Best Jet Drive

[sr79]

I'm thinking of buying a used Duckworth fishing boat with a Berkeley jet drive. I know very little about different brands of jets i.e., American Turbine, Hamiliton, Berkeley and Mercury SportJet. If anyone out there is familiar with the different brands concerning maintenance and performance, please help me avoid buying something that I'll be sorry for later on. Thank you, Dennis

 

[Scott Danforth]

None of the comparisons or information of how something that was new 40-50 years ago would be relevant

You are buying used .....How was the drive maintained?

What is the wear ring diameter,? Impeller clearance?

 

[cyclops222]

Jets are always run at WOT. All used jets should be avoided.
Have you checked for parts available ? Who will do servicing & repairs ? Near by ? If the jet drive runs into shallow pebbles, clam beds, Weed areas ? REAL repairs and lots of money. Driving them in to a shared spaces is a lot of bumping pier and neighbor.
NOT a first boat.
Do not buy them.

 

[Jeff J]

I don’t recall operating the 2 jets I owned any different than I have run the props since. I ran whatever power I needed. Seldom WOT on either. Maybe more often with the prop. The jets could be a little aggravating because they didn’t sit still in “neutral”.

 

[cyclops222]

Almost funny to watch a first time jet boater trying to stop the boat at a dock.

 

[mr 88]

They are all inefficient . Bud has a outboard with two lowers, he gets 40% less fuel milage with the jet outdrive vs prop.

 

[HoosierHacker89]

the boat ramp nearest my house are all jet motors. it gets so shallow they're a must. I am the only clown fishing with a prop. I'd say majority of them are Mercury. Guys all report loving their Mercs. Local marina told me all the Jet lowers made today come from same factory regardless of brand. This I have never verified so take with a grain of salt.

 

[Jeff J]

I had mine in the early 1990s. The second one was a Force outboard mounted to an 18’ tunnel hull john boat. I loved it unless I managed to plug it up with rocks or vegetation. The tunnel let me run places I never thought possible without an airboat. I frequently hauled 4-wheelers on it during moose season.

I can’t remember now if it was a 70 or 75 HP motor but pretty much assumed the output with the jet was at least 30% lower than the number on the motor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

A Berkeley Jet will be behind 300+HP V8

Depending on which motor is in front of it, either a 351 or 460 Ford, a 455 olds, or a 454 Chev

 

[tphoyt]

I remember my buddy’s dad had a jet boat in the 80’s that had a 454 in it that had the Berkeley jet drive. I remember him having to work on it pretty often. If I recall it was something with the steering that was always giving him trouble.
It was a lot of fun. It wasn’t crazy fast but it sounded really good which made you fell like you were going crazy fast.