I have a 20' Monark flat bottom that I use for fishing the shallows and creeks in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Monark now has a 90hp Mercury with a jet foot on it. Prior to that, I had a 50hp Evinrude with a prop. I was a long way from the boat ramp in it when a storm started approaching. I decided to call it and head to the ramp when the shear pin on the prop snapped (I probably hit bottom with the prop). I usually carry spares in my tackle box, but didn't have one that day for some reason.
It was a long limp up river with the cold rain pelting me. I've also been trapped in creeks when the tide dropped. With the jet foot, if I can get on plane, I'm going. With a prop, not so much.
Oh, and the jet foot reduces the hp at the foot to about 65hp, but it's fantastic for running over oyster and sand bars. Just keep the grass out of the intake.
Another story with the flat bottom.......
It was super cold for a period of time (unusual for Florida) and when the gulf temp drops to a certain point, the trout begin looking for warmer water in the mouths of rivers. My dad and I packed up for a trip to the mouth of the Suwannee river to grab some of these trout and a few reds. I packed a small propane burner that I take to make coffee when needed.
We're fishing a bend in a creek near the mouth of the river when my dad sticks a big trout. The propane burner was on as we were preparing a pot of coffee. During my dad's fight with the fish, he knocks the burner over and the carpet on the bottom of the boat catches fire. I tell him we're on fire and his exact words to me were "shut up and get the net!"
We survived and he landed the trout. It was a good trip and the burn marks are still in the carpet.
