SoCal Jet Boats
Discussion => The No Wake Zone => Topic started by: firefly on April 04, 2007, 01:59:08 PM
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I was thinking of putting small 4" cleats on my boat to tie off to the dock, hang fenders and what not. I notice though that alot of jet boats dont have cleats. Is it sacreligious to do this? I dont have a bad ass paint job so im not worried about that aspect of it. For the guys that dont have cleats, what do you guys do or how do you tie off?
I was also gonna install a bow light so i can cruise at night at the river, bad idea?
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My two cents.
A jet boat is a hot rod on the water. And just like hot rods they got to have a look that's right. ;) On a hot rod you make it light and smooth, no fenders, no chrome mouldings, etc... jet boat's have no cleats, no lights, etc... My jet boat has a bow light on it already, therefore it stays, and since it has a bow light it's getting one for it's asss too. NO lights and no cleats looks smoother and cleaner. Ever see a Cheby driving down the highway with every Taiwanese gadget bolted to it looking all cluttered up?
I still haven't used my boat, I'm on this board instead of working on it, :-\ , but when I go out with friends (who never go out alone) they don't need anything to tie off their boat to the dock because they're in it hanging on to the dock - waitin' for my slow asss to park their truck and get back down to the boat. At the sandbar they use the same hook that keeps the boat from falling off of the trailer.
;D
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BAD, BAD, BAD and Bad. Okay, now why. I would like to say that most of us that have Jet Boats NEVER Tie off to a Dock. It?s not to save the paint, well not the main reason. You?ll sink it. Most docks have a strip of some kind of rubber around the dock. This peace of rubber sit about 1 to 3 inches above the water and most of our boats sit low in the water especially with full bags of fuel. Mine in the back with 4 people is right at the seam. On a busy day at the ramp there are allot of waves causing the docks to bob up and down. If your boat happens to get caught under this lip, the dock will push it under and your done. My advise, Get a bunch of really Hot Babes to hold it off the dock for you wile you pull the trailer out and back it. Nothing could be finer than when your walking back to your boat on a busy day and theirs a couple Hottiess holding your ride.
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For Lights, I use the battery stick on flashlight with the red and blue lense in the front and a white one stuck to my intake scoop. West Marine has them for under $20. Pop right off for day time. If your going to use them allot then I'd hard wire.
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Listen to Wild Thang , he's got it! ;D
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My two cents.
A jet boat is a hot rod on the water. And just like hot rods they got to have a look that's right. ;) On a hot rod you make it light and smooth, no fenders,
;D
Hotrod with No FENDERS!!!.....I'm Offended Hotrod!!!
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wild thang,
Good advice, i like the way you think! I returned the cleats for two 19 year old hotties from San Diego State! That was also very intresting what you said about being tied up to a dock, that would be a BAD DAY but its made me a little more aware when im around the dock, thanks buddy!
I gotta stop thinking "outboard" and start thinking hot rod jet boat. : ;D
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No problem Bro, That?s what we are all here for. There is only one dumb question here. The one that was never asked. Sadly enough I have sank two boats. Well, one twice. It sucks. Both times on the river. I have lost 3 very, very close friends in boating accidents. 2 on Havasu and a girlfriend on Elsinore. Simple mistakes. You have to have respect for your boat. Your light wait, big horse power and in water. Always keep a cool head and if something doesn?t feel right leave it on the trailer. That way there is a next time. Just a little advice from a guy that has been there, done that. Keep it fun.
Wild Thang
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Hotrod with No FENDERS!!!.....I'm Offended Hotrod!!!
Yours has fenders doesn't it? ???
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No problem Bro, That?s what we are all here for. There is only one dumb question here. The one that was never asked. Sadly enough I have sank two boats. Well, one twice. It sucks. Both times on the river. I have lost 3 very, very close friends in boating accidents. 2 on Havasu and a girlfriend on Elsinore. Simple mistakes. You have to have respect for your boat. Your light wait, big horse power and in water. Always keep a cool head and if something doesn?t feel right leave it on the trailer. That way there is a next time. Just a little advice from a guy that has been there, done that. Keep it fun.
