I have a little experience with jet boats, but have never owned one. What do you guys think would be key questions to ask, pictures to receive and things to look for or be leery of?
Thank you in advance!
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Besides checking for holes or repairs to the bottom of the hull, the stringers are the main thing you want to check out. Bring a ball peen hammer with you to look at it. Tap lightly on the stringers. It should be a distinct thud. If you hear a slap then it means the stringers are delaminating. That will be a costly fix.
Next, take a look at the pump. You can shine a light into the intake grate and see if the impeller is beat up.
From there make sure it doesn’t have fiberglass fuel tanks. Then, check out the bulk head under the deck and subfloor for softness.
As far as the motor goes:
Check the oil. If it’s brand new it might be a sign it’s been changed to cover something up. It sounds paranoid, but I don’t trust anyone.
Bring a compression tester. They’re cheap and will give you a good idea of the shape the engine is in.
From there take a look at the trailer. Make sure it hasn’t been in an accident and that the bunks are in decent shape. If the trailer is shot it’s possible the bunks changed the shape of the hull causing it to hook which could lead to a whole host of other problems.
After all that you should still have the pump rebuilt for cheap insurance. $800 for a rebuild is a lot better than $2k for a new pump after a trust bearing lets go. The carb will more than likely need a rebuild and it’s likely the gas tanks are full of hardened up old gas that turned into a brown sediment.
Everything said above comes from experience. I’m not sure if you’re looking for a project or a newer turn key rig. Either way, those are all things to be mindful of. Happy hunting!
