SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => The No Wake Zone => Topic started by: CTENTA1 on April 17, 2013, 01:55:07 PM
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Hey guys, I'm starting to find interest on the jet boat hobby. My buddy just bought a boat and I was out at the lake for the first time. He is all new to this also, I'm interested in buying a project and building it to the way I like. I grew up a few miles away from the ocean and dunes. Off road and performance engines is in my blood. I know nothing about boats but I want to put an end to that. I have knowledge in engines, paint, enterior etc... My question to you is. What make, model should I be looking for? Will a 350 small block or 454 big block mount on just about any make or model? And or what do I look for. Im not planning on racing or anything like that. I really just want a cruiser (nice paint, nice painted and polished engine and a nice enterior) for me the wife and my lil boy. Any questions, comments and feedback welcome. Thanks in advance.
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Where do you plan on boating? this may make a difference of the type of hull to look at. One boat cant 'do it all'. Just about every American made V8 can be put in a jet, just depends on preference and cubic dollars, but usually big blocks. small blocks work well if they are set up right. Pumps should be a berk or berk clone- A/T, Dominator, legend, or at least a WJ Jacuzzi. Typical boat stuff on these 30 year old hulls- rotten stringers, floors, transoms. Its easy to dump $10K into a $2500 boat. Always- 'buyer beware' & Break Out Another Thousand
Good Luck
Dan'l
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If your more on the family side look for a day cruiser something around 20 + ft . Kid an wife will feel safer lol an it will be good for a day at the lake or river. I would find something or stick with a chevy motor (big block), parts for olds an so forth are more high dollar. Try to stay with a berkley jet. Parts are everywhere or more easley to find. Just my 2cents
Sent from my SGH-T999 using SoCalJetBoats mobile app
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Where do you plan on boating? this may make a difference of the type of hull to look at. One boat cant 'do it all'. Just about every American made V8 can be put in a jet, just depends on preference and cubic dollars, but usually big blocks. small blocks work well if they are set up right. Pumps should be a berk or berk clone- A/T, Dominator, legend, or at least a WJ Jacuzzi. Typical boat stuff on these 30 year old hulls- rotten stringers, floors, transoms. Its easy to dump $10K into a $2500 boat. Always- 'buyer beware' & Break Out Another Thousand
Good Luck
Dan'l
mash on it-
Main purpose for lake. What series Berk pump would you say works best with a mild 350 SBC? And how can I tell if a used pump is good or bad? "Break Out Another Thousand"..... Is it really that bad? LOL.
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If your more on the family side look for a day cruiser something around 20 + ft . Kid an wife will feel safer lol an it will be good for a day at the lake or river. I would find something or stick with a chevy motor (big block), parts for olds an so forth are more high dollar. Try to stay with a berkley jet. Parts are everywhere or more easley to find. Just my 2cents
Sent from my SGH-T999 using SoCalJetBoats mobile app
Twitchaka-
Not really familly side. My wife like's the loud engines as I do and my boy has to pick up on it. It's mainly for lake use and I do plan on sticking with SBC or BBC. What series Berkley pump for mild 350 SBC?
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JC or JG on the pump
How mild sbc? What hull? pumps can be tuned for HP & hull type
Find a hull ya like- build from there
My next build will have a ZZ4
Dan'l
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mash on it-
Main purpose for lake. What series Berk pump would you say works best with a mild 350 SBC? And how can I tell if a used pump is good or bad? "Break Out Another Thousand"..... Is it really that bad? LOL.
and YES its that bad.....its all in what you want ...and what is in the best shape ...you can fix it ...but do you really want too.....
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JC or JG on the pump
How mild sbc? What hull? pumps can be tuned for HP & hull type
Find a hull ya like- build from there
My next build will have a ZZ4
Dan'l
650-670 Holly doubble pump carb, Edelbrock RPM intake, iron ported and polished heads, 1.5 roller rockers, 260-280 Crowler cam, bored 30 over, Mildon oil pan, hp oil pump, and for hedders I like the look of ones that stick outback above the engine (not sure what they are called) yet.
