SoCal Jet Boats

Discussion => The No Wake Zone => Topic started by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 09:50:20 AM

Title: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 09:50:20 AM: I'm new to the site and semi new to jet boats so I have a few questions for you guys and don't know where else to post them. I'm looking at buying a '76 Sleekcraft 25ft Daycruiser with a 454 and the American Turbine kit for it's orginal jacuzzi pump. First off what do you guys think this boat is worth? It's in good shape other than the minor pinhole exhaust leaks(original log style). Is there anything I need to look out for? And what's it going to cost me to replace the exhaust, without spending $1800 on new headers? The motor has some mild work (.030 over with new hypereutectic pistons, ground and balanced crank, rv cam, shaved heads, valve job, edlebrock intake manifold and double pumper carb) What will that get this heavy beast up to speed wise? 50? Also speaking of heavy how much did these boats weigh?

Thanks for all the help guys. This is a great site and I look forward to being a part off it, I guess I'm off to keep searching through your old threads for more answers ;D
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: SkyHarborCowboy on December 04, 2008, 10:08:14 AM: I maybe way off base here but I dont think I have ever seen a 25ft jet boat before. To me, that seems awfully large for one. I would go for a test drive before purchasing to make sure you get what you want out of it speed wise etc.

Joe
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 10:13:11 AM: Quote from: SkyHarborCowboy on December 04, 2008, 10:08:14 AM
I maybe way off base here but I dont think I have ever seen a 25ft jet boat before. To me, that seems awfully large for one.

Joe

Well it's not for speed, guys who had them were more concerned about their childrens safety and going through shallow water. I'm not worried about either, speed is nice but I don't need it. Been there done that. Besides in CO it's illegal to go above 40mph. Period. This is for messing around skiing etc, I like the idea of having a cabin.
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: GlassCutter on December 04, 2008, 10:34:29 AM: Echoing what has already been said, you are going no where fast with that combo. My boat is almost that big and it will pull kids on tubes/skiers OK. But it won't pull up a 220 lb adult well at all. I don't think you will see 50 mph w/o LOTS of horsepower. A place diverter will probably be mandatory to get the most holeshot you can.
I love the big cabin (especially the Q sized mattress >:D) the refrigerator, and not having to worry about shallow running but it definately isn't for everyone. Gas mileage ain't too good either. Good luck with the Sleek but I think I might look around for something a bit smaller for all around usefullness.
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: SkyHarborCowboy on December 04, 2008, 10:51:49 AM: Sorry about all of the typos but when I post on here I cant see what I am writing.

JoeThe only specific question you posed was about the potential speed of the boat. As far as safety goes, you can get injured just as fast by a jet boaat as you can a prop boat if the driver isnt paying attention and droves over anyone in the sater. To m, it seems like your buying a Ca Cadillac and trying to drive it with a 4 cylinder engine. The biggest jet boat I have been in was a stock 454 23 footer and it was very slow.

Joe
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 10:58:00 AM: Quote from: SkyHarborCowboy on December 04, 2008, 10:51:49 AM
Sorry about all of the typos but when I post on here I cant see what I am writing.

JoeThe only specific question you posed was about the potential speed of the boat. As far as safety goes, you can get injured just as fast by a jet boaat as you can a prop boat if the driver isnt paying attention and droves over anyone in the sater. To m, it seems like your buying a Ca Cadillac and trying to drive it with a 4 cylinder engine. The biggest jet boat I have been in was a stock 454 23 footer and it was very slow.

Joe

I had other questions, what its worth, what its going to take to replace the exhaust, what the boat might weigh in at....
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: SLCKREG on December 04, 2008, 11:17:34 AM: I like the looks of the sleeks. Jacketed exausts are pricey. Fwiw, I froze a set of logs one easter weekend, at the lake. Cracked em reallllll good. They heli arched up just fine.
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 11:30:14 AM: Well the biggest concern I have is the price. I want to be sure I don't get screwed. What would this boat be worth?
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: GlassCutter on December 04, 2008, 11:33:36 AM: Dunno how comparable my boat is but it was in the Boat Trader for 10K for over a year b4 I called on it. He ended up letting it go for 6K. It was totally turnkey (except for trailer wiring) and has been trouble free for 2 years now. The carpet and upholstery looked almost new as the previous owner ran a marine detailing service in LHC. Honestly the only drawback to the boat was that it was Oldsmobile powered so changing to BBC or BBF will be $$$ and more complicated. New logs are spendy. You have a Chevy and used logs are easy and affordable BUT they are also often old and may not have a lot of life left in them. Sleek built good boats but honestly the Executive probably didn't work out quite the way that they had envisioned. Can't help ya on weight but my trailer brakes don't work and it still stops pretty good behind my Dodge (how's the new truck Tommy?).
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Legal Chemistry on December 04, 2008, 12:15:09 PM: this may answer some questions...
http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=5478.0 (http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=5478.0)

yes, spam-o-rama; however, it addresses some of Stainless' questions regarding speeds with a large jet boats. The boat is heavy, hell it is 24'. With an "A" it can easily yank a 200# skier out of the water. My fastest GPS was shy of 55 w/30 gallons and day camp gear inside. It was the perfect amount of wind chop (both ways). With a full load of friends and all the junk it stills goes 50.
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 12:29:40 PM: Here is the boat in question.

