Cruising boat for Willamette between Eugene and Salem?

[Starslinger]

Hey all. I don't actually fish but I'm interested in buying a boat to cruise the Willamette River and perhaps other rivers. Is anyone familiar with this stretch of the Willamette? I'm not really into kayaking or canoeing, but I think a small boat would be fun for exploring; something different from my usual hiking and mountain biking. I have heard that the river gets shallow in certain places at certain times of the year. I have never even been on the Willamette and I was unable to locate a group to float with this past summer. I have never owned a boat and I have only driven boats briefly on lakes. I have ridden jet skis a few times, and my first thought was actually to buy a jet ski, but I've heard that jet skis will suck rocks and sand off the bottom up to six feet deep, so a river with shallow areas worries me. And a jet ski might irritate kayakers and fishermen, right?

I am researching jon boats, simple V-hull aluminum boats, and small used boats such as the Boston Whaler 13 foot. I love the idea of the Whaler, because I could maybe even cruise the coast around Newport? I have a modest budget for a boat, between 5k and 10k. If anyone has experiences and advice they'd like to share, I'd appreciate it!

Read More

 

[Quirt Evans]

Whalers, no matter the size/style have always been a good boat that holds its value well.
Their hull shape means they take a bit more power to go the same speed as the more typical V-bottom boats, but they have better stability.
When you're fishing their hulls don't transmit as much noise into the water as aluminum boats do.

 

[Rem700..300]

We have started exploring the Willamette on our jet ski. Runs fine so far but kept the water depth above knee deep. Not worried about sucking rocks but the gel coat. We have been going from Bueana Vista to Albany. Just have to watch for big rocks in places. Like everything else, you learn the lines on where to go.
Had a North River Commander and that thing would run 8 inches of water as long as you kept it going. A lot of fun but thirsty.

 

[arakboss]

Drift boat

 

[Starslinger]

We have started exploring the Willamette on our jet ski. Runs fine so far but kept the water depth above knee deep. Not worried about sucking rocks but the gel coat. We have been going from Bueana Vista to Albany. Just have to watch for big rocks in places. Like everything else, you learn the lines on where to go.
Had a North River Commander and that thing would run 8 inches of water as long as you kept it going. A lot of fun but thirsty.

I would love to hear more about this. Are there places where you have to stop and turn around or can you run the entire river on a jet ski if you stick to the main channel?

 

[Duneblaster]

 

[mbenz007]

North River. Pay once, cry once. North River is the best all around Pacific Northwest boat you can buy. It will take you anywhere you want to go. That is my experience.

 

[cowboykid8]

You have a few requirements that point to completely different types of boats. Low water boats like Jon boats, aren't great in waves or choppy water. They also tend to be a rough ride in general. you can get a smaller aluminium boat with a v hull that will cut through waves better, but will sit in the water a bit lower. Newport Marina rents similar boats for crabbing. Scappoose bay marina rents Kayaks and has a lot of areas in the nearby bay to explore.

Fiberglass boats aren't great for low water where you may hit something. Aluminium will bend, but Fiberglass breaks and punctures. They are more comfortable, be careful as it is wet in Oregon and these boats can have their stringers rot from being left out in the weather.

I don't know that you can buy once cry once with a boat if you don't know what you want to do currently and in the future. Try and get a really good deal, or find people to go out with before you buy.

 

[Member 24198]

I came to the conclusion that it's cheaper to pay $250/seat plus tip for fishing than it is to buy a $50k boat, then pay for storage and maintenance.

 

[DirectDrive]

Hey all. I don't actually fish but I'm interested in buying a boat to cruise the Willamette River and perhaps other rivers. Is anyone familiar with this stretch of the Willamette? I'm not really into kayaking or canoeing, but I think a small boat would be fun for exploring; something different from my usual hiking and mountain biking. I have heard that the river gets shallow in certain places at certain times of the year. I have never even been on the Willamette and I was unable to locate a group to float with this past summer. I have never owned a boat and I have only driven boats briefly on lakes. I have ridden jet skis a few times, and my first thought was actually to buy a jet ski, but I've heard that jet skis will suck rocks and sand off the bottom up to six feet deep, so a river with shallow areas worries me. And a jet ski might irritate kayakers and fishermen, right?

