Thinking about a jet boat
 

Been tossing the idea around for a few years, still on the fence about taking the plunge. I've got a 17' Lund pro sport that's been an extremely fun and reliable boat, but with the boys getting bigger I'm thinking about getting a bit bigger boat. Always wanted a jet boat but have shy'd away because of maintenance and cost of operating compared to a regular outboard motor.

Can anyone enlighten me on the facts about running a newer jet boat with like a 200 or 240 merc optimax engine? Or maybe suggest a more efficient engine to run? I'd like a boat in the 19'-21' range, something I can camp in and an open bow. I don't want to buy new, $60-$90k is definetly not in the budget, I'd like to get the most I can out of $40k max.

Are you talking about a boat to replace your current one and will primarily use it on lakes? I would only buy a jet boat if you are primarily going to fish the river.

Edit: Just remembered there are a couple lake version jet boats available like seadoo jet boats. Don't know of any for fishing though?

I want a duel purpose, lake/river boat. I realize it won't be the best for both worlds, something I can take on the Fraser or the Shuswap. From what I've researched a 12 degree hull is kinda what would work best.


Not fiberglass

I guess some guys have had luck with sportjets but I've heard a few first hand horror stories. One guy at Slave Lake a couple years ago had a brand new set up. Engine cratered on first trip. Another person in BC had to get a new sportjet flown in by helicopter c/w mechanic. Mine had a 350 chev and it was no worse on fuel than my 150 4 stroke outboard. It was reliable & easy to maintain. Burned 6 to 8 gallons an hour. If I was to do it again I would likely be looking at a 150 converted to a jet on an 18 or 19 foot boat. Other things to consider are.
Make sure your windshield is high enough so you don't have to duck to look through.
An open bow or sunken bow is nice for anchor retrieval
A flat dash is nice for mounting electronics. Mine wasn't & it was a pain
If inboard a doghouse style engine cover is great for fishing
Lots of things to consider.

I can just see You, lying in bed bored of watching old movies until you watched night at the Roxbury.
I SHOULD BUY A BOAT!!!!!

I agree, you should!

:)

Hahaha!

Just to let you know... The Alta. govt surplus has a jet boat on auction right now for another 7 days. might be a heck of a deal.

https://surplus.gov.ab.ca/OA/ItemDet...uctionID=14583

I have a sport jet and really like it but the boat you're describing is quite a bit different than mine. If you are planning on a 20' 12 degree and putting 3 or 4 guys in it consistently with gear you'll want a 350 period.

Kurt, go to gibbons and check out a kingfisher 1875 with a 200 opti. It is a great boat that can do everything you need it do in Alberta. Also did the lower Fraser a few times which is not a big deal really. I just sold mine and switched over to a lake boat for awhile. Mine had a 12 degree deadrise and I went everywhere with it lake or river. If you want to buy new there is quite the price jump from an optimax to the Kodiak 350.

12 degree would work ok but that is just your typical big river boat so unless you are planning to primarily use it as a river boat it wouldn't be my personal choice.

If you want something better for both I think 16 degree would be worth looking at. You will still be able to run almost anywhere on bigger rivers like the Fraser, Athabasca or even NSR and it should handle rougher water and lakes better too.

If it is mainly the Fraser you are interested in doing and you are not that interested in NSR etc I would just get a lake boat and be careful where you go. There are lots of spots you could easily fish with an outboard out there just need to be a bit careful when beaching fish.

If you have the space you could just get a river boat for at home and use your lake boat when at the Fraser(assuming you want to do it and Shuswap at same time).

Just ideas, if you are going to spend most of your time on lakes I would prefer a Lund Tyee or something like that rather then compromising just to be able to fish a river once in a while.

You couldn't handle a BMX, are you sure you want something with a large motor behind it?:sHa_sarcasticlol:

Hahaha!

I'll get my boy to get his boating license and just ride co-pilot.

The biggest problem Kurt is then it is not great on the river and worse on the lakes, no comparison to a deep v boat when the waves come up.
They burn twice the fuel, so be prepared to pay for way more gas,
They are hard to run in a straight line when trolling with a trolling motor because the hull is a lot more flat.
But I understand looking for a dual purpose boat so you can do both, understand a jet does not steer well without some power going to the jet drive, so navigating a small creek slow speed is a no go, you need to go fast(think small river getting into a big lake)
200HP jet drive is like having a 150HP prop so don't expect the same performance as a 200HP out board.
But it is a lot of fun on the river, big toss up for sure. I am a lake guy and like my deep v, but I fish with buddies that have cross over jet drives, and been in a few dedicated river boats, they are all fun.

I just bought an 18 foot Jon Boat. I love it. I got a 50hp Tahatsu prop but wish I went with a 50 or 60 Jet now after running a river. I'm like you and want the best of both worlds. I'm going to use mine for duck hunting and running a few rivers as well as fishing. I might try and get a jet bottom half on it and give it a go in some lakes and see what happens

Omg!!!!! LMAO!!!!!

I think I have just set the new world record for distance of beer spewed outa the nostrils !!!!

Now that was funny, sorry Kurt, long day in the patch, and had a good laugh.

Sorry for the derail, hope you are feelin better, and find a nice boat!!

