Congrats on the new boat- if your experience is anything like mine, you'll never look back!
I’ve owned 5 outboard jet rigs that ranged from a mass produced 1548 johnboat with a tiller 30/40jet to a full custom hard bottomed 1866 center console with a 115/80jet - The boats in between those were a 1662 side consol 60/45, a 1760 center console and a 1660 stick steer. From packaged mass produced hulls to full custom sleds I learned a lot the last 19 years from success and failure and took a strong "field" approach to leaning all I could on the subject. Dozens of artcles published, some vieo and dvd work on OBJ's and man did I ever give Kevin a River Pro a hard time!!! Epic battles between the OBJ and IBJ. Here's where I say; "Kevin, I was WRONG!"
I was working on plans for a 19’ custom inboard for nearly a year- When I say plans, I mean I had plans for the hull shape, new jigs and going from scratch. I had a small custom boat shop in my area set up and due to conditions that were out of my hands it fell through. So last year around this time, I bought my first RiverPro. I honestly had my share of reservations going from the .190 OBJ Tank that I had and trusted to Go-Anywhere at any level to quite a different craft all together. And after the ration of crap I gave Kevin Turner over the years… I have to say the following after nearly a full year at the helm of a LoPro.
From that very first trip didn't take long to fracture my rather biased view towards inboard jets. The fracture started to mend after my first clogged intake 10 trips later LOL. But the fracture in my head became a gaping hole the more I used this boat! I ended up learning quite a bit more than I expected – despite myself.
The inboard that I slammed for years ended up being a great move for me - and even better with the RiverPro. My personality and background need "field" knowledge and 19+ years jetting and counting, I am still learning all the time.
I got in an Outboard Jet a few weeks ago to test drive it for a friend before he bought it, and I was amazed that in just one year -- I would forget how different they turn. The producer from Backwoods Angler TV sent me this quick video he took during a show we shot in October - We had very high water in the east this Fall, so finding shallow water wasn't much of an option. But here in words and on the link in voice - KT; I was wrong - what a great boat! short video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNwnhMizBog
One instance where I benefited from being wrong! You can be right most of the time, but still need to admit when you're dead wrong! To err is human; to admit it... well you know LOL :lol: