Apparently, I am four years late to the party. Here is a thread I found on the topic.
http://www.socaljetboats.com/hulls/cavitation-plate-question/

I posted this in the No Wake Zone, but I can see now that was a mistake. This is a better forum for my question.

So here's a question I have: Why do some jet boat hulls use what appear (to me) to be cavitation plates? The Southwind tunnel dragster hulls come to mind immediately. Does it have to do with the shape of the hull on that model? Is it a drag race or circle track thing?

A guy down the street from my folks' house in Vegas has a bare hull in his yard, and it has plates like that, but it doesn't have the extended section off the back of the transom for the jet like the Southwinds do, so I'm pretty sure that it isn't a Southwind. What are some other brands besides Southwind have used that setup?

Just trying to learn some stuff.

Thanks

So here's a question I have: Why do some jet boat hulls use what appear (to me) to be cavitation plates? The Southwind tunnel dragster hulls come to mind immediately. Does it have to do with the shape of the hull on that model? Is it a drag race or circle track thing?

A guy down the street from my folks' house in Vegas has a bare hull in his yard, and it has plates like that, but it doesn't have the extended section off the back of the transom for the jet like the Southwinds do, so I'm pretty sure that it isn't a Southwind. What are some other brands besides Southwind have used that setup?

I'll say you did. Check you out with all your diagrams and stuff. You should hold seminars. Maybe we could get a beer company to sponsor them...

The hull type/brand debate will have almost as many sides as there are boat builders.

So I'm still perusing craigslist every night to see what's new that pops up for sale. Man, I had no idea just how many different brands there are and how many of them were manufactured right here in So Cal, although I guess the latter would make sense.

So more questions: Is anyone (Nixonnow and/or crewchief22  ) willing to offer a brief explanation of the various hull types I've been seeing? Flat bottom is flat bottom, but what makes a river bottom a river bottom and where do semi-V and V-bottoms fit in? Are there typical speed and handling traits that go along with each hull type, or are these traits noticeably different among various brands as well as hull types?

Notice that I didn't ask you which one is best...

I'm interested in anything that carries four to six and doesn't generate a monstrous wake so that I can slalom ski behind it. My buddy has a wakeboard boat already, so if I want to tackle a big wake, I can get a tow behind his boat. As far as speed goes, I don't need to set the river on fire either.

I agree, the old stuff is about the most fun you can have for about an hour. Speaking of 1000s, we just dyno tested the updated BMW S1000RR superbike. It makes a meager 184 hp at the rear wheel at 11,500 rpm, a real dog! It's an inline four like your Kawi, so it's smooth as silk and revs to 14,200 rpm.

The WR is a great machine. Quads aren't really my thing, to be honest, but they're fun in the dunes...

I really dig the museum site. I have a few old project machines that I'm thinking of letting go in order to help finance this crazy jet boat dream.

I'd say you answered all of them! Thanks.

Nice looking boat. So does anyone care to enlighten me as to the differences that make a Jacuzzi WJ more desirable than a YJ, and what's wrong with a Panther jet?

I lucked into a deal on a tunnel v hull and i'll never go back to regular v hull again.

stc, what brand and model hull is it? I'm curious to know about various brands because I really don't know squat about any of them. From what I've gathered so far, there don't seem to be too many brands that are widely regarded as not worth owning

Motorhead68

No doubts, as I'm here to learn what I can. I have no problem steering clear of Olds engines. If I find a hull that needs an engine I'd consider a big block Mopar first, because I have a garage full of 'em, both B and RB.

Great info regarding the steel or aluminum tanks. I didn't even know about fiberglass tanks being used in these boats, but I can see where that'd be sketchy. In my old flat track racing days we used to have to be caredul of what brands and types of fuel we ran because some of the additives could delaminate the fiberglass tanks. At best, you'd end up with clogged fuel filters. At worst, a two-wheeled barbeque!

Hi, all:

I'm new to the forum, but I grew up with a boat in the family (a big, fat Glasspar tri-hull) and have been a long-time hot rodder and fan of hot rod boats. At 43, I'm seriously thinking about picking up my first jet boat for water skiing on the river and a couple local lakes, so I'm interested in hearing any and all opinions on various makes and models of boats out there. A buddy of mine had a Kona Makai for a lot of years, and he loved it. I've also heard good things about Coles and Sangers, but I honestly don't know which brands/models are worth considering over others. That said, I'll just throw out some dumb questions and hope that I get a few responses:

1) Are there any brands/hulls or hull types that I should AVOID? Are there certain ones that are widely regarded among the community as poorly constructed and thus not worth dumping money on? I've heard mention that a "full stringer" boat is better, and while I know what a stringer is, I don't know why a full stringer bottom would or wouldn't be better other than stiffness, durability?

2) Are there any jet pumps out there that I should avoid, due to reliability, lack of parts or other issues?

3) Ditto for motors? I see a lot of boats with 460 Ford and 455 Olds power as well as BB Chevy power, but not a lot of Mopar-powered boats.

4) Is there anything that I should really pay attention to that I'm not mentioning here?

I appreciate any opinions that anyone would care to offer. Like I said, I'm just trying to get a quick education here before I actually start going to look at some of the boats I've been spotting on craigslist and elsewhere. I guess I'm looking for a guru!

Cheers,

SR