Jet boats?

[mtduckhunter]

anyone own a jet boat? like the ones with 454s and 460s?

i been looking at them on ebay and would love to have one.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Jet boats?

jets, loose 30-40% of their horse power rating in power train between the engine and pump out put. so you are spending 100% gas for a hp rated motor, but it is only putting out 60-70%, compared to a propeller boat. not the thing to have at todays gas prices.

yamaha, makes the best rated jet, but still looses HP.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Jet boats?

You won't have any problem finding a deal on them. As T-daddy said their fuel mileage is their main problem....terrible. My friend's family has a welded aluminum jet with a 300+hp/350 (not even the big block stuff) and they have almost stopped using it altogether because everytime they look at it, it seems to transform into a fuel dock and an empty wallet. (probably well over $1/minute to run it at any fun speed...maybe $1.50 at upper speed...so whats a days boating cost?)
I'm surprised they aren't a little faster for what their hp ratings are...a lot of light high horse prop boats are quicker, although not in shallow water.
If you are considering loosely consider a summers fuel cost vs. usage and make sure you are happy with the $ number. A lot of people seem surprised when their fuel bills are 3x their boat payment...they didn't anticipate that element.
Good luck.
BP

 

[10 FOOT INVADER]

Re: Jet boats?

Even if you did not care about the fuel costs, Think about the medical costs. We had a 74 sanger jet with a 460 that would beat you to death. After riding a hour or 2 the sorness would set in.

 

[mtduckhunter]

Re: Jet boats?

i not buying one for sure, i just thought they look bad @#%. i did see a drag boat that i think had a prop. would this be better on gas?

i would love to show up at the lake and fly by everyone!

and with open headers, they gota be loud huh?

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Jet boats?

From what I understand they are also difficult to dock, as they do not have any form of underwater guidance other than the jet populsion which does little at low speed.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Jet boats?

Forget it...what a pain-in-the-#!2...bought one last year 454 B.B. 17' Jacuzzi jet, 2 bucket seats + a always empty gas tank.got it up to 70mph before it got to squirrely, loud..yea ,totally uncontrollable at slow speed. What a piece of junk ! took out the motor (olds) gave the hull to the junk yard.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Jet boats?

I have a jet boat, although not the type you're asking about so my post may not be relevant. My boat doesn't seem to use more fuel than regular I/Os, but I don't really know for sure. I average about 4 gallons per hour but I don't really keep track. It is harder to control while docking until you get the hang of it, then I don't really think it's any different than any other I/O; I don't have any problems. The only thing I sometimes don't like about my setup is the through transom exhaust. I like the muscle car sound most of the time but sometimes I wish it would be quiet! The list of what I like about it includes:
1) Nothing hangs below the keel / can be torn off and running aground is next to impossible. I can run (slowly) in less than 2' of water
2) My drive never has to be removed or drained and there are no u-joints, gimble bearings, cooling impellers, trim cylinders/pumps, transmissions or gears
3) The only regular service necessary is greasing the driveshaft bearing which has 2 grease zerks and does not require any disassembly
4) People can climb in and out whether or not the engine is running (and hang out anywhere behind the boat) as there is nothing moving or sharp back there
5) I can turn on a dime
6) I don't have to trim anything, run hydrofoils or smart tabs as the boat always planes flat
7) I can go from Forward to Reverse or vice-versa with no pause and as fast as I can move the lever with no risk of damage
8) I can pop up on plane nearly instantaneously and have a high top end (instead of or).

 

[mtduckhunter]

Re: Jet boats?

i would like to try one out for myself. i like fast boats. and would want it LOUD!!

 

[QC]

Re: Jet boats?

They used to be very popular here. Some are very fast. The question of why they are not faster is the same as the question about fuel. Earlier units (pumps) are less efficient. With all of the money spent on optimizing PWCs etc. pump efficiency has improved and so have boat bottoms, but those are the pumps used with the smaller displacement engines and the same reason that the bigger production boat examples are twins.

If I were looking for one I would search Southern CA, AZ and Nevada. At one time they were all used on shallower parts of the Colorado river and you can still buy them new. I have driven a couple of them and they can be a flippin' blast . . . but, like a PWC, if you chicken out in a turn and back out of the throttle, you are seriously screwed They immediately go straight and won't stop going straight until you punch it. Many come with a rudder attachment which definitely helps with low speed steerage. Can be added to all of the Berkley, American Turbine and Jacuzzi type pumps.

I came very close to buying a jet in the mid-90s. We were in love with a section of the river that ate waaaaaaaay too many props, but I ended up buying another I/O and I haven't been on that part of the Colorado since I have seriously considered the newer Yamaha's as the other section of the river that I am afraid of right now is the downstream entrance to the Grand Canyon. Pretty strong motivator, and any knucklehead who has one and hasn't been in there deserves a serious whack upside the head. Nothing better than powering in while river rafters float out

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Jet boats?

Jets are a GAS!. 70's anyway...soak the guy ya just blew off with a little "Jetovater"
Old days Illinois "Chain"..just too much fun. 23 footer, and 19, both 460's.
WHAT A PUNCH!!! Torque monsters.
Buy it..(if ya buy a boat to save gas..?..well..)
And nothing like hitting "revese at speed"...only boat made with "BRAKES!". Spit ya out the front if not paying attention and hanging on when the crazy driver was in the "mood".
Nothing to break!...just a turned down, directed foward nozzle...
I'd buy one (460 wet SK type OTTE) in a heartbeat, but only fresh water...
I'm salt...rough on parts ..don't get a Flat Bottom though..beat the hell out ya...have a OB 15 footer Flatty..135 TOP...to much fun...back says ("dumb..)
But the grin is for ever..(even though I can't bend over for 5 days after.."having fun..)...but thats what getting "wet" is all about...