1994 20 FT. 40 HP Bass Tracker on Missississippi

stevehendo34

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
92
Anyone know about rivers?
Is 20 FT. 40 HP Bass Tracker on Missississippi safe for use?
Is that enough power?
Looking to buy one.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
47,499
The Mississippi is too thick to drink, and too thin to plow. It usually doesn't move very fast, so I think you will be fine
 

Illinoid

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Messages
137
My old 24 with small logs occasionally takes a wave over the bow from a large pleasure boat or wake board boat on the upper Illinois. Barge tows in this area go pretty slow and are only half the size of further down river because the locks are close together. I avoid areas where there tend to be a lot of speeding big boats. There are lots of hazards to navigation outside the channel. 40 hp should be plenty to outrun the current. I try to hit wakes of other boats at a 45 and find I really must be alert all the time while underway. A bigger motor would get you back to the ramp if a sudden storm pops up but you will still wait in line for the faster boats.
 

Cat nip

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 25, 2015
Messages
288
Its plenty of boat and motor.....if you use your head AND common sense.
 
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