Author Topic: how to drive a jet boat (Read 5406 times)

1972Challenger · « **on:** May 11, 2010, 07:09:17 PM »

as you all can tell im a newbie..... soo in the spirit of being the new kid on the block i need some expert advice on how to drive my jet boat.. any tips, secrets, that you all can share... thanx

TrailerHo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2010, 07:25:04 PM »

biggest thing that people forget.... YOu let off the gas, there is no more steering. biggest difference between a jet and a prop. IMO.
So anticipate where you are going and don't let yourself get in a jam.

GT Jets · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2010, 07:44:29 PM »

Don't forget. reverse sucks, may as well fart forward to go backward, it works about as well....

GT

Johnnyvegasone · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2010, 07:48:27 PM »

Make sure you practice navigating in the 5 zone and around the docks before you do a busy weekend.

1972Challenger · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:05:16 PM »

what about flooding.. i keep hearing when you stop you have to slowly stop because the wake that is behind you will come over your stern... true???

IRRebel · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:11:07 PM »

Depends on the boat. my 18 footer, no problems with that. My 20 footer, I could probably sink it by just doing a hard turn from low/mid speed while mashing the throttle. Have to be VERY careful with that one coming into the beach! Just watch behind you a few times. Higher freeboard is your friend in this instance.

Ray

1972Challenger · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:20:02 PM »

thanks for all the advice... anything else a newbie should know

enginedoctor · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:22:18 PM »

ya...be careful....

GlassCutter · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2010, 08:59:00 PM »

All good advice so far. X2 on the "No throttle = No steering which includes the 5mph zone. I guess I would add Don't idle in shallow water like when beaching. Never run w/o water to the pump. And always remember to check the plug TWICE ! Then check it again. I keep 2 extras on my boat ever since I saw how fast water comes in when you forget. I don't want to have to spend time looking for the only one at times like that.

sandeggo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:11:49 PM »

ive been driving boats since i was a kid. my first time driving a jetboat was last year. total different animal. it took some time to get used to it. one thing i can say is dont rush it. get used to your boat. one thing that hasnt been said, is that you dont want to haul ass into a turn, you may end up swimming, or have all the river in your boat. think of it like spinning out a sea doo

1972Challenger · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:14:39 PM »

ya i have done that before.. i had a seedoo so i am not totally lost on the water.. just with a boat im lost..

IRRebel · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:17:56 PM »

Oh, and also, just felt the need to add this since about a year ago I was in the exact same shoes, and haven't gotten much better since, really, and you're starting out in the busy season.....

Watch the rollers and wakes from the barges. With experience, like most of these guys have, they're not a real problem at any angle. For a beginner like me, I've learned I have to roll up parallel to them the roll in and roll out of them at shallow angles. Taking them dead on or near that can be more than a BIT exciting, when you're not familiar with the boat. A bit of throttle finesse with steering it becomes second nature.

Ray

1972Challenger · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:30:18 PM »

i have been told to cross the wakes of bigger boats.. so i should just kinda go with them??

sandeggo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:39:12 PM »

Big wakes in my little boat get cut into hard, kind like skiing, the harder and more leaned into it, the easier it cuts through

Willow Wog · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2010, 09:47:34 PM »

Quote from: sandeggo on May 11, 2010, 09:39:12 PM

Big wakes in my little boat get cut into hard, kind like skiing, the harder and more leaned into it, the easier it cuts through

Once again depends on the boat. mine I roll them i.e run paralell (sp) to them and roll them kinda like surfing. my old boat cut hard and hit em dead on. you will learn your boat. be sure your first time out you take some who knows what there doing. I know you had a sea doo but a boats a whole nother animal.

**edit** I just saw you have a challenger and if its like my roomates you will want to roll the wakes.

crewchief22 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2010, 10:48:02 PM »

When coming to a stop, let off the throttle and look behind you for a second (make sure there is nothing in front of you), when the wake comes up behind you hitting the throttle a little will help keep you from being flooded. After some practice you won't even have to look behind you, you'll just know when to hit the throttle.