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0855.jpg&hash=8963caa81f283a3ee31ace072fdfba3e7b34a412) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0855.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0856.jpg&hash=5f68c26a863ff55008067406bcad32850511b495) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0856.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0869.jpg&hash=7d1c68eae4bbe1df633f5292dfb8a126b15f017e) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0869.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0870.jpg&hash=83e660dfc8baf70cf839548414d0d3bfae946421) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0870.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0871.jpg&hash=0cab8a9e27ea31e431dfc40138a0a1784304b850) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0871.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0872.jpg&hash=67468e8c946b0462572efab0e1a1dac12442a2b7) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0872.jpg)

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi433.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq57%2FStainlessRRA%2FBoat%2Fth_PICT0873.jpg&hash=2306e0eaf5d30bac846d2f52b83726a051d00595) (http://s433.photobucket.com/albums/qq57/StainlessRRA/Boat/?action=view&current=PICT0873.jpg)

What do you guys think?
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: 2savage4you on December 04, 2008, 12:35:46 PM: Maybe i missed it , but why don't you tell us what they want for it $$

That will help...... Its a fukin tank ???
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 12:42:04 PM: Quote from: 468Bahner on December 04, 2008, 12:35:46 PM
Maybe i missed it , but why don't you tell us what they want for it $$

That will help...... Its a fukin tank ???

I just wanted to hear what you guys had to say before I devulged price, and yeah it's a beast. But it will ride pretty nice and the cabin looks like it will come in very handy....... >:D
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: 2savage4you on December 04, 2008, 12:44:49 PM: Quote from: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 12:42:04 PM
I just wanted to hear what you guys had to say before I devulged price, and yeah it's a beast. But it will ride pretty nice and the cabin looks like it will come in very handy....... >:D

Yes i do like the cabin ;D
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 01:58:15 PM: Quote from: GlassCutter on December 04, 2008, 11:33:36 AM
Dunno how comparable my boat is but it was in the Boat Trader for 10K for over a year b4 I called on it. He ended up letting it go for 6K. It was totally turnkey (except for trailer wiring) and has been trouble free for 2 years now. The carpet and upholstery looked almost new as the previous owner ran a marine detailing service in LHC. Honestly the only drawback to the boat was that it was Oldsmobile powered so changing to BBC or BBF will be $$$ and more complicated. New logs are spendy. You have a Chevy and used logs are easy and affordable BUT they are also often old and may not have a lot of life left in them. Sleek built good boats but honestly the Executive probably didn't work out quite the way that they had envisioned. Can't help ya on weight but my trailer brakes don't work and it still stops pretty good behind my Dodge (how's the new truck Tommy?).

I thought the 25' was called an ambassador? And why do you think they didn't turn out as envisioned?
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: GlassCutter on December 04, 2008, 02:21:04 PM: That was a quote I got from a guy at Team Hawaiian Boats that had worked at Sleekcraft back in the day. I think he meant that the V-drives and I/O's built in that size were much more pleasurable to use on a regular basis.
I found this today:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/boa/944487453.html
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: stc315 on December 04, 2008, 02:48:59 PM: Grew up with a 78 28' Hawaian Daycruiser 454 Berk, and it would do 55 with all our gear and 3 adults. Our record from Long Beach to Catalina in fair seas was just under 30 minutes.
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: 76 Bonneville on December 04, 2008, 03:29:28 PM: 23' Executive 26' Ambassador
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stainless on December 04, 2008, 03:30:46 PM: So $2500 is an average price for a boat of this size?
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: GlassCutter on December 04, 2008, 05:00:06 PM: Quote from: stc315 on December 04, 2008, 02:48:59 PM
Grew up with a 78 28' Hawaian Daycruiser 454 Berk, and it would do 55 with all our gear and 3 adults. Our record from Long Beach to Catalina in fair seas was just under 30 minutes.

:o :o :o Aw shit :banghead: I sooo gotta build me a motor :mad:
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: beerjet on December 04, 2008, 05:05:54 PM: Cough , cough ..... :)

-beerjet-
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Stevecat on December 04, 2008, 07:09:32 PM: Quote from: stc315 on December 04, 2008, 02:48:59 PM
Grew up with a 78 28' Hawaian Daycruiser 454 Berk, and it would do 55 with all our gear and 3 adults. Our record from Long Beach to Catalina in fair seas was just under 30 minutes.

s..sss....salt water?!! :sly: Eeewwww!!
Title: Re: Help! Confused new guy...
Post by: Ralph Brunt on December 04, 2008, 07:14:34 PM: Quote from: Stevecat on December 04, 2008, 07:09:32 PM
s..sss....salt water?!! :sly: Eeewwww!!
salt water isn't that bad, you just gotta take some time and clean afterwards. hell there are $250k offshore boats in it, why cant my $5k jet boat do it