Calling on the Jet Boat Experts

skegpro

skegpro

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Looking for a jet boat capable of running the north Saskatchewan and something a guy could ski/wake behind or pull the kids on the tube.

Is it crazy to consider anything fiberglass on a river?

The interiors on the fiber glass boats seem so much nicer, say on a Glastron GTS 187 vs a Thunderjet.

School me please.
 
C

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Not sure re the depth of water but if your running a river with a tube or skier and your worried about damaging the boat then youve got bigger issues.

If its a shallow river and you plan on running over rocks / sandbars / logs then stick with aluminium. It will handle abrasion and impacts better.
If you do not plan on running in anything that shallow or debris filled then go with glass.
 
skegpro

skegpro

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Couch said:
Not sure re the depth of water but if your running a river with a tube or skier and your worried about damaging the boat then youve got bigger issues.

If its a shallow river and you plan on running over rocks / sandbars / logs then stick with aluminium. It will handle abrasion and impacts better.
If you do not plan on running in anything that shallow or debris filled then go with glass.
Click to expand...
Would rarely go out on the river.
Not to ski or tube just for sight seeing.

Just wondering if it would be a possibility.

I don't think I wanna own three boats so if I could kill two bird with a fibreglass jet that would be cool.
 
S.W.A.T.

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Jet boats work best up on step and are more or less tug boats when pulling a tube. I did it with my custom weld storm. The kids didn't like it so much as you need a long rope to be back away from the jet. However I didn't have trim tabs so whatever you chose make sure it has trim tabs for that purpose. Other than that any boat can go on the NS with ease
 
ABMax24

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I'm not sure that a combination exists that will perfectly live up to expectations for both a river boat and a ski boat. Shallow water jet boats typically have flatter bottoms that run a shallow draft, but do not handle rough water very well. Where ski boats typically run a deeper-V design hull for better maneuverability and stability, but require more water under the hull.

As well pump selection would be pretty critical for skiing as well, pressure style mixed flow pumps (american turbine, berkley etc.) sacrifice hole shot and load carrying/pulling ability for top end speed, and often shoot a high pressure roost that is detrimental to trying to pull skiers. A volume style axial flow pump (hamilton, scott) allows for significantly more bottom end grunt and load carrying ability for the sacrifice of top end speed.

If I were in your shoes I would go with a 18-20ft aluminum hulled boat, with a 10-14 degree hull and a center strip of UHMW, powered by a direct injected 6.2 LT1, with a scott 852 pump and hydraulic trim nozzle to aim the roost down while towing skiers. Of course and different motor and a Hamilton pump and trim could do the same thing.
 
skegpro

skegpro

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ABMax24 said:
I'm not sure that a combination exists that will perfectly live up to expectations for both a river boat and a ski boat. Shallow water jet boats typically have flatter bottoms that run a shallow draft, but do not handle rough water very well. Where ski boats typically run a deeper-V design hull for better maneuverability and stability, but require more water under the hull.

As well pump selection would be pretty critical for skiing as well, pressure style mixed flow pumps (american turbine, berkley etc.) sacrifice hole shot and load carrying/pulling ability for top end speed, and often shoot a high pressure roost that is detrimental to trying to pull skiers. A volume style axial flow pump (hamilton, scott) allows for significantly more bottom end grunt and load carrying ability for the sacrifice of top end speed.

If I were in your shoes I would go with a 18-20ft aluminum hulled boat, with a 10-14 degree hull and a center strip of UHMW, powered by a direct injected 6.2 LT1, with a scott 852 pump and hydraulic trim nozzle to aim the roost down while towing skiers. Of course and different motor and a Hamilton pump and trim could do the same thing.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
 
C

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Unless you are going to be skiing / boarding competitively or have a need to go bash boating, do not overthink it.
Find something you like, that's big enough but not too big, a decent price and go enjoy it. Loads of good used stuff out there.
 
neilsleder

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ABMax24 said:
I'm not sure that a combination exists that will perfectly live up to expectations for both a river boat and a ski boat. Shallow water jet boats typically have flatter bottoms that run a shallow draft, but do not handle rough water very well. Where ski boats typically run a deeper-V design hull for better maneuverability and stability, but require more water under the hull.

As well pump selection would be pretty critical for skiing as well, pressure style mixed flow pumps (american turbine, berkley etc.) sacrifice hole shot and load carrying/pulling ability for top end speed, and often shoot a high pressure roost that is detrimental to trying to pull skiers. A volume style axial flow pump (hamilton, scott) allows for significantly more bottom end grunt and load carrying ability for the sacrifice of top end speed.

If I were in your shoes I would go with a 18-20ft aluminum hulled boat, with a 10-14 degree hull and a center strip of UHMW, powered by a direct injected 6.2 LT1, with a scott 852 pump and hydraulic trim nozzle to aim the roost down while towing skiers. Of course and different motor and a Hamilton pump and trim could do the same thing.
Click to expand...

This!
 
NoBrakes!

NoBrakes!

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We have a fiberglass jet boat for sale... 8500$ OBO. I also have a really unique Eagle 21' narrow sport I'd deal on. PM me, I'm motivated to sell as I just bought a massive twin jet project...
 

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neilsleder

neilsleder

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NoBrakes! said:
We have a fiberglass jet boat for sale... 8500$ OBO. I also have a really unique Eagle 21' narrow sport I'd deal on. PM me, I'm motivated to sell as I just bought a massive twin jet project...
Click to expand...

You buy that Ali craft with twin 454?
 
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