Jet drive motors

Post by **Redbelly** » July 8th, 2006, 1:46 pm

How would one perform in the flats? Would this make a good skinny water motor, and then good for deeper water too?
Seems like more flats fishermen would use this.

Post by **MudDucker** » July 8th, 2006, 2:45 pm

Suck grass or a lot of sand into them and they get ruined pretty quick.

Post by AJ » July 8th, 2006, 5:04 pm

GAFF magazine had a write up last issue of what was called Phase III boat. There are a lot of things I liked about the boat (like the 10.5' casting deck) but it was powered by a 375 hp inboard and a jet drive. This was a 21' boat that drafts 15" and will only reach 42mph. There was mention in the article about making a deisel available but I bet my 150 yammy will still get better milage and speed. I'm not sure why a jet drive is so attractive to some people.

Post by **Chalk** » July 8th, 2006, 6:12 pm

Inefficient drive system, it takes something like a 50hp to make a 35hp jet drive, it doesn't steer well at low rpms or reverse from what I have read....Great for hopping bars and crawling through skinny water though

Post by **tin can** » July 8th, 2006, 7:49 pm

The 60 horse Yamaha jet drive has the same engine as the 90 horse prop drive. You lose about 1/3 of your power with a jet drive. It will use a lot more fuel than a propped motor. Get the water pickup in the grass and you'll come to a halt.

They're wonderful in skinny water. They tend to blow out in rough water.

Post by **seatrout99** » July 10th, 2006, 4:25 pm

Duck hunted on Seminole with a guy who had one last year. NEVER AGAIN. My go-devil gets there faster because I don't have to stop every 50 yds and clear the grass off the intake.

They are great for shallow, rocky rivers with no grass such as the North and Mid-West. This guy loves his for hunting and fishing the New River in NC.

Post by **Fisherman989** » July 10th, 2006, 6:03 pm

My fishing buddy has a 90 HP Yamaha..2005 model....with a jet drive. He has had one most of the 18 years he has had his current boat. He uses it exclusevely during the winter months (shallow fishing)...but in the summer (now) he has the propeller installed. Takes about 30 minutes, he says, to change it over.
It takes more gas with a jet.
Wavel Porter fixed the only little problem he has ever had.
I.ve gone with him several times with the jet.
He loves it
We have never had a grass problem...or sand problem.
Almost can go where a mullet boat can go. It takes at least 30 hp off the motor...compared to a propeller.

Sea Gurl · Post by **Sea Gurl** » July 11th, 2006, 8:28 am

Wetjet - where are you

This thread's for you

Sea Gurl

MstrBaiter · Post by **MstrBaiter** » July 11th, 2006, 10:05 am

aother Nay right here...just as everyone said.....don't do it. 3 years ago I repowered my 16' grumman alum. with a 30 horse johnson jet drive due to a blown powerhead on my 30 horse evenrude.....same exact moter....different lower unit. I suckered in for the shallow water hype, b/c I wanted something to run super shallow for duck hunting in the causeway ponds and not hurt the prop. Never again....

drinks twice the gas and you do lose 1/3 of your top end....like chalk said, reverse is a joke, you better be in a no current situation or you will be in trouble. Also as stated it doesn't take much grass to clog up the intake and you are constantly stopping, raising, cleaning it.....which makes a long day when you don't have remote tilt like this bone head didn't. I ended up taking the old lower unit off of the original motor and replacing it myself.....I would definitely stay away....

Post by **Second Chance** » July 11th, 2006, 12:29 pm

I have a jet 40, 60hp head, Yamaha four stroke on a 1652 G3. Does it use more gas yes, a jet will never compete with a prop on efficiency. Is it slower than a prop boat yes, again its never going to be as efficient at pushing a boat as a convential prop. The steering at slow speed (idle) takes a litttle getting use too but is not a big deal. I have never had any problem going in reverse. However, on plane you can run in very skinny water since the lower unit is actually higher than the trailing edge of the boat. You will hear a lot of wild claims on just how little water they will operate in but, it all depends on the type of boat and how the motor is set. I try not to run mine in less than 6"

If you do hit anything with the aluminum boat/jet you tend to bounce off or over. Ask me how I know this

Yes a lot of grass is a problem. That's why I had the power tilt installed. Tilt it up, pull the grass off and go. Never had a problem with just sand. Sucks it up and spits it out. I use this boat primarily up here on rivers that have lots of large rocks lurking just below the surface and white water. Simply, a conventional prop boat cannot go where I go. I have chased the trouts/reds around C'belle especially in the winter and it has performed well up the rivers. Jets are not for everyone but, for what I need I

mine

Big Bend Brian · Post by **Big Bend Brian** » August 1st, 2006, 6:53 am

For their intended purpose (running shallow) they work well. Around grass they are not a stellar performer. During the wintertime in Cedar Key the fish are shallow and back in the creeks. For the most part only air boats, Go Devils, and jets make it back there.

After Tropical Storm Alberto this summer I took my jetfoot off on account of the accumulated surface grass on the flats. Prior to that the grass was not a problem and I just pointed the bow wherever it was wet with little regard to depth. With the Yammy 90 propped it scoots but I have to pay attention to my depth now. With the 90 jet (63 hp at the foot) it still scoots (as far as jets go).

Jets arenâ€™t real suitable for deep water. Youâ€™ll get a lot of surging and motor revving in big water as the goes through troughs (waves). But if you have a jack plate you can eliminate some of that.

Jets are good in the right application. Iâ€™m looking forward to some coastal duck hunting around Cedar Key this winter in my jet. I like my jet.

Brian