I've personally been on one of the shuttle boats that goes to beatty portage and back to crane lake and it looks like they can clear 3-4 feet through the shallows with the prop up??? I don't want to sound dumb as I don't drive boats, only ride on them, so I'm not sure what you're boat could get through. One things for sure, I saw two canoes almost get sideswipped by the boat we were riding, so it pays to take it easy and relax while going up or down that river, at least i'd be taking it easy!! :) Are you going all the way up river to the "rapids" befor the loon falls portage??? If you are not, then you should have no problem going up river a ways from little vermillion. Just my two cents as we are going up the loon on a shuttle on Aug 8 to Loon lake and east.