Taking it in the river

[L8Braker]

Well, after two months of taking EVERYTHING apart, engine, transmission, starter, winch, etc. etc. Ordering and waiting for parts, researching assembly techniques, bla, bla, bla...The old pig lives! Since the entire dash was smeared off on the brush pile (including the steering tiller and transmission housing that held the tiller in place) I rebuilt it with some aluminum plate, and gave the old girl some new gauges. She's not as pretty as she once was, but now we are a matching couple. I'm old and ugly she's just ugly. hahahahaha!
Be careful! The channel is where the deep swift water dwells and dragons lie in wait..

[MikeyM]

haha! Thats the way to do it, rebuild it yourself! And make it your own! Might not be as pretty as it used to be, but Im sure it works just as good! Yea Im definitely staying out of the channel. Where im putting it in at is a huge cove, probably spans a half mile if you were to walk it. So I really dont anticipate any current, if there is its going to be very minimal. The illinois River where im at is a little different. Its got so much sludge and muck built up that the channel is really the only boatable area, all other parts are too shallow (where i'll be) Im getting my brothers go-pro tonight, hopefully I will have some good pics and or video if I am attacked by the flying carp

[MikeyM]

Well, today was interesting to say the least! Had some storms roll through last night, and today was cool and windy so the river was pretty choppy. waves at times were Id say 8 inches give or take, and had a few white caps mixed in. I was pretty confident with it cause my friend was meeting me at the slip with his boat. I pre-tied the atv with rope incase there was an issue I could just throw them to the boat. Well here was the problem, my friend showed up on a jet ski, I said wheres the boat?! He says oh this will be easier. fine, okay off I go. I did a couple test laps in the harbor to make sure all was good and off I went. Got about 20 out of the cove, and my buddy says "i'll be right back" off he went and didnt see him again until I got to the other side. I wasnt happy! haha! but it went well, paddled strong in the water and handled the waves without an issue. It was actually pretty fun getting the looks I did (theres probably only a hand full of these in my area). Ton of people were coming up taking pictures and asking for rides. Problem I had, was, even though it was paddling strong, it took me literally an hour to get to the other side of the cove from the slip which isnt far. I thought it was about a mile, but once I got there, its more like a half mile, I was going about the pace of someone dog paddling hahaha! It was a good time, but not something Im eager to do again. not because of the waves or anything, but mainly because of the flying fish we have here. I got smacked quite a few times, once right across the face which costed me a pair of sunglasses. Unfortunately though, no video. I gave my friend the go-pro and before he got any footage, he took off. Oh well!

[Model Citizen]

[MikeyM]

haha right! Wish I had a video, I had my iphone in a marine box and in a plastic bag, but with the waves,and beings I was already smack with a fish, I didnt want to have the phone end up in the river with my sunglasses. I'll try to find a video of these fish for everyone to see. they are unreal!

[MikeyM]

Okay I know i keep mentioning these "flying fish" aka asian carp. For those of you who havent seen them before, here is a video of the "Peoria Carp Hunters" these guys are hilarious! The fish arent always this bad all the time thankfully enough. but the main problem is, is when they arent bad, you tend to forget about them, until a lone fish comes up and smacks ya! Its turned into more of a sport catching them here. Next weekend, theres whats called the redneck fishing tournament south of me. pretty much everyone gets there boats, and nets and sees who can catch the most. Then they just bury the fish because they arent good to eat. enjoy!

[wjs0311]

Okay I know i keep mentioning these "flying fish" aka asian carp. For those of you who havent seen them before, here is a video of the "Peoria Carp Hunters" these guys are hilarious! The fish arent always this bad all the time thankfully enough. but the main problem is, is when they arent bad, you tend to forget about them, until a lone fish comes up and smacks ya! Its turned into more of a sport catching them here. Next weekend, theres whats called the redneck fishing tournament south of me. pretty much everyone gets there boats, and nets and sees who can catch the most. Then they just bury the fish because they arent good to eat. enjoy!

Where do I sign up?! I think I'll make a trip to Peoria this year just for the flying fish.

[Noel Woods]

I can personally testify to several close calls of nearly swamping the machine (mine) and seeing others actually swamp and occasionally sink an amphib. Any moving current in water more than a foot deep may take you for a surprising, round and round, mad ride. The last time it happened to me was actually crossing a small creek and once the current took the machine all I could do was to hold on and to fend off low lying limbs. After about a mile of near disaster I found a bend in the creek and was able to power out. It was good that I did because beyond the bend was a dam that water was raging over.

Point is, watch what you are doing and know the area and your machine. The creek I had the close call on was once I had crossed many times over the years but this particular time it had more flow than I thought it had, and it ended up being a near disaster.

[foxvalley]

I can personally testify to several close calls of nearly swamping the machine (mine) and seeing others actually swamp and occasionally sink an amphib. Any moving current in water more than a foot deep may take you for a surprising, round and round, mad ride. The last time it happened to me was actually crossing a small creek and once the current took the machine all I could do was to hold on and to fend off low lying limbs. After about a mile of near disaster I found a bend in the creek and was able to power out. It was good that I did because beyond the bend was a dam that water was raging over.

Point is, watch what you are doing and know the area and your machine. The creek I had the close call on was once I had crossed many times over the years but this particular time it had more flow than I thought it had, and it ended up being a near disaster.

Noel, I believe I was with you on one of those close calls!!
Moving water,or currant is a very bad place to be,especially floating, as you loose all control of the unit,and it is very easy for water to come over the top if you are sideways to the currant, and hit bottom, or shore,which will stop the unit,allowing water over the top,and sinking the unit.Even in a small creek with fast currant you will be out of control, and at the mercy of the currant.

[Noel Woods]

Noel, I believe I was with you on one of those close calls!!
Moving water,or currant is a very bad place to be,especially floating, as you loose all control of the unit,and it is very easy for water to come over the top if you are sideways to the currant, and hit bottom, or shore,which will stop the unit,allowing water over the top,and sinking the unit.Even in a small creek with fast currant you will be out of control, and at the mercy of the currant.

Yes indeed. I didn't mention anyone's name to protect the innocent as well as the guilty.