I am picking up a new boat in Lewiston, I am from Seattle, where would be the best place to test run the boat for an hour or so before I head back to the coast? The Snake or Clearwater, what area? Thanks for the help.

Doubletake

Doubletake, Definately the Snake River. Big water no worries. Just watch for the occasional floating log. You can run upriver or downriver for a long ways and you won't bother a soul. The clearwater is now open for a quick salmon season and I'm sure you might get some nasty looks if you are just joyriding up and down the river, hehe. Oh, I assume your talking about a jet boat or similar and not a drift boat.

Good luck with the new boat and have fun!

Duke

Duke's right: With sometimes heavy concentration of salmon fishermen on the Clearwater, the Snake would be the better place to take your boat for an inaugural spin.
As for what section of river, that depends on what kind of water you want to experience. If you're just looking to do a few turns, you can use one of the many ramps in Lewiston (or Clarkston). Slackwater on the Snake stretches from the much-maligned Lower Granite Dam to Asotin, which is about eight south of Lewiston-Clarkston. If you're looking to do some actual river running, you can trailer down into the beginnings of Hells Canyon -- to Couse Creek, about 10 miles south of Asotin, or Heller Bar, some 15 miles farther. The Snake is at typical spring-runoff levels, consistently above 50,000 cfs, so you don't have to concern yourself so much with channels and/or obstacles.
So what'd you lay out for? A Custom Weld? Thunder Jet? Duckworth? It's amazing that a community this size contains so many boat manufacturers, and quality ones at that.

DOUBLETAKE A EASY SPOT TO LAUNCH IS AT LYONS FERRY IF THATS NOT TOO FAR OUT OF YOUR WAY YOU CAN PUT IN AT THE STATE PARK OR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER IS A SMALL RESORT WITH GAS AND TACKLE!!!!!!!!!!!HAVE FUN WITH THE NEW SLED AND DONT FORGET A PFD(PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE)

Thank you gentlemen for your time!! It is a 19' Thunderjet. Take care gentlemen and remember, "JESUS IS LORD!"

Doubletake