Wild Thang
I have a friend who used to have a Hondo hydro with a jet drive, 468 w/87/1, etc... Once he sunk it after unloading it (he forgot the plug for the pump) and then second time he sunk it he was at idle, it died, and it sunk before he could get it started due to passer-by boater's wakes. :o
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wild thang,
Sorry to hear you have lost some close people to an activity thats supposed to be nothing but fun. I would be intrested to hear what happened so that i might be more watchful and careful to me, my passengers, and my fellow boaters. If you dont wana talk about it i completely understand. Your advice given will not go unheeded(is that a word?).
hotrod,
That sux about your friends boat. I noticed when i was at El Cap last Sunday that when i beached my boat to chill for a bit the wakes comming in from all the fat-sack loaded wake boats were starting to come over the back of my boat. I then realized that i had not parked in the most jet boat friendly spot. Hearing your story and with my experience last weekend it made me realize that i have to think a little ahead of the game.
Thanks fellas!
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Yup, My 1st Eliminator Sprint, put it in the water for the 1st time. Sank it right on the ramp. I cried. Thankfully some guys helped me out and within four hours had it back in the water. This time with a plug in it. Now I put it in before I pull out the driveway. Here is some more tips. Put your keys in the ignition before you leave. Visually look in the gas tanks unless you just filled them. Always go up river and stay on your side of the shore tell your thermostat opens. On a lake, stay in the No Wake Zone till it does. If you are having engine problems, fix them in the water but still hooked to the trailer, not across the other side of the lake. Just remember you can suck rocks off the bottom in three feet of water. If your boat won?t Idle in the water, leave it on the trailer and find out why. You have no control without thrust and if your motor dies at speed IT?S DEADLY. When I think of more I?ll post them later Bud.
Wild Thang
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wild, first new investment a auto bilge pump and aim the waste line towards the drivers seat back of head preferable, so when you start feeling water you know plug isnt in and you willl still be on trailer ;D
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How about I start a new thread on this. Other guys can add and I won?t jack this thread with a bad ending. It would be good to do this now that it is the beginning of our season. I hope that in November we are all still here safe and sound.
Wild Thang
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sounds like a plan, a good plan and brad wont yell at us ;D ;D ;D
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... Always go up river and stay on your side of the shore tell your thermostat opens...
Wild Thang
You run a thermostat in your jet boat? Other than way up north where the water is really cold have I heard of that. What temp thermostat do you run? Sorry to jack the thread...
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wild, first new investment a auto bilge pump and aim the waste line towards the drivers seat back of head preferable, so when you start feeling water you know plug isnt in and you willl still be on trailer ;D
OOO YAAAA, Think I don't have one now, Think Not and it points out the side. If it punping water that soon I know WTFIDID.
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You run a thermostat in your jet boat? Other than way up north where the water is really cold have I heard of that. What temp thermostat do you run? Sorry to jack the thread...
I knew I would here something about this. Yup, 185. I have always had the typical big block cooling problems in trying to keep a constant water temp and now having through the transit Bassets this complicated things. If you have over transit headers this won?t apply as much as you don?t have to worry about pitching your water and keeping your headers cool. I am in a lot of different lakes and rivers, all with different water temps and us old guys get tired of wrenchen and turning flow control knobs so we spend money. I have a nice setup but I would have to take pictures to explain. I think that would be a good thread in the tech section. How I Keep It Cool. You start it and I?ll come in on Friday after I take some pics.
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wild thang,
Your idea on starting two new threads, one for talking about mistakes/accidents and what to be aware of and the other to talk about the temp issue would be awsome. I am curious about both, one for my own safety and the other cause i noticed this week that my boat, at idle, would run at about 190-210 degrees but at speed would drop down to 170 or so. Does this sound normal or is there an issue here that i need to remedy?
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The temp thread is here
http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=545.msg5944;topicseen#new
and the accident thread is here
http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=546.msg5950;topicseen#new
;)