Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

[MI_Boat]

Hi all-

As I continue my pursuit of a nice used boat- I'm wondering how the Sea Doo and Yamaha jet boats compare to regular I/O's. There is a 20ft 2001 for sale near me. I'm guessing they are more expensive to repair/maintain than an std i/o but not totally sure. Most that I've seen like to highlight the safety factor.

 

[Philster]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

Jet boat = slow speed docking can be tricky. Jets provide directional control, and at low speeds, there ain't much.

Jet boat = take out of (salt) water after use, and rinse 'em

Yeah, t'aint no prop to worry about. If you can dry dock 'er, and have tech support in the area, then it might mike more sense, especially if you don't do your own wrenching anyway.

 

[npd4432]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

I have owned two jet boats in the past, both seadoos. Good machines, and good for skiing, tubing ect. They are expensive to run as they use alot of fuel. My 16.5' 220 HP speedster had a 40 gallon tank that you could go through in about 2 hours if pushing it hard.

 

[Sun_and_Steel77]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

My 16.5' 220 HP speedster had a 40 gallon tank that you could go through in about 2 hours if pushing it hard.

Holy Snappers! Kinda makes me reconsider my jet boat dreams!

 

[samagy16]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

I have owned two jet boats in the past, both seadoos. Good machines, and good for skiing, tubing ect. They are expensive to run as they use alot of fuel. My 16.5' 220 HP speedster had a 40 gallon tank that you could go through in about 2 hours if pushing it hard.

Almost $120 in today's gas prices in two hours??

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

Almost $120 in today's gas prices in two hours??

Unless you buy gas at the marina at $3.59 / gal of 90 Octane with No Ethanol then around $140.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

The amount of energy that is required to get a jetski/boat to move is MUCH more than a regular prop driven boat.

It just happens that they can produce MORE efficient thrust (higher rpm) then a typical propeller when they get into the higher rpms - that's why they go faster. However it also requires a lot more fuel

 

[QC]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

Do NOT make this decision based on fuel cost. I can burn 55 gallons in two hours too (I/O), but I don't run my boat like that and I really doubt any of you do either . . . I would bet that most of us would see less than $10 difference in a typical day. Not a big concern in the grand scheme of this ridiculously expensive passion.

Jets cost less to maintain than I/Os, buuuut many are twins and you need to double what costs there are for oil changes and other engine maintenance. There are almost no costs to maintain the jet pump itself.

With the above said, I would not own one unless I was boating in shallows most of the time. Some of the is due personal preferences that are more subjective than real. Despite my fuel comments, the efficiency penalty just bugs me. Some is due to stigma, some is due to loving to play with props and trim etc.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

Holy Snappers! Kinda makes me reconsider my jet boat dreams!

look up the WOT fuel consumption of a 220 hp outboard. going to be the same. 1/10 of hp per hour is a decent rule of thumb for fuel consumption.

My jetboat has a 175hp merc outboard powering it, and I get decent mileage. 30 gallon tank, which will last the entire day of mixed WOT runs, playing, tubing, cruising, idling, beach time, etc... In other words, pretty much identical to what I would get in a similar size boat with an engine capable of pushing it 55+ mph.

If I hold the throttle wide open at 55 mph, yep, its going to suck down close to 20 gallons per hour. Generally nobody actually drives like that for long though. As someone else mentioned, jets are generally more efficient at higher rpm's. I can cruise along all day at 40-45 mph, its that last 10mph that really drain the tank.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

There are almost no costs to maintain the jet pump itself.

Not true dude. Every year the pumps need to come out, get fresh grease/oil..... every couple of years it needs a new wear ring.

However if you suck up anything......expect a new prop and wear ring at the lease.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

If you look on Yamaha's website, they list the fuel consumption versus similar sized and powered I/O boats. At cruising speeds, they show the jet boats to be more fuel efficient. I am sure at wide open throttle you could burn through some fuel real quick. Also, I believe they have screens over the water intakes. The Yamaha has covers you can remove on the water and pull grass and such out of the impeller.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

Not true dude. Every year the pumps need to come out, get fresh grease/oil..... every couple of years it needs a new wear ring.

However if you suck up anything......expect a new prop and wear ring at the lease.

yep, depending on model you will get possibly pump AND stator oil. Some pumps are much better at sucking things up than others. Sportjets in particular use a stainless steel wear ring and impeller. It takes ALOT to hurt one, but obviously running through rocks is going to cause a problem. My impeller/wear ring were pulled off this spring for the first time since new, its a 2001.

 

[QC]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

OK, so either zerks or oil matches up with the two easiest parts of I/O maintenance, changing the gear oil and pumping grease into the gimbal . . . Uh, but then there's bellows, u-joints, gimbal bearings, couplers, trim, trim cylinders, alignment, gimbal rings, u-bolts, power steering and I am sure I forgot a few. I may own an I/O, but they are flipped up engineering abortions. Necessary maybe, but stupid.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

If you screw up a stainless steel pump, you have to BUY THE WHOLE THING to fix it.

Trust me, I know, my honda ski has one......and i've spent some $$ trying to fix it

 

[QC]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

But my list is if you don't screw them up . . .

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

haha,

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

We had a Sea Doo for several years and never touched a thing on it. I don't know why you would have to pull pumps or anything else if the boat is used properly.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

suck up one ice bag and off you go to get a new motor....

 

[jkust]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

When my boating mags review the newest bowrider jet boats, they absolutly rave about them. They tend to dispel some of the common sensical issues relating to jetboats of years gone by. Regardless of the practical issues above, I like the use of the interior space because the engine designs and the swim platform set up. My I/O with sport seating and two captains chairs has pretty pitiful floor space due to the huge tanning platform. I suppose having 2x the maintainance and fuel might (twin engines) make me pause. I don't necessarily care about fuel $ spent but having one bad mileage boat (my Bayliner ob bowrider) I hate having to constantly go to the gas station to fill up.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Upsides/downsides of Jet Boats

suck up one ice bag and off you go to get a new motor....

Same sad news if that bag wraps your I/O outdrive. In fact: a restriction on a jet drive pickup grate will kill your forward thrust immediately, looong before the engine will heat up. That same bag on your outdrive will go unnoticed, until your temp gauge and/or alarm gives you the bad news.

I have been riding the 'heck' out of my Polaris PWC since 2004, and have never spent a dime except for oil changes and filters. It has truely been a 'gas and go' setup!

Happy boating!