Thread:

Hallett, Tahiti, Jaccuzzi

Ok, first post on here I've searched for a general knowledge sticky post. Didn't see one so I have a few questions.

1. Jet boat pumps: Ok so what is the pecking order? Berkely, Jacuzzi, I see dominator and panther pumps as well? What do I want to look for and why?

2. V drive? Why and why not

3. Jet Drive, ok shallow water I get that, What else?

How about Pulling Skiers or rough water, raw accelleration and turning? Other than being able to spray someone any time I want? If you can tell me more I'm listening.

4 IO\OB What is the benefit over V Drive and Jet drive? Why and why not? Bravo 1 bravo 2 XR I mean, there's a lot of different drives out there. What's good? What makes one better than another

Hull types, who makes a desireable hull? How big of a fear is strength going to be? Hallet, Tahiti, Eliminator what are the smoother riding Hulls? If I'm running a search what's the easiest way to search out the boats I'm looking for.

Why does everyone run big blocks if you can get 450 hp out of a small block and run less fuel?

there's a guy selling a hull with a 455 in it for 1,000 bucks. Has an ugly looking crack on the bottom that was repaired. But I don't know if that means it's firewood or if it's repairable. The pump was rebuilt before it sat for a long time. Said the 455 just needs a starter, trailer is good shape new tires and registered till 2011. Should I Run? or is it an option?

Place Diverter? is that the snout that just steers the boat?

Droop Snoot? I think it's just a jet the sits deeper in the water for some reason?

Why on earth do people want to spray a 200 foot rooster tail behind them? that can't be the most efficient use of horsepower and I'm sure there's a few boaters if you cross wrong would get...

And if you can thing of any other lingo, much like the military boating seems to have it's own vocabulary.

If there is a general education sticky already, please do point me in the right direction!! Other than that, beautiful boats and great forum. Some of these boat manufacturers could definitely stand to contract out to change their marketing and branding.

That's a lot to cover, I'll let somebody else get all detailed. lol.

Berkley/Dominator..... then Jacuzzi.... Panther. Several variations of each, just depends on what you plan on doing with it. Most look for something with a Berk JG pump.

V-drive is cool if you want to go fast, most effecient, but low speed drivability and backing up sucks.

Jets are cool as there are no moving parts on the outside of the boat, don't have to worry about getting chopped with a prop. Holeshot is good but takes more hp in a jet to get the same top speed in a prop boat with less hp. Don't have to worry about donging the prop in shallow water as you stated either. Maneuvering at slow speeds is super easy once you get used to driving a jet. I have an IO and prefer a jet for the low speed stuff, everything else, prop boat gets my vote. Effecient, runs 60 with a stock 350 and I can do that with no hands on the wheel.

Reason big blocks are in most jets is the torque it needs to get going.
Example, buddy has a boat identical to mine, his is a 454 with a Berk pump, 21 footer. Mine has a 350 with an Alpha One. His does about 58mph, mine does 60mph. He gets me out of the whole for a sec, then I come around on the top end.

Place Diverter adjusts the nozzle for the "roost" Essentially it's used to get the boat out of the water, less drag on the hull. All the way up is just for cool factor. Should be about a 4ft roost. It's the same idea as trimming an outdrive up.

Snoot is kind of the same idea, your nozzle is further back and lower in the water, which helps get the boat out of the water more.

And for OutDrives, Bravo's are good drives, can't speak for the variations of them. (XR, III, etc) But Alpha Ones are not built to handle the hp a Bravo can handle. Like mine is a good drive for 300hp and less, but I wouldn't want to stick a rowdy motor in front of it.

And I'd stay away from the 455 if possible, go 454 or 460. 455 has oiling issues and doesn't make a lot of power. There are some that do, but require a bit of work.

And as for the boat with a crack, if it's your first boat I'd hold out for something better. Get a decent hull for about the same money, put your own power in it and not have to worry about fixing a crack. That crack could have happened due to rotten stringers, might turn into a project you don't want to mess with. I think I saw an Eliminator on here somewhere for $1500.

Where do you plan on Boating? River or Lake?

Do you want to go fast or do you want to be quick? Different in the Boating world

No matter what, don't buy a boat with a cracked hull.

Lake or River, Awesome info wow that was quick too. I'm in Orange County if any of you can have your brains picked for a guinness.

I have family that owns a house in the keys at parker, that being said me being the black sheep, somewhere around that area. Someday I'd like to try powell and go travelling around to the different lakes.

I would like to run around 70mph just because to me that's pretty dang quick on the water. But still be able to get up there maybe not at Jet ski acceleration speeds but pretty quickly. Just a Balanced boat I suppose.

