Outboard Jet vs Outboad Prop

daboss · 29 July 2012, 15:49

Dear forum,
I would like to buy a new inflatable and the showroom salespeople try to presume me to buy an outboard jet.
What is your opinion on this case.
Will it be faster?
Will it be safer with all the ropes and plastic bags that the sea is hiding?
What about fuel consumption ?
Will the HydroJet outboard be less efficient if I put a few friends more on the boat? Will the weight slow down the speed?
Sorry for all these questions but I am very confused.
I had an outboard with normal prop and twice they stole my prop in the parking plus when very shallow I had to lift the engine.
Of course I have to admit that in very rough sea conditions the boat felt very steady, I don't know if the jet acts the same.
The jet from the other side maneuvers perfect.
Thank you for your time

Poly · 29 July 2012, 17:30

I've never driven a jet, but generally they will only make sense to people with very specific needs. A jet outward is still going to need tilted in shallow water, although the consequences of occassional low speed contact might be less costly than a prop. A plastic bag will still have the potential to block cooling ports. I'm not sure about ropes, but I'd guess there will be a size with potential to get stuck in the jet. Jets are generally considered 30% less efficient. If you are loading a prop driven boat heavily you can quickly and cheaply swap the prop to suit the situation.

There are situations where a jet just makes sense but normal leisure use won't normally justify the po's con's even without looking at cost.

Brian · 29 July 2012, 17:37

Simple.
Don't.

GJ0KYZ · 29 July 2012, 17:52

I don't know where you live but here in Europe we don't tend to have jet drive outboards so few of us will have had any experience of them. You may be better off trying an american forum as jet units are frequently used on inland waterways there.

m3mm0s rib · 29 July 2012, 19:55

Dude you know the outboard is more reliable than jets. If there is a price difference then you buy what you are most compatible

jyasaki · 29 July 2012, 20:01

Jets were really popular in the US back in the 70's and 80's as ski boats (which means inland lakes and rivers over here, for the most part.) Makes sense, as no prop to slice and dice. Most were grossly overpowered things; a friend's boat was powered by a gas 400-odd cubic inch engine.

Fast forward 40 years, and most ski boats have returned to props (I think.) Maintenance and efficiency are probably the main reasons, but that's just a guess. I'm not a skier. I don't think the motors have gotten any smaller, though.

jky

Peter_C · 29 July 2012, 22:43

Jets serve one purpose only...to drive in shallow water. They handle poorly, are less fuel efficient, have less "bite" in the water, and don't have many benefits. If you are worried about someone getting cut with a prop do like the rescue boats and put a prop guard on.

I have owned my share of boats, with the first being a way overpowered jet boat with a big block 455 pumped up. Slow speeds it was a pain in the butt to drive. For years after the Sea Swirl open bow with a 90 horse Yamaha 2 stroke outboard served me well. Then I got my Nautique that I put over a thousand hours on. Plus all my friends boats which is probably in the hundreds of comp boats. Now I have another outboard with a regular old prop. Once in a great while I wish it was a jet when driving close to or in less than 6 inches of water, which is my current draft.

Rokraider · 29 July 2012, 23:04

Jets handle poorly? I would like to see you do this with anything else..

Jet boat precision turn (Venture Jet, Ocean Dynamics RIB) - YouTube

Guess it depends how good a driver you are.

They are vague on the steering at slow speeds until you get the hang of it, but once mastered you can perform amazing manoeuvres. They are less efficient than a prop, but the other benefits do it for me.

Peter_C · 30 July 2012, 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokraider

They are vague on the steering at slow speeds until you get the hang of it

That is what I was referring to when I meant handled poorly. My flat bottom would walk all over the place instead of going straight at idle. Around the docks they are actually pretty easy to drive vs a direct or V-drive, which do take mastering since they only back one direction unless you know exactly how to work the throttle and wheel. PWC's handle fairly well around the docks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokraider

but once mastered you can perform amazing manoeuvres. They are less efficient than a prop, but the other benefits do it for me.

I owned a squirt boat and know of the benefits. For the open ocean though they are not the best option. For running rapids there is nothing that compares, and I said that in my first post.

PWC's can do amazing tricks too.

What is the new Mercruiser park system? That is a sweet setup for around the dock handling.

jyasaki · 30 July 2012, 08:30

Sea Doo has a new PWC with a brake; is that what you're talking about? It's just a bucket, same as boats have had for years. Apparently nobody thought to put one on a PWC before.

jky

Lee argyle · 30 July 2012, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Sea Doo has a new PWC with a brake; is that what you're talking about? It's just a bucket, same as boats have had for years. Apparently nobody thought to put one on a PWC before.

jky

Most skis’ run with a rear bucket - and have for decades.
The new seadoo uses a system called IBR (intelligent brake and reverse), fly-by-wire throttle, neutral, reverse and brake – manovering is very, very controllable and the brake is excellent. Touch sensitive handle bar levers – sat at 70mph (not B.S. – GPS’d) and hit the brake, they decelerate hard, enough if you’re not expecting it to go over the bars! The only downside is very few craft can slow down like this, you have to be careful when you stop that you don’t get rear-ended by other craft following

jyasaki · 30 July 2012, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

The only downside is very few craft can slow down like this, you have to be careful when you stop that you don’t get rear-ended by other craft following

Well, at least it'll be their fault and not yours.

I don't do jetski's, so have no idea about the tech used on them. Just going by the commercials (which have gotten quite pervasive recently.)

jky

GJ0KYZ · 30 July 2012, 17:52

Jet skis are the future of ribbing. I've just bought one; it's brill. It's a Yam FXHO so it doesn't have all the SeaDoo innovation but it still handles well, uses very little fuel and already has gone where even my rib couldn't go.

Lee argyle · 30 July 2012, 18:41

I really enjoy my ski, ( RXP-X 260 ) the performance is breath taking, 0-70 in 'oh my god!' - quicker than a Ferrari

however for family, fishing, socialising and long distance the RIB is the weekend choice. One bonus about the ski, I can finish work and be on the water in about 15 mins, there very easy to own.

GJ0KYZ · 30 July 2012, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

I really enjoy my ski, ( RXP-X 260