I am researching jon boats, simple V-hull aluminum boats, and small used boats such as the Boston Whaler 13 foot. I love the idea of the Whaler, because I could maybe even cruise the coast around Newport? I have a modest budget for a boat, between 5k and 10k. If anyone has experiences and advice they'd like to share, I'd appreciate it!

You're looking for a boat that may not exist within your budget.

However, for this section of the Willamette, my first thought would be a heavy gauge, welded, flat bottom aluminum hull with jet drive outboard.
Alumaweld or Koffler which would blow your budget.
That's the type of power boat that would survive in that reach of the Willamette.

It will not teach you how to read water.
That knowledge comes with experience.

 

[PiratePast40]

From my experience on the Willamette around Salem, it's probably best to have a jet drive engine unless you are OK with one of the magic props that finds every single rock in the river!.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I don't do the type of "cruising" you are talking about so can't provide any advice. I have however been playing on boats on rivers and shallow lakes for decades. Have went through many, many boats before finding the right inflatable. For me inflatables with outboards are the way to go. I can drift in a few inches of water no problem. Previous owner used it for scuba diving in the ocean. Very versatile, stable, and will go anywhere which is probably why rescue and military use them.

 

[nwslopoke]

I came to the conclusion that it's cheaper to pay $250/seat plus tip for fishing than it is to buy a $50k boat, then pay for storage and maintenance.

But, will they let you drive?

 

[Member 24198]

But, will they let you drive?

Why would I do that when I can pay them to touch my bait?

 

[cowboykid8]

I don't do the type of "cruising" you are talking about so can't provide any advice. I have however been playing on boats on rivers and shallow rivers for decades. Have went through many, many boats before finding the right inflatable. For me inflatables with outboards are the way to go. I can drift in a few inches of water no problem. Previous owner used it for scuba diving in the ocean. Very versatile, stable, and will go anywhere which is probably why rescue and military use them.

I don't have any experience with the good inflatables, but everyone I have talked to who has likes them a lot. They are very versatile!

 

[Certaindeaf]

Buy once cry all the time!
And don't look back because horns!

 

[Duneblaster]

Why would I do that when I can pay them to touch my bait?

 

[NeoBlackdog]

That knowledge comes with experience.

And sometimes experience can be very costly.
For what you're talking about doing I think the jet ski's would be the way to go.

 

[kmk1012]

From my experience on the Willamette around Salem, it's probably best to have a jet drive engine unless you are OK with one of the magic props that finds every single rock in the river!.

I had a semi tunnel jon boat that would run in under 12"s of water, couldn't find a way up river from Salem near the Eola Inn before. River currents change seasonally and we found ourselves almost stuck on a gravel bar. Only water deep enough was running under the tree cover along the edge, didn't want to get up river that bad.

 

[Starslinger]

I had a semi tunnel jon boat that would run in under 12"s of water, couldn't find a way up river from Salem near the Eola Inn before. River currents change seasonally and we found ourselves almost stuck on a gravel bar. Only water deep enough was running under the tree cover along the edge, didn't want to get up river that bad.

Wow, that is really saying something. Of all the choices I would've thought a Jon boat would be the least likely to get stuck. I guess you just can't count on any particular stretch of river being navigable all the time. Tell me, how was the Jon boat for most of your time on the river? Does that stretch of river between Eugene and Salem get too choppy for a Jon boat at times? One thing I really want to avoid is tipping over, losing my boat, losing my gear and having to swim for shore (even though I am strong swimmer, i'm getting kind of old at age 53).