Many of the bigger boats up here are running 12 gegree hulls )the guy's at my boat shop run them as well) but I also see lots of boats a but deeper , 16 and 18 degrees even.'mine is made fir skinny water so it's only 5 degrees but it is a smaller boat as well with a 130 Sport Jet .
Cat

I owned both a Lund 17 fisherman which was the next model up from your pro sport and a Kingfisher 1875 sport jet 12* Hull at the same time for one summer. The kingfisher is BETTER and SAFER in rough water than the POS Lund was. They ride about the same through the chop (pound your guts out) the only advantage the Lund had was being able to trim the motor to affect bow height but still it was a draw for ride. If you did want to pound through the waves that weak ass Lund could never be able to take it for long. Next thing I know every screw is coming loose and rivets are starting to leak.

In the big water the kingfisher is miles better, full height transom and recessed bow with scupper drains that keeps water up front and does not let it flow right through to the stern. When that Lund would take a wave over the front it ended up in the bilge. Also that low transom would take water over the stern and into the bilge it went.


Down side to the Kingfisher is the POS Merc 2 stroke sport jet. They can blow up anytime between 1 and 1000 hours. Mine was good though. Also they do burn a bit more fuel 200hp at the jet (250hp optimax power head) compared to a smaller outboard that was half the Hp. Also the Lund was way wider and more stable at rest. 2 guys leaning over one side would tip much less than one guy leaning over the side of the Kingfisher. Another downside is the jet is hard to control at low speeds and reverse sucks bad. I maneuver with the kicker if I have to.

I took both boats to the limit and beyond. FWIW I sold the Lund and have not regretted it even for one second. I run rivers and lakes about 50/50 and the one boat does it all.

you know, come to think of it, while you are laying there in your drug induced stupor, it is a good thing you were watching Roxbury and not the Birdcage :sHa_sarcasticlol:

these micro jet boats look pretty sweet just might be hard to put a moose in one.

https://www.jetstreamboats.com

Might be interesting getting a fire hose/nozzle fitting which could hook into the jet output port, for a little more camp protection during dry season...

Anyway, how about making your own aluminum jet boat from plans? Build exactly the length and hybrid multi-chine hull type you need, stronger, better-built with better fittings and maybe cheaper than commercial. Most metal ocean cruisers have gone over to aluminum as the welding is well-known now, 30% stronger than steel by weight, and much more impact resistant than foam-core fiberglass composite. I'd guess 50K would get you one helluva nice new 20-foot v8 jet boat.

If I had the room to do that I'd be all over it.

I once looked at building my own. At one time Outlaw Marine sold kits c/w all pre stressed/bent panels, fuel tank kit & so on. Then you need a jig to weld it on so the boat doesn't warp. At that time Outlaw would rent a jig out as well. Was concerned with my welding skills so backed out. Personally I think it would have been a nightmare. As well if you go to sell a custom boat with no name brand I think selling might be difficult. If I was a practised aluminium welder I might have thought different.

I'd find someone on here etc with a boat similar to what you are thinking would be good and go take it to a lake to see how it works for you there.

1975 fastwater
 

i have a 1975 fastwater from harbercraft with a 200 sportjet that i use on the river, ocean and lake. Tubing and skiing with kids, downrigging for salmon, running skinny on the north saskatchewan. Burns about 4 gal/hr at 30 mph.
incredibly good on fuel and does well at all i want it to do. Love the boat. Incredible handling on the river and easy to troll with a 8hp kicker for 12 plus hours a day on my salmon trip i do each summer. Couldn't think of a better boat for a doall boat in alberta.

Your experience sounds similar to mine but your boat is a little better do-all.
While I do like my 1875 if I were to do it all over and make the choice between it and the 1975 and its extra foot of length, integrated kicker mount and 14* Hull I’d go with the 1975.


Something else to ponder is hull degree “rating” is almost always just an average degree “rating” as the fore, amidships and aft hull degrees vary. So for a guy shopping it is best to see the bottom in person (if you know what to look for) and get the actual degree from the manufacturer at the 3 points.

http://www.thunderjet.com/build-your...alexisjet#gf_7

I've used near the same boat on the Shu' the Fraser and a couple other lakes and system. Older model with the same features. I've been on the Shu' fishing 4' swells without issue.

I've been in quite a few jets and I will only go Thunderjet now. Build quality, design, etc is the best bang for the buck. If you do go jet make sure you get the full fishing platform. It's a way more usable boat.

Currently we have a the 20' with an outboard and do most of the same (I've run ours in the outboard in 2' of water without issue).

Buy once cry once.......

Skeena jet!

I'd have to sell my boat, side by side, quad, rifles, bows, a truck and then all I'd have to do is remortgage my house to get one of those. I would absolutely love one of those but at $120k it's just not in my cards :(

Beautiful boat for sure.

I am in the same “boat” as you currently. Looking for a river boat. Have a Bayliner 175 currently that I will get rid of to buy the jet boat. With friends having both the two stroke and 4 stroke motors, I agree that getting the 350 or 383 is a better idea than the 2 stroke.

On degree of hull, you will never get the perfect set up for both lake and river. It’s going to be a compromise. I think going 12 degree is probably the best you can do. I will be boating mainly the Peace and Slave Lake. I am not sure how skinny I will be able to go with a 12 degree.

Same $ amount as well. I want to spend no more than $40k

jet
 

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-mo...ationFlag=true

this would be a fantastic boat with cutaway for trolling motor
much nicer than new design of trolling on swim platform and can't reach the trolling motor handle
VERY IMPORTANT just make sure it is the 200 sportjet not the 240 or 175

Speak to Steve at firefish, I have been looking at boats for awhile also, he can email a build sheet that has pricing for different options, you can customize the boat to fit your needs and price, I was looking at a 17' piranha and was pleasantly surprised at the price. Some of the nicest boats around, and made in Alberta!