New to the forum and clueless about jet boats. I have owned a couple smaller deep V I/O boats with Chevy 502s. Life was getting busy and they sat on the trailer more than getting used. So, I sold the last boat 2 years ago. I was thinking about buying an older jet boat to play around with. I am mechanically inclined so little stuff doesn't bother me.

I stumbled across a 1978 Python jet boat(18') and it looks pretty clean. Nothing fancy, but doesn't appear to be hacked up.

The guy that owned it said this boat was close(or maybe even a copy) to a Tahiti hull, which seems to be a decent hull from what I have read. What are the opinions on the Python jet boat hull? Not looking for the baddest boat out there. But, would like to know it was built decent from the start. I realize how it was taken care of is also huge with a boat this old.

Last question, I kept seeing "1/4 stringer boat" in a few threads. What exactly does this mean? I assume it means they only used a 1/4 the stringers as the name implies, instead of a full stringer system? But, where did they not use them?

Thanks!

Not familiar with the Python brand, but there were hundreds of builders copying other builders hull designs.  The more important items to look at would be soft or rotted wood (stringers, transom, bulkhead, floors).  A lot of boats used foam filler under the floors that would hold moisture causing lots of problems over time.

As for the stringer question:  A quarter stringer would stop just forward of the engine and normally be tied into a floor that is glassed into place creating a more rigid hull.  A 3/4 length stringer would stop near the forward bulkhead and a full stringer would stop up under the deck near the front.