There are shallow places in the Columbia River...trust me, my dents are proof! HEHE. For practice...take it out on Lake Washington about 7am, all the residents will love ya! The other guy is right, pumps don't push a boat around like a prop does. Sleds have a tendancy to handle better at higher speeds, and at lower speeds they get mushy, sloppy, and more difficult. Thrust is the key. If your not careful you will become good friends with an aluminum welder, or worse you could get hurt. I elected myself to take a coast guard certification class for safety purposes, they have alot of helpful tips on boater safety and operating pump driven boats.