Thread:

1977 Pioneer jet? Good vs Bad

Simply put my new befriended neighbor has a 1977 pioneer jet boat, ichy to sell, with a berekly jet and a 454 in it and interior and gel coat is solid. I quite frankly don't know much about these boats if any and was wondering what kind of speed potential this boat has and any other advise or history would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

pics??

Tom at Jet Boat Performance knows the people that started Pioneer. You should call or PM him.

I grew up boating on in a Pioneer named the BlueNun. I would pay top dollar to own it. Very stable,great lines.....Man I miss that boat

Originally Posted by Kyle

Simply put my new befriended neighbor has a 1977 pioneer jet boat, ichy to sell, with a berekly jet and a 454 in it and interior and gel coat is solid. I quite frankly don't know much about these boats if any and was wondering what kind of speed potential this boat has and any other advise or history would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys

It's a southwind splash treat as such. Same bottom with cosmetic changes, fairly lite and aliitle hook in the bottom. loosenen it up, make it tight and alittle motor and bingo. M

Originally Posted by jetboatperformance

This is some info I posted for Rod re Pioneers on Socaljetboats.com a while back ...
RE Rods project
I cooresponded with Rod this week and thought I'd impart this Info " Rhonda and I bought our first Jet in 78' week quickly became friends with the local Hot boat crowd which included Steve Hall of Pioneer boats . Pioneer was located about 100 yards from where JBP is now in Atascadero if fact the paint, striping ,lettering and interior work were done by a guy who once occupied one of my upper shops . Steve built nice looking high quality 18's, 18 Sprint set backs ,19's and 20' jets (Very similar designs to the some Southwinds and Eliminators of those days, a few IOs and in the "Oil Embargo gas crunch years" some 12 footers with Tihatso (sp)O/B's. Pioneer built a few "Rag hull" jets in the late 70's that ran very well ,one belonged to my B/F Greg Stark called "Squirtin for certin" and was CJ record holder for a time .Pioneer (in Atascadero) went out of business in the mid eighties . The Pioneer molds and name were sold to a guy in nor cal who continued to build boats for a few more years. To the best of my Knowledge he never built a tunnel as Pioneer (Hall did work for a couple other socal builders however)

Then theres this too :
Here's a pic from an Old friend (Jay) that I haven't heard heard from in a long time ,he called me to "oft" a 16' Tahiti hull and when we got to talkin he went diggin for some Old Pics This is the Pioneer Drag Boat (circa 1978,back bay) 78' Comp Jet record holder I belive at 105 mph (or there abouts) The folks in the boat are my Buddies Tim & Jay, engine builder and crew chief and Steve and Kim Hall (owners of Pioneer boats) Tom

That looks like "Country Cookin" Comp Jet.I raced that boat at the first NDBA race at Firebird in 1978.Greg Shoemaker held the record at 102 mph at the time.We set the new record at 108.28 at the NDBA Nationals in Oct of 1978.
Ron Pitts ,Sunday Showdown

A friend of mine had a pioneer and it was very solid and ran very well, high 70's with a mild 454.

I get some pics up for you guys it is very well a nice boat all it really needs is cleaning. its got a mild meaning "mild" not race 454 but looks good. I don't believe the pump is set back like JBP was saying but definalty a candidate to do to if it could honest push high eighty's if not ninety's. Its got a low look to it too. What do you guys think it would be worth? sorry got to post the pics tomorrow .