Those guys are correct, take it to a lake and try some manuevers with it. You will be suprized how unresponsive the boat will feel at times with the pump on, especially if you are used to running a prop boat. I used to change from jet to prop in my Alumaweld, and whenever I would put the jet back on in the fall, the boat would feel like a slug for a while.
After you have taken some time in the lake, then you can move on to a deeper river with current and find out how you can use the rivers current to your advantage at times. One thing to do is to pull up to a bar from the downstream side and get out of your boat and feel how strong that current can be when you try to pull your boat against it. If you were to get in trouble on the upstream side of such a bar, you can't imagine the power of WATER, just ask a person that has ever seen a driftboat or a sled lost under a sweeper.
Another smart thing to do, is to read some of the posts on this site and others about boaters etiquette. Do a search on just this thing on the Wynoochee last year, give the guys on the bank, and in the driftboats a break, as well as others in sleds.
Just a few months ago, I was on the lower Cowlitz at the launch with the rest of the "Guides" for the sun to rise enough to get up river. Well in the dark, one sled decided to give it a try, all the rest of us heard the guy hit the large rock in the middle of the river and saw him back down and anchor until light. When it got light, it was like a bass tournament with all the big guide sleds taking off to get prime water. Well one fisherman takes off and isn't paying attention, he hits the rock at full throttle and his partner and Black Lab bounce off the side of the sled and into the water. Luckily, his sled slides off the rock and he was able to grab his buddy and the lab half crawls into the boat while half of him is out of the boat. To make a long story longer.....(Sorry).....it is very easy to make a mistake in these things and just be very careful. (I too have ended up with 18 feet of boat on the bank of the Satsop!)

Have fun,

Steve Ng....The FishNg1
99 F-350 Powerstroke 4x4 , 18ft Alumaweld Formula Vee Sled, 115 Yamaha.

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 11-29-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Ng (edited 11-29-2000).]