let's talk...jet boats

[pavulon]

I think I'd like a Sanger Jet but know very little about boats such as this.

[FastCarFan]

I have seen those boats over the years. Kind of cool looking, make great noises, shoot a lot of water out of the back. I think they are mostly for attracting attention.

I can't imagine that they are very safe. I know, they are made to be fun, not safe. But they don't look like they would handle well at all. The bottom seems so flat, rather than a V. And, of couse, you don't see a lot of them on the Great Lakes!

[FastCarFan]

I would prefer a Donzi Classic. Now that is a boat!

[WilsonTC]

I had a Tahiti back in the day. It was a little bigger than that Sanger, semi-v hull and had a small v-berth. 454 w/Berkley Jet. If you are planning on getting a flat-bottom, better not plan on using it anywhere but a smooth lake. Something bigger/longer with more of a "V" and you're good to go through slight chop. Jet's are very reliable (just don't suck up sand) and maneuverable. You can go places that prop-drives can't.

P.S. - Make sure the lake you're planning on navigating allows dry-stacks!

[jim72911t]

I grew up water skiing behind a similar boat: 16ft Rogers with a 455 Olds, 390HP, and wet stacks. Don't remember it being unsafe, unless you consider 390HP in a 16ft boat unsafe It would pull 3 adult skiers out of the water no problem.

The boat has sat in my parents garage unused for at least a decade; and my pop has offered it to any of his kids who wants it and has room in the garage. Well, I want it, but don't have room in the garage. Plus I don't think I could afford to put gas in it!

Great memories, though

As far as the Donzi Classic goes, well, I think I'd rather have what's riding shotgun

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

I would prefer a Donzi Classic. Now that is a boat!

Well that pic is every old man's fantasy...

[Dantilla]

I've had a few boats, but have never wanted a jet. I like big outboards. They jump up on a plane so much quicker than an I/O or a jet, and having power trim is a big advantage over a V-drive's compromised prop position for top end speed.

Flatbottoms are great fun, but so much more useful without having 800 pounds of V-8 taking up so much space. I'd much rather have 300 pounds hanging on the transom and a bit of wiggle room for a couple passengers.

My first boat was a 16-foot flatbottom with a 6-cylinder Merc ouboard. Crazy fast. I let very few people drive that boat if I was not with them, as it was a death trap for inexperienced drivers. Nothing would jump out of the hole from a dead stop as fast as that overpowered featherweight.

[Dantilla]

And I hate skiing behind a jet. Takes forever to get up, and always has the "froth" to ski through. Yuk.

[dentist90]

For skiing, nothing beats a SeaDoo. Plenty of grunt out of the hole, rear-view mirrors and NO WAKE! Can carve hard from side to side at full lean without having to suck up the wake with bent knees. Wakeboarding... not so good.

We have a pickle fork on our lake. It's all about the motor. These boats are useless unless you are river-running in the shallows. No good in chop, can't pull a skiier and DEAFENING. Most don't even have a place to store your beer!

[sammyg2]

I used to race a flatbottom (Vee drive, supercharged hemi) and we had a saying about jet boats:
"how fast can you flush a toilet?"

Seriously, the biggest mistake people make is to build up a 500 hp engine in a jet boat and bolt it to a 230 Hp pump.

The jet pump has to be designed to absorb the right amount of power at the right RPM and match the engine's capability, or all you pump is fuel.

If you have a jet that is perfectly tuned to the engine it can be fairly efficient. No where near as efficient as a prop, but efficient for a jet.
The advantage is they are cheap, they can run in relatively shallow water (if they have a stainless impeller) and are relaible.

Downsides are they are slower than a prop, they rev high and make lots of noise and sound like they are going fast when they aren't, and they suck fuel.

BTW there was a guy at the Colorado river a long time ago that ran a jet boat called the prop duster.
He had invested more money in his engine and pump than most people had invested in their house.

My flatbottom was putting out over 1000 hp at the time and that SOB got me out of the hole and shut down at about 100 mph before I could pass him on top end. Pissed me off.

[RoninLB]

old thoughts are a jet is 20% less efficent than a ss prop


I need to build one for the wetlands. Stick it in a boat I can wreck without being pissed off.

otherwise not much logic to having a jet

[nota]

I have a RAYSONCRAFT ski/drag boat
it was built with a 426 hemi with a GMC blower
a guy who had a cuda picked it up for the motor
and I got everything but the hemi and trans
for about the price of the trailer
not a jet older thick glass v-drive prop
with all first class race bits
looks exactly like the pictured boats

if any one in south fla is in the market
shoot me a PM