Taking it in the river

[MikeyM]

Hey all, been quite a while since I have been on here, but thought I would try to get some opinions. This weekend, here in Peoria,IL is whats called "the white trash bash". basically its at a cove on the river where all the boaters tie up for a large water party. I think I may try to get my Max over there. question is, who has taken their 6x6 in your local river? how did it do? I found a slip thats on the same side of the river, just about a mile up stream from the cove that I plan on putting in at. I also have a friend with a boat that is going to meet me there and pace me on the way to the cove incase I have an issue. I'll be far outside of the channel so I dont anticipate too much current, but my biggest concern is the asian flying carp we have here in illinois (1-2lb flying fish that are attracted to the noise vibration of engines). My preparations were, first getting registered as a boat...no big deal, done. Bilge pump, life jacket and all boater requirements, and measured the tires and rotated them evenly in size so it will swim straight (had to take two tires to the local atv dealer to have the tires flip flopped) any other suggestions? I dont plan on drinking a drop of anything but water while out on it....I figure I will be a huge target to coast guard, DNR, and police boats haha! Thanks for any input!

[MikeyM]

Oh and I do plan on having my friend record this on his GO-Pro....if I am pelted with fish, it oughta make for a pretty hilarious video for me to share.

[locolouie]

go for it , good luck and be careful, have a great time

[Twizted1]

I worry about taking mine in the river. Just not sure how it would do. Even if the river seems pretty calm. So I am facing some of the same worries. Just don't know how she'll preform?

[eddieb1965]

Been in the Illinois with my Argo Bigfoot,it was no problem pulling the current upstream and felt safe enough to cross it if I ever needed to.I dont think the carp will be a big factor as you wont be moving that fast and be hit like a boat.Going straight in the water isnt about tire circumference,it is about weight placement.If you are leaning one way or the other,you are going to travel that way,just shift your weight to get it to go straight.I dont even use my steering brakes while in the water,I just shift my weight witch ever way I want to go.You will see what I mean as soon as you get in the water.

[SlimChance]

I use my MaxIV as a fishing boat several times a month on a lake with no problems. The weight shift does help, but I also added a 45 lb thrust trolling motor to the front for added propulsion and steering.
You'll find the DNR eyeballing you alot and asking questions, but some of them have never seen a 6x6 before. It's pretty good natured conversion. Just make sure you have all the safety gear onboard.

[MikeyM]

good to know! Ive had mine in several ponds, but just nothing as big as the river. Im glad to see that eddie has had his in the river. I got mine all certified for water use. Couldnt get the "IL" tags to stick so I just went to menards and got a small piece of sheet metal, painted it tan, and fastened it to the side. Im sure DNR will come right after me, but I will be a %100 legit! cant touch me, I am a licensed "vessel" hahaha!

[L8Braker]

Had my Argo "BIGFOOT" in the White River here in Indiana... I was just going to test out my new tracks on a sand bar which had defeated me in a previous attempt... I didn't think a recent rainfall had affected the river. What a mistake that happened to be! As soon as I reached the end of the boat ramp the current took me away...There was NO WAY to steer, correct course or anything other than to hang on and hope for the best. The current washed the ARGO into a brush pile and as soon as the current caught the side of the "BIGFOOT" under she went...Two days later...
Some friends and I and a four wheel drive front end loader/backhoe recovered the remains of my favorite toy, after bobbing upside down in the river for two days. As you can imagine the carnage was severe...The only "saving grace" that day was that no-one drowned...Do as you wish, but please be aware of the dangers and of the possible costs involved...

[mudbug3]

On any still spot in a river or with the water hardly moving at all, you shouldn't have any trouble. Below is a video of my friend Scott driving his Hustler 6x6 across a spot on the Sabine river. We picked a spot where there was hardly any movement on the water.

[MikeyM]

Had my Argo "BIGFOOT" in the White River here in Indiana... I was just going to test out my new tracks on a sand bar which had defeated me in a previous attempt... I didn't think a recent rainfall had affected the river. What a mistake that happened to be! As soon as I reached the end of the boat ramp the current took me away...There was NO WAY to steer, correct course or anything other than to hang on and hope for the best. The current washed the ARGO into a brush pile and as soon as the current caught the side of the "BIGFOOT" under she went...Two days later...
Some friends and I and a four wheel drive front end loader/backhoe recovered the remains of my favorite toy, after bobbing upside down in the river for two days. As you can imagine the carnage was severe...The only "saving grace" that day was that no-one drowned...Do as you wish, but please be aware of the dangers and of the possible costs involved...

Wow what a disaster! Im glad to hear everyone survived that ordeal, sucks to hear about the argo though! pretty sure I would cry if something like that happened to my Max. I went to the "Burger Barge" (place where I am putting in at) today to scope things out. Water was smooth as glass, was really wishing I wasnt working, it would have been a perfect day! As far as the current around here goes, its not bad at all outside of the channel, barely moves. We were at flood stage about a month ago, but now, the water is so shallow, you can literally walk out to the channel. Im hoping for no issues, but as said before, I'll have a boat pacing me and will catch me if worst comes to worst

[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!