Dumb question- would this still run pulley system and water cooled system (w.p, radiator, fan etc..) as in automotive? Sorry for my ignorance but like I mentioned this is all new to me. Ive learned a few things on here already dough.
I really like the style boat that board member "kaotyk" has for sale 1978 tahiti. If I were more prepared I think I would jump on that sale. Something in that style is what im wanting to accomplish.
Thanks guys!
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the cooling system is supplied by the pump
no fan
no water pump
most have no thermostat
marine tolerances too
Dan'l
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Just my personal .02 on this since you ain't bought anything yet, here's where I'd go and wish I did and had been done with it years ago......
Yes, 21' and over is probably what you need to be looking at for a "Family oriented" boat, with enclosed engine, etc. The noise generated by our open engines is NOT gonna make the lil woman happy, normally (even with baffles), and the little man isn't gonna be able to roam around like an open bow or a 21' is going to be able to provide.
That said and done, forget anything Small Block, save for maybe LSx power, and even that comes with a big cost. You need the torque of a big block to work these things. NOW, given lake only and no river work, you CAN go to an outdrive, and small block is fine, GT is your man there, but on Rivers, A jet is the choice. It can almost run on a wet linoleum/tile floor! ;) and still keep up with the outdrives if set up right.
What I'm saying is there are a LOT of variables in what you want to do. But if Jet is the way you want to run (And I would be cheering you on for that) stick with the BB, not the SB unless you wanna get REAL fancy like some of us do!!
Ray
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I'm gonna throw this at you just because I have been where you are right now...
Being as this is your first boat and you are unfamiliar with boating as a whole, a jet boat MAY be the way to go....
Why MAY?
Pros; cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, fairly straight forward for the average weekend mechanic to work on, pretty tough to break, no prop to worry about with the little guy.
Cons; loud, use lots of fuel, takes a bit of horsepower to get them to have some speed, tricky to drive if you have never driven a boat before (no motor, no steering), can't haul a lot of weight/crap/people.
You may consider looking into an I/O for some pretty simple reasons; like driving your dads station wagon s far as handling, a small block Chevy in a 20'er is almost a guaranteed 60mph as long as you don't buy an ocean scow, you can put 6 people, two ice chests, a dog, spare tools and ski equipment in it and only lose 3 or 4mph, run all day on a tank of gas, there quiet, so no worries about where to run it at (most lakes require mufflers and wet exhaust), and parts are easy to come by as long as you don't buy something obsolete.
Cons (to be fair); always worrying about the prop, can't really run the shallows (no offense but rookies have no business being in shallow rivers), a little more work as far as getting the boat in and out of the water (trimming up the out drive), and about twice the maintenance.
Our family has all flavors of boats, we have two I/O's, three jet boats, two sail boats, two inboard ski boats and an aluminum fishing boat with a whacker. I would be lying if I didn't say the jets were not the most fun...
Keep asking questions and write out a pros and cons list for yourself and be honest with yourself about it.
Your going to have to decide how much you will be using it too. Neither one is a good choice for two or three times a year. Which is why we (my family) have all been using the same boat for outings, only one boat to maintain because we are all too busy to use our junk more than twice a year each. :screwy:
GT
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I really appreciate all of the input. You all have given me some very good information. Ill be doing alot of research for sure.
Gt jets- I wasnt aware some lakes require wet exaust. That might change what I had im mind.
One thing I did want to mention is regarding the boat type. I dont really see myself in anything else other than a JetBoat. I like big motors, polish, glossy paint jobs and I like the noise. Im not really conerned about the gas per hour (you got to pay to play). I want to have a cool looking boat that will catch some attention, who doesnt!
Just so you get an idea- I have a 71 K5 Blazer im finishing a restorod. Full ground up you name it. My intentions are to maybe macth a JetBoat to the Blazer.
My biggest concern is buying a boat and dumping crazy money (not to get it were i want it) but having to do so after every use. Ive heard on here and in the past that boats can empty your pockets quick. How or why would a boat be breaking or you need to work on it the whole time. Of course im ok with regular maintanence and check ups before heading out.
I might just have to man up and buy a project. You live and learn right!
Thank you all!
If I can find a deal on a solid project I think thats the way to go.