I want to be ski, wakeboard, family friendly. So if there's 2 or 3 girls or I mean, family members that want to come with me there's room. For them and a cooler maybe.

Originally Posted by yhammack

Found it.....

http://www.performanceboats.com//showthread.php?t=75322

Wow, that's a sexy Deal. You really gotta take time shopping for these boats it seems. I saw another 76 Taylor? Not sure if thats a good hull, but it's solid and nowhere NEAR that nice of condition (not saying that's a showboat but it's clean!!) for 1,750...these guys just shopping for suckers?
I'm not sure if I'm totally off, but to me a 454 or a 460 should be just stupid easy to get 500hp out of unless you build differently for marine than you can for street/strip? Am I just off my rocker there?

Originally Posted by yhammack

Reason big blocks are in most jets is the torque it needs to get going.
Example, buddy has a boat identical to mine, his is a 454 with a Berk pump, 21 footer. Mine has a 350 with an Alpha One. His does about 58mph, mine does 60mph. He gets me out of the whole for a sec, then I come around on the top end.

.

Wait, the guy with a 600hp big block runs 58 mph? I'm just hoping he get's a BIG Jump on you in acceleration or I'm really turned off jets. Just checking you mentioned this one earlier so I was curious.

Originally Posted by yhammack

Maneuvering at slow speeds is super easy once you get used to driving a jet.

i thought a prop is easier at low speeds. a jet boat doesnt really turn unless yer on the gas. much like a jet ski. theres no rudder (unless u have one hanging off the nozzle to help) also since all the thrust is so far back it tends to steer like a forklift. the rear end will swing out rather than the front just turning.

Originally Posted by BigMn

Wait, the guy with a 600hp big block runs 58 mph? I'm just hoping he get's a BIG Jump on you in acceleration or I'm really turned off jets. Just checking you mentioned this one earlier so I was curious.

Different boat. haha. Somebody on the boards here has my exact boat, looks like it's twin, just in a bb jet. He said his mph is about the same as mine with 600hp. But remember my boat is 21` open bow, isn't very light. That same motor in a 18ft jet would probably run over 80.
My friends old 18ft Kachina ran 93 with a iron headed 460, probably 650hp maybe.

And when I say I like jet a little more than props at the low speed, I mean like at idle. You can hold forward reverse and just about keep the boat in one spot. Prop boat, you're in gear, out, in, out.... That's all. As far as driving around, I'll take my prop. But that's just me.

I'll throw this out there too since I just went through it. My drive went out last year and it cost me about 2 grand to have it rebuilt. Probably could have just bought a new one...... Jet's are quite a bit less if you need to go through one.

Originally Posted by yhammack

Different boat. haha. Somebody on the boards here has my exact boat, looks like it's twin, just in a bb jet. He said his mph is about the same as mine with 600hp. But remember my boat is 21` open bow, isn't very light. That same motor in a 18ft jet would probably run over 80.
My friends old 18ft Kachina ran 93 with a iron headed 460, probably 650hp maybe.

And when I say I like jet a little more than props at the low speed, I mean like at idle. You can hold forward reverse and just about keep the boat in one spot. Prop boat, you're in gear, out, in, out.... That's all. As far as driving around, I'll take my prop. But that's just me.

I'll throw this out there too since I just went through it. My drive went out last year and it cost me about 2 grand to have it rebuilt. Probably could have just bought a new one...... Jet's are quite a bit less if you need to go through one.

def boat hull choice and size makes a huge factor between prop, i/o, and jet. also whats the purpose of the boat? vdrive might be faster but no one likes climbing or stubbing their toes on running gear in a 18' vdrive full stringer with no floor. then again no one ever likes having their leg cut open from an i/o. and no one likes going 50mph in a 24' jet boat with 600hp. props have better fuel economy which means more fun at the lake/river.

its all one giant trade-off. you wanna go fast? play with toys? be comfortable?

Originally Posted by yhammack

^ Oh ya, I forgot to mention the gas mileage. I can go out all weekend and still have enough gas for another outing or two. That bigblock jet is lucky to get half that.

thanks for making me feel bad about my 5mpg log.

Fair enough, so keep it small and a jet's fine go bigger and it's just not efficient enough to get the weight moving at higher speeds. Can you still adjust the blades like you can on an ib/ob? I really expected there to be more pro's on the Jet over prop.. other than sliding up on a sandbar and running shallow water..

I was looking at a couple of the Daycruisers because they look like a ton of fun have the room and a nice rumble but... that's like a 22 or 23 foot boat.

Is there anyone with a fairly quick daycruiser style boat?