Do people with jet boats have hearing loss?

[AZQCBoater]

So a jet boat was screaming along the local lake making massive amount of noise. This boat had a massive engine chrome everything with giant head pipes. From what I can tell he had no hearing protection whatsoever. Cool boat but obnoxiously loud. So do they guys have hearing loss or what?

 

[25thmustang]

In all honesty, the boat is probably quieter sitting in front of the engine/headers than it is from around/behind. With that said, my guess is the operator isn't deaf, just enjoys the loud open header sound. Personally I like the sound of open thru-hull type exhaust on boats, but I imagine a lot don't.

 

[JimS123]

Oh look at me, I'm so cool, do you hear me now?

I'm just better than you, cause my boat is faster than yours and makes more noise.

No hearing loss, just more money than brains...

 

[MTboatguy]

Many times over my life, I have drove drag cars and when the engines moved to the back of them, the noise disappeared, I am sure it is pretty much the same in the drag/jet boats, the noise is not all that bad when you are sitting in the drivers seat.

 

[ahicks]

Jets make a lot of noise, burn a lot of gas, and don't go anywhere. Not when compared to that same boat and engine with a prop under it anyway...

Dry headers are insanely loud. Inject some water and the noise is reduced considerably.

Add a "Jetovater" for an even bigger show/more attention.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Jets have their place, especially if your going fast. many of the big-block powered jets will easily do 100mph plus. at that speed, you dont hear the motor, only the wind and your heart beat. you do hear your heart beat.

Many of the purpose built jet boats will go places that no prop could ever think of going, and they will turn within their own length if needed.

http://www.ussbaracing.com/

those with big motors and blowers are usually someones pride and joy and they probably have about 70K in the motor and pump alone.

 

[AZQCBoater]

Thank you for the reply.

He was even loud in the no wake zone Reving the motor getting. Attention. Reminds of of the Harley motor cycle riders reving their motor at a stop light.

 

[MTboatguy]

Thank you for the reply.

He was even loud in the no wake zone Reving the motor getting. Attention. Reminds of of the Harley motor cycle riders reving their motor at a stop light.

You want to have fun, Visit Glacier National Park in the summer the Harley's vibrating off the walls of the canyons is amazing, you can hear them coming for miles!

 

[ahicks]

You want to have fun, Visit Glacier National Park in the summer the Harley's vibrating off the walls of the canyons is amazing, you can hear them coming for miles!

That's not fun.

 

[ahicks]

Jets have their place, especially if your going fast. many of the big-block powered jets will easily do 100mph plus. at that speed, you dont hear the motor, only the wind and your heart beat. you do hear your heart beat.

Many of the purpose built jet boats will go places that no prop could ever think of going, and they will turn within their own length if needed.

http://www.ussbaracing.com/

those with big motors and blowers are usually someones pride and joy and they probably have about 70K in the motor and pump alone.

Not in my experience. That kind of speed takes some pretty special power driving pretty special pumps. Most big block noise makers will struggle cracking 70mph (most are closer to 60-65mph), even though they SOUND like they're going much faster. They are total dogs from an efficiency standpoint. Then there's the issue of finding smooth enough water. Any chop of more than just a few inches will cause the pump to suck air - causing the engine to unload just like a cavitating prop. Use in shallow water can wipe that close tolerance pump out in minutes due to the amount of sand abrading the impeller and wear ring.....knocking speeds down even further! There are darn good reasons you don't see them used much any more.....

 

[MTboatguy]

That's not fun.

Exactly!

 

[GA_Boater]

I wish you guys would type LOUDER :rofl:

 

[Tassie 1]

Not in my experience. That kind of speed takes some pretty special power driving pretty special pumps. Most big block noise makers will struggle cracking 70mph (most are closer to 60-65mph), even though they SOUND like they're going much faster. They are total dogs from an efficiency standpoint. Then there's the issue of finding smooth enough water. Any chop of more than just a few inches will cause the pump to suck air - causing the engine to unload just like a cavitating prop. Use in shallow water can wipe that close tolerance pump out in minutes due to the amount of sand abrading the impeller and wear ring.....knocking speeds down even further! There are darn good reasons you don't see them used much any more.....

Both of my sons work in marine aquaculture locally,
a variety of 12 mt plate work boats,
inboard, outboards, petrol and diesel,

one is a diesel jet boat...425 hp,
my younger son drives it,
The boats are used in coastal waters up to around 50 kts, when operations stop,
l went for a tour of the 'farm' yesterday ( sunday ) in it,
cruised out at 15 kts wot is 29 kts
louder than my 10 mt fb cruiser with 5.7 mercruiser twins at same speed,

Work boat rides much better in bumpy conditions though as its so much heavier at over 13 T compared to my 5.5- 6,

Even though it is a single literally turns on a sixpence,

ALL the other workers want to use it because it's easier to get around the farm because of the jet,

it can drive over all the lines etc etc where the other boats have to go the long way round due to props,

 

[AZQCBoater]

Not the exact boat but an example what I saw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k4BMiGshfN8

 

[MTboatguy]

Not the exact boat but an example what I saw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k4BMiGshfN8

Those boats are built for one thing and one thing only, to get others attention and that one was not very loud and it was not very fast.

 

[ahicks]

If you'll notice, that boat had a noticeable amount of steam coming from the exhaust. It was running "wet" headers. That water reduces the noise level a ton, maybe half of the level dry headers run. It also featured a "jetovator" which squirts water up at an angle from the pump in an attempt to get the nose of the boat up. Much like trimming an I/O "up", but much less effective, making them all for show.....

 

[Sprig]

In answer to your question yes those loud motors will affect hearing. The magic number is 85 decibels. Anything above 85 decibels will affect long term hearing. Exposure to loud noise above 85 decibels causes hearing damage and it is cumulative. A jet boat with the big v8 and whether running wet stacks or dry stacks will put out way more than 85 decibels. An example of cumulative hearing loss is people who in their youth attended a lot of rock concerts and listened to their music loud. When they get to middle age the word you hear them say most often is “what”. Since their hearing is damaged they are always asking what, what did you say. I speak from experience.

 

[JimS123]

I believe - not 100% sure - that in my state open headers are required to be water injected. The sheer number of ALL motorized toys that have loud exhaust shows that there's a pretty large group of people who like the noise.

That large group accounts to the people that own them, and want to show off how much money they have. In my State there is a law that restricts boat engine noise to so many decibels. (I forget what the number is)

If a young family is traveling down the canal in a little boat with their little children, and they exceed the speed limit by 1 mph, or their wake is 1 inch above wake speed, the marine patrol will pull them over.

If a half million dollar gofast is in the same area, making sickening noise, they will be ignored, even if their wake is more than the aforementioned 1 inch.

Sad story.

 

[ahicks]

Also speaking from experience, anyone spending much time around the type boats we're talking about, or any other hot rod toy (bikes, sleds, air planes, cars, whatever), doesn't need to have attended many rock concerts to have that same "what?" issue. Myself, one ear gave up the ghost totally, so no more stereo here, and no more ability to have a clue about what direction a sound is coming from (particularly frustrating when it comes to locating an annoying rattle!).

 

[Faztbullet]

Not in my experience. That kind of speed takes some pretty special power driving pretty special pumps. Most big block noise makers will struggle cracking 70mph (most are closer to 60-65mph), even though they SOUND like they're going much faster. They are total dogs from an efficiency standpoint​

I ran a 16ft Texas tunnel with a lil BB around 500ci, (2) 1150 Holleys, C cut impeller, T2x tunnel ram intake..ran easy 100MPH in 1/4 mile