Build a jet boat

[JohnT]

Well I've been kicking this around for some time , I was looking to build a jet boat out of a 16x48 or a 14x48 Alumacraft . Can anybody give some insite on this ?

Like the 16x48 I was looking at running a 50 /35 jet ?
Or the 14x48 I was looking a 35 / 20 jet ? Or maybe a 40 hp / jet ?
I'm just sure if I would be better off to go up to a bigger boat and motor or just start out with something a 14x48 and build the motor to get the max horse power out of it . Thanks JT

 

[willfishforfood]

Go big or go home. Just kidding. I have a 16' V with 50/35 Yamaha and it does fine with two in the boat.

 

[JohnT]

Please explain v , Do you mean modifed V hull or just a v hull .

Well I spoke to a fellow today and he had a 14x48 with a 30 hp jet on it , that he is selling because with 2 guys it does fine , when you add a 3rd guy it just don't work that good . That's why I was asking the question about going to a 16 x48 or something close to that and throwing a bigger motor at . It always goes back to more weight , more speed , more motor , A LOT MORE Money!!!!
I'm just trying to get my biggest bang for my buck .

 

[willfishforfood]

Mod V . I'm looking for a pict but think it was on my old PC.

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

I'd get a 40hp at least. Johnson/Evinrude OMC are great motors with the jet pumps. Yamahas don't do bad either, small mercs are dissapointing with a jet. 16'48" vs 14'48"? That's your call, wouldn't bother me to put a 40hp on either of them. I'd probably go with the 16'.

 

[JohnT]

I was speaking to outboard jet corp, they said that I could get away with running a 50 hp on a 16x48 , And still be within horsepower limit of the boat with a jet because you lose about 30% of your horsepower with there jet . Do you know if 40 hp would put in a good around power range or would it be better to go to the 50hp ?

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

For the most part the 40hp and 50hp motors are the same motors but they have diffrent carbs on them. Easy swap only 4 nuts. I done it enough I could do it with my eyes closed. It only makes about a 1mph diffrence when your by yourself but it will help haul a load alot better. I buy which every one is the better deal and if it is the 40hp buy a set of 50hp carbs on ebay. If you want a 40hp or a 50hp I'd buy a 1990-up johnson/Evinrude OMC 2 cylinder. They're a 45 cubic inch motor you can buy them with internal tilt trim, which I thinks a must for an outboard jet. I've seen these motors run on boat like 17' 52" with 3-4 people and they still plane out. They're a dime a dozen, easy to work on and parts are cheap and easy to find. Try to find a short shaft so you'll only need the 22" transom.
Don't worry about over powering either of these boats. You can't do it with a 60hp let alone a 40hp, 50hp. We run highly modded 60hp johnsons on 16'48" around here with no problems. let me know if you have anymore questions.

 

[JohnT]

16x48 It is , Now is it better to have the steering console center , or side or does it really matter ? And do you want to be in the middle of the boat front to rear ? I already thought that I would put my trolling motor battery up front , maybe a small live well in the center ? Is there any place I could see some different ideas of lay -outs ? I've search through here and found a few just asking is there any better lay-outs vs bad lay-outs ?

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

Side console in the back. Keep your weight towards the back and you'll have better top end speed. But to much wieght in the back and they're a bear to plain out.
Personally if I was settin up a boat to fish out of I would have a 48" deck witha 15" extension that flips up, a removable pedestal seat in the center. I'd have a bench across the back with two live wells/box in front of the beches with your seats mounted on them. You might put a flip up lid on the bench for some storage. You can buy consoles with a storage boxs built in infront of them.

 

[moelkhuntr]

I think Lil Blue Rude is trying to describe something like mine. Mine is a 17/52 but 16/48 will work. This is only 1 layout.

 

[semojetman]

I run a 90 yamerhamer on my 1648. It plains out with 3 to 4 adults in about 50 yds from a dead stop. We've modded it up to about 110 horse but havent had it in the water yet. I think a 60/40 would be a good reasonable motor for you.

I have heard several times that anything smaller than a 50 with a jet on it is a pooch.

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

Yep, moelkhunter's boat is about the setup I was talking about. It's a nice setup for fishing and boat riding. It wouldn't be a real heavy boat.
As for anything smaller then a 50hp being a pooch, I'll disagree. I'd bet money I got a 40hp evinrude your 110hp Yamahamer won't come close to touching :mrgreen: Your right the 60/40 would have some more power but on a 16' 48" setup to fish the 40hp wouldn't be a bad motor, 40hp would be better on gas and it wouldn't be that big of a performance diffrence. Either way I'd stick to omc or yamaha. If you go for the 3 cylinder omc make sure to get the 56cu in motor because the49 cu in are dogs with a jet pump. the 56cu where made from 86-01.

 

[JohnT]

Cool jet , I really do like the set-up . I'm was just trying to get my ducks in a row too start this build off on the right foot . I'm a Omc fan for sure I've had them on fishing boats for at least 10 years now and not once has one of them left me stranded on the water anywhere . I have a 30 hp Omc right now I'll see if I can use this for some trading material . Or to put toward a 40hp or bigger motor .


This is an off the wall question , How do you find out if you are aloud to a jet on a stream or river ? Are there any streams or rivers where you live that you are not aloud to have a jet boat on?

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

We can run about anywhere here in Misourri, we have some hp limit on some parts. 40hp some places and 25hp in others. For the most parts if we can get a boat in we can run it. You might check your local laws.

 

[Ranchero50]

John, where are you going to run? Around here about the only limit is water depth. I think the whole Potomac is speed limited to 35mph or so but the DNR don't run jet boats

Jamie

 

[JohnT]

I was checking today with WV Dnr and they was going to send a booklet with river and streams that I was aloud to run a jet on . One river that I was looking to run is the New River in southern Wv . I have a buddy that lives out around Harrisburg Pa , which is the Susguehanna River , Plus local lake and rivers like Ohio . I know I don't need a jet for the big O .

 

[Scottinva]

If you are going to be fishing the New or especially the Susquehanna, you may want to consider getting a hull with at least a 1/8 bottom. For those rivers I would also recommend some type of forward console so you can see the rocks and ledges. You can tear a boat up real quick on those rivers.

Scott

 

[JohnT]

Let see some pictures , do you have forward controls in your boats ? That may be a really good idea . Do you run these river on a regular bases? I was trying to find out if there any more then 1 boat launch on the New ( Thurman was the only DNR could think of ) .

 

[Scottinva]

Go to Jamesriverjets.com Snyderboats.com or Rockproofboats.com to see a variety of forward consoles or forward stick steer boats. I believe G3 makes a 18' center console boat that was designed by one of the dealers on the Susquehanna for the Susquehanna. You could look at that too. Mine is just a standard stand up forward center console. I drive standing up. I used to run the Susky all the time but now live in Virginia and run the James and New in Virginia.

Scott

 

[JohnT]

Is it better to buy a motor with a jet already on it from the factory or if I would find and a motor an add a jet to it ? Would it have better performance or about the same . I have never been around a jet to know , I have looked through some of the other threads and seen where some of the guys want only factory built motor and others just add a jet to there own motor . Got any insite on this ?

Hey do any of you guys run sponson on the back of your boat ?