BigBendFishing.Net

Got a questions for you guys that primarily trout/inshore fish. I read about the rocks and low water issues fishing over around Ecofina(?), anyway East of where I prmarily fish around C'belle. I rarely see or hear anyone talk about running jetdrive outboards. Is there a reason or just personal preference? I know about the hp loss. Since my job keeps me up here in ATL most of the time and I only manage to get down to C'belle a couple of times a month. I'm looking for a inshore boat that I can flats fish shallow and run on the Hooch up here. If you are going to run the Hooch much a jetdrive is a must, large boulders + fluctuating water levels = ragged props Any input is much appreciated.

I see no reason why you couldn't run a jet drive, I think we just prefer a prop drive cause that's what came with our boats and most of our fishing area doesn't require the use of one

There are a couple of guys in the NFGFC who run jet drives and they have the same pros and cons.

Pros- runs in very skinny water

Cons - hard to control in reverse, floating grass can clog it, gas milage is not the best.

Wetjet can probably tell you more about it.

Have heard that them jets use alot more gas...

Yeah the gas consumptiom makes sense since you loose about 25% of your hp compared to a prop and you are still lugging the weight around. Hadn't thought about the grass issue. I'm looking at a 90/65 jet on a 17' G3 welded aluminum. Thanks for the replies

I have a small 14' fiberglass boat I'm rigging up for skinny water. I've researched the Jet drives a little. There are two type of jets I understand. Supposedly one is called a pump drive I believe. Tom hit the pros and cons on the head. By the way, there is a Jet drive boat on ebay right now. Also a number of 25hp Jet Drives for around $700. They are military surplus. The ones used by special forces. I wonder how bad they stir up the bottom.

I've got a 50/30hp honda with a jet foot on my 16' AL boat. You need to seriously ask yourself "how shallow do I really need my boat to go". You will also have to pay very close attention when running shallow. The jet will run in mere inches of water but you MUST keep it on plane. If it comes down you'll have a long hard push until you get the depth to restart.

The negs:
The jet will suck sediment/shell when running super shallow. This can clog the water pump "piss tube" and cause it to spray the inside of the cowling eventually killing the motor (refer to the long slow push).
You can't practically trim the foot so trim tabs would be nice.
The motor tends to cavatate alot in choppy water as it sucks air causing you to back off the throttle.
Slow speed steering is less precise but with practice you can make it do anything you want.
Last and most aggravating, it sucks weeds, grass, etc. like a hoover. And the only way to get it off is to shut the motor down and pull it off by hand (power tilt would be handy).

The pros: It's fun as hell to watch your buddies pick their way around submerged oyster bars to reach your fishing hole, while you've been fishing it for at least 10 min. It runs like a dream on early glass calm water too.

Just ask yourself how shallow do you need to go.

Good Luck