Are jet outboards manuverable?

[Trapper]

I am looking to purchase a small row boat or pram and have concidered a four stroke jet ourboard for power. I would like the shallow draft for waterfoul hunting and river fishing. I would like to know how the jet functions on other uses such as trolling, backin up, and slow opperation manuverability. Please let me know what your experiences with jet ourboards has been.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Are jet outboards manuverable?

I run a jet on an aluminum boat made for use with an outboard jet...truth be told they take a little getting used to for they tend to slide in turns and have a little trouble manuvering at slow speeds. Will not work well on a flat bottomed boat, but with a little keel should be just fine. As long as you some vee on the bottom and maybe a keel you should be just fine. Keep in mind that you will need about 30% more power to equal that of a prop...just a Thought

 

[DP]

Re: Are jet outboards manuverable?

I have run and sold a lot of jet boats. I agree with Though101, they take getting used to and work best on a hull with a slight V. They will work on a flat bottom as that was all there was back in the 60s when all of this started. I sold a lot of flat bottom Smoker Crafts with outboard jets in the late 70s and early 80s and they worked great. Then someone tried it on a hull with a V and it worked better.

 

[Walter]

Re: Are jet outboards manuverable?

The lower unit on a prop driven outboard acts as a rudder and even in neutral you can still steer the boat (to some degree anyway). With a jet drive outboard you can only steer the boat when under power. Controlling the boat in tight situations (docking, trailering etc.) is a whole new ball game. There are advantages to jets but you sacrifice not only performance as Thought101 describes...but you'll burn considerably more fuel as well. There have been some significant jet pump improvements in the past few years. What you choose should depend on the type of boating you wish to do.