Loading onto the trailer can be tricky due to the lack of steering when off the gas. Practice somewhere that doesn't have a lot of side current. Be careful not to park the boat in the back of the truck

Get lots of practice before attempting a holiday weekend.

1972Challenger · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2010, 09:09:00 PM »

im looking forward to loading it onto the trailer...

haha i bet it will be tricky

MBlack · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2010, 09:30:32 PM »

Quote from: 1972Challenger on May 12, 2010, 09:09:00 PM

im looking forward to loading it onto the trailer... haha i bet it will be tricky

Last season was my first time driving a jet boat, actually any kind of boat. The loading part wasnt hard for me. You just have to line it up and go for it. I just played with the shifter a little and had a buddy as a guide at the back of the truck to safely guide me on. I was worried about loading too but you will be fine. The only thing Im really sketched out about is taking it on a lake.

sandeggo · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2010, 09:31:07 PM »

ive never driven mine on. the ole lady holds the boat while i go get the truck and we walk it on

TrailerHo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2010, 09:31:51 PM »

No joke about loading. i have got so good at it that i walk it up.

If you have a place diverter on your boat then a trick that i use with the wake when coming to a stop.... let off the gas then point the nozzle all the way down and watch behind you. when you see the wake almost touching the back of your boat, give it a good "bump' on the gas and it should lift the back up for ya.
But like everyone has been saying, boats are different everyone you get on so what works for me may not work for you. but it's always nice to know another way to get something done.

Johnnyvegasone · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2010, 02:03:50 PM »

Of course you will try to avoid running over ropes. But if you do. turn off the engine. Pull out what you can. - Then get the knife! Go to the pump, on top, there is an acsess plate, open it up, you will have acess to the rope. you will probably have to cut it out.

GlassCutter · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2010, 02:55:46 PM »

As far as I am concerned there is NO shame in walking the boat onto the trailer. There is always a current at the river or swells from others on the ramps to deal with. Dead engine and walk it on is always the way I do it. Usually ends up faster than having to make 100 corrections when you try to do it with the motor running. People will appreciate you being fast, way more than how you look doing it. Back it down, have it ready to load, git er done, and get off the ramp.

Finish all the details back up in the parking lot like transom ties, ice chest removal, drying off the water spots etc.

Nordie · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2010, 03:35:55 PM »

Quote from: GlassCutter on May 13, 2010, 02:55:46 PM

As far as I am concerned there is NO shame in walking the boat onto the trailer. There is always a current at the river or swells from others on the ramps to deal with. Dead engine and walk it on is always the way I do it. Usually ends up faster than having to make 100 corrections when you try to do it with the motor running. People will appreciate you being fast, way more than how you look doing it. Back it down, have it ready to load, git er done, and get off the ramp. Finish all the details back up in the parking lot like transom ties, ice chest removal, drying off the water spots etc.

agreed 100%

down at the avi last october i seen the most amazing specticle of people in the water grabbing boats and walking them on trailers, really cool to see! and it went fast! there was probably 10 boats to get loaded all at the same time

IRRebel · « **Reply #23 on:** May 13, 2010, 05:58:22 PM »

Quote from: Nordie on May 13, 2010, 03:35:55 PM

agreed 100%

down at the avi last october i seen the most amazing specticle of people in the water grabbing boats and walking them on trailers, really cool to see! and it went fast! there was probably 10 boats to get loaded all at the same time

X3! There musta been 8 people constantly in the water just pulling boats onto trailers that day! Kindof a similar scene launching and loading boats at Big River last June. (Thanks Boost!

)

Ray

GlassCutter · « **Reply #24 on:** May 13, 2010, 06:18:22 PM »

The south ramp at Big River sticks right out into the current and is a real PITA if you have a big tug boat like mine. The other place I have major headaches is Elsinore because the algae is so bad you literally can't stand up. I still wouldn't do it any other way.