring as a spare for my sport boat.

@BGillespie , care to chime in?

 

[stevilkenevil]

I'm in!