Yamaha Jetboat

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Robski97

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Guys ,
Grew up with jet skis so I know the issues . Looking for anyone who has or had a Jetboat as to if they really like it . Need something fast and fun ....

Thanx

Rob
 
Rob, talk to my friend Steve at performance watercraft in seaford. He repairs the things and can tell you everything about them.
 
It depends what you want to do. Jet ski and Jet boat you do about the same thing but jet boat you can carry a lot more people. I had a 16 speedster with a 240 hp merc. and it did 63 mph with four people in it. It was a 2 stroke but I would go with a four stoke next time. It was fun, if you looking for one and it is used be careful they like to play submarine you probably did it with your jet ski. I had a jet boat and jet ski they were short lived. We decided to get a center console for our play around boat. Now we can go fishing, quick rides, tubing and it will run 45 mph which is fast enough for me. It is hard to sell a jet boat people rather buy a jet ski.
 
Look for four stroke with fuel injection. Fix it up yourself type projects are rarely worth it with jet boats or ski. Another note, my sea doo gtx is a 97 and the dealer won't work on it it anymore. He says the cost of fixing the old ones often exceeds the value and he has had too many angry customers.
Jim
 
Rob,
I have looked at these as I want one too. I think your better off with a small bowrider though. When I was looking it seemed like alot had new motors and I kept wondering why and I was told the motors in most of these don't last and/or are very costly to repair. It's sucking in alot of salt water, seaweed, and other bay crap. I admit they look fun and have great seating usually.

You got me thinking again, I may start to look as we need something else to do some days where we can tube, wakeboard, waterski, etc. Miss those days when I had a boat that could do all that!

Back to the jet boats, most have the rotax motors which are aluminum crap. A small 18' bowrider you will get a real motor with a I/O. Just as fun. Just as fast. Not as manueverable and will require slightly more water, though can be trimmed up.
Even a outboard is easier. look at the 16' bayliner element.

Just my .02.
 
The day I sold my jetboat was the happiest day of my boating life. $30/gallon for oil, constant breakdowns...

It was fun in calm flat water, but it sucked if there were any waves at all.

I bought a 17' Scout center console and I love it!
 
My experience is that jet boats are the same as older snowmobiles... you work on them all week and then you play on the weekends... as for four stroke versions I cannot comment as I have never owned a 4 stroke marine version of any kind... I still can't wrap my head around the fact that the machines can suck up and spit out water at speeds of 50 mph or higher... and jump in and out the waves all day with revs going up and down and just keep on going... then again, maybe they can't!!!! Graeme
 
Ok... thanx everyone .. I am swayed away from it .. They look so nice and relatively in expensive ....

UGH

Rob
 
Our boat came with a 11' Zodiac Pro-Jet tender with 80hp 2-Stroke motor. It was an absolute rocket...when it ran. I remember a romantic ride up the New River with my wife just after we bought the boat. And the not-so-romantic 3 hr ride home in reverse because the bucket was stuck. Spent about $3,000 in repairs, finally just gave it away. I needed something reliable for the out-islands of the Bahamas.
 
I vote NO on jet boats.
We had a few jet skis which are harder to maintain but we pulled them form the water when not in use and could get decent mileage with them. The jet boats we had were both 2 and 4 stroke but they all had corrosion issues form being in the water, all were terrible in fuel use and all were 'slow' for the relative amount of Hp that they had. We had a Sea doo Explorer, a Boston Whaler Rage and a twin engine Sea doo bowrider - all bad experiences for the most part.
Comparatively we have had great experiences with larger Ribs mounting large 4 stroke engines as well as smaller center console hard sided boats or all kinds.
I must say the larger RIBS gave us the most flexible uses and had the ability to 'shock' jet skis when in came to running in larger waves and turning top end with a few folks onboard.

Hope this helps
 
Guy on Beach Drive has a 2000 19' proline with a 125 (I think). Asking 11K. He's also selling the house, so no idea what the story is, but I stopped and looked in the driveway a few times. Looks like fun. When my bowrider sinks I'll probably get a center console to scoot around on.
 
Hmm. . . was out for 6 hours on Saturday - ran from Stony Point to GWB - diddled around by the TPZ bridge - total fuel use 26 gals on jet boat - if I had taken the Cruisers would have used AT LEAST 50 gals for the same trip.
Winterization - Jet Boat - change oil, flush and rev engines (this is the ENTIRE winterization process) MAYBE fog engines. Total Cost - less than $100. Change plugs in spring. Another $50 +/- Change anodes once every 2-3 years - around $10. per year. Total yearly cost $150 +/-
Cruisers yacht - 6 Gals antifreeze just for engines - cost at $5. each - around $30 bucks. Have yard pull and service B3 ODs - around $600. Anodes in spring - $200-. Bottom paint $300 +/- Trilux for ODs $140 +/-
Jet boat engine maintenance - minimal - my motors are 4 stroke motorcycle engines - made to rev upwards of 11k - governed to rev at 7.5k max for marine use. So far after 3 years - no problems.

Fun - Jet boat wins hands down. Great boat for scootin around, swimming and hanging out at the beach or at Croton. Rides beautifully, fun to be on and relatively care free. Cruisers yacht - many more creature comforts - fun - but not as fun as the jet boat.

Jet boats have come a long way from the old 2 strokers that were just jet skis on steroids. Try to take a ride on one before you close your mind!
 
I know what you mean RumDiet it is like having a four bedroom house and a pop up camper living in that camper is a lot cheaper.
 
We had a 2006 SeaDoo ski, it was the 4 cycle closed cooling. We put 150hrs on it in a couple of years, a lot of fun and pretty much trouble free. Virtually no maintenance (oil change, new plugs each year). The new SeaDoo boats are a far cry from even 5yrs ago, still not sure I would pick one over a similar size I/O or Outboard and certainly not over a inboard ski boat if water sports are your thing.
 
Somewhat off-topic, but somewhat on-topic :), but did you hear that Wellcraft sold the Scarab name to Rec Holdings who is now building jet boats. They look pretty nice and premium. There is a video, obviously biased, that compares the Scarab to the Yamaha.

Wellcraft changed the name of their Scarab line to 'Scarab Offshore'.
 
I looked at the SCARAB. was sooooo disappointed... No pop up bolster for seating .. cheap buttons on the dash.

I test drove the Yamaha ... HOLY crap what a ride. 50 mph in a heart beat ....

IDK we may have a winner.. I spoke to 4 guys that have the newer models and they had zero complaints....

All have boats as main boat ...

Rob
 
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