I need people's input!?!?!?!

[pekinboy05]

I have here a 18' Duracraft all welded, 60" across the bottom at the back(under the motor). I am interested in putting a yamaha 90 hp with a jet on the boat. I also was planning on putting a console with the controls on the front of the boat for weight purposes. I've been researching all about jets here online and i would like input on whether this is a good boat or not to do this with. one of my main concerns is whether or not the boat floats shallow enough to be run with a jet that's why i done a close up on the back to show the water level where it floats. Let me know what you all think!! Thanks alot

 

[ondarvr]

Re: I need people's input!?!?!?!

A jet will work fine on that hull, but if you can get a bigger motor it would be even better.

An 18' boat with 90 jet is at the very bottom of the HP range.

Actually I should ask if the 90HP is rated as a pump, or is this a 90 with a pump that's been added later, which would be 60HP as a pump.

 

[5150abf]

Re: I need people's input!?!?!?!

I was looking through a Yamaha catalog and 90 is the biggest jet you can get, it is based on the 115 engine but ya if the engine is 90 then output will be 60 to 70 or what you have now.

It looks like the boat floats pretty level now so moveing the console to the front and putting a bigger engine on it should work pretty well.

I would place the batteries last after you are done to use them as ballast if you are to bow heavy or the transom is heavy but it should work.

One thing befroe you start is to price everything, you will need new control cables ans a steering cable at least and be real carful about cutting anything out of the boat or you will end up with a floppy hull.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: I need people's input!?!?!?!

We use Yamaha jets up to 300HP here (tiller and remote), so having it listed in the catalog doesn't mean much.

All outboard jet pumps are made by Outboard Jet Co. so whether it comes stock from Yamaha or installed later, its the same unit. The difference is the HP label on the motor, if it comes from Yamaha (any manufacturer) with a jet the 30% loss in power is already factored in, if was installed later the markings on the cowl indicate prop HP.

Depending on how you fish and use the boat, putting a console near the front may, or may not be a good idea.

Jets are very load sensitive and you don't have much adjustment at the motor like you would with a prop, the trim function has little effect on how the boat rides. So if you overload the front, the bow will ride low and drag in the water no mater what you do.

With a flat hull design the jet typically needs to be mounted a little lower than on a hull with a slight "V", or it can ingest air that gets trapped under the hull.

The most popular designs here are open tiller models up to about 23?, then windshield models, with Center consoles trailing far behind.