SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Projects => Topic started by: kingtut on August 21, 2011, 09:28:44 AM
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First off I am new here and learning as I go. I have always wanted a pump boat and just got my hands on a one owner 91 Kachina 18' classic for a deal. The boat has 65hrs on the hull and has a worked up 460 and a Dominator pump. The boat had been sitting under cover for a couple of years since the owners were retired and couldn't climb in and out of it anymore. My questions are.....
1) Should this boat have a thermostat?
2) What kind of maintence does a jet take?
3) Has anyone ever built the rear seat frame out of alum.?
4) Why don't jet boats have navigation lights or deck hardware?
I have had outboard powered speed boats for years so I am used to wrenching on stuff but I want to do this right. Pics will be up soon. Cheers!!!
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1-gauge and gate valve to open or reduce water flow.
2-grease and or gear oil....but in your case grease. Should have one zerk above thrust bearing and possibly one at rear of shaft.
3-Most use wood and fiber glass and some use aluminum for mounts.
4-Most like a smooth non cluttered hull and/or the weight that stuff brings. But if your going to use for fun and want the ease..you can ad these things with pop up features to retain the smooth look. Suction cup style lights for example...
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Gate valve??? Hose comes out of the pump to a T fitting then two hose come up to the front of the engine where a water pump would be then where a thermostat would be two hoses go to each of the Bassett headers and another hose comes out of the front of the intake and is a dump out the side of the boat. The intake is a Edelbrock Victor 460 and this boat has Cobra Jet Alum. heads on it. Did that make any sense???
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Its usually right out of the pump before T. In your case sounds about right for headers. You can ad a gate valve/valves to regulate the amout of water going to both headers and the block. Some will install a gate up near driver seat to shut the water off to headers for a quick pass or for ease of adjustment. Sometimes to much water to your headers could lead to water in the block.
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Welcome to SCJB :thumbup:
A gate valve is used to limit the water to the motor AND incase a hose blows, the pump can be "shut off". a lost freeze plug or a blown hose could sink the boat, motor runnung or not. ( i 'borrowed" the temp sender on the bow rider for the big block, two weeks later, about 30 seconds away from the dock, water is shooting straight up out of the sender HOLE and the carb/scoop is wanting to ingest some water. simple fix-- shut off water at the pump, drove to a beach, install spare drain plug, turn valve on, went boating :beer:)
My day cruiser has the running lights, cleats, bow rail, etc...(needs keg-o-rater, taps, co2 etc...)
The header plumbing sounds suspect if your running Bassets, should have a valve or "TEE" that limits water to the headers at idle. Mine has a ball valve near the drivers seat for adj the water, off at idle, some while underway. NEED PICS :thumbup:
The newer pre-made seats use aluminum or stainless steel as the structure, my next seats/interior is gonna have suspension seats (think Jeep) to hold my fatass in the boat.
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In the fitting that comes out of the pump, the hole is a little smaller. It is brass and appears to be made that way. All the hoses are 5/8 ID but the fitting looks like it is 3/8- 7/16.
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Get a caliper or micro it. Cross ref the size to pipe/barb. Home D sells a few styles of water/pressure valves.
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Ok, the Kachina is finally done and on the water. It has been a year in the making and I have learned so much in the rebuild of this boat that is totally different from my other outboard speed rigs.
1- Donnie Drier Race Engines of Lansing New York rebuilt my 472ci alum. head BBF, it is running like a a wet dream and making just over 500hp. Dyno-Port in Fleming, New York ceramic coated my Bassett headers after I installed reverse cones in them.
2- John at Bardeens Upholstery in Penn Yan, New York did a great job stitching together the new vinyl and foam for the seats and Neil Purdy of Purdybuilt Fabrication in Moravia, New York did my seat frames and some other fab work around the engine compartment to make it all look neat.
3- Kudos out to Chris Leanord of C&M Transportation in Moravia, New York for the the use of his shop and excavator for removing and reinstalling the engine and Dave Marcellus of Finger Lakes Fabrication for making a killer thermostat housing that fit a thermostat and around my DUI HEI distributor. Very nice!!!
This is my first pump boat, and I must admit that I am totally hooked on the insane amount of acceleration and the ease of maintenance with a pump. I will put some pics up very soon, as I need my teenage daughter to walk me through this process. And here is to praying for flat water on the Finger Lakes until it is too cold to boat here. Cheers!!!
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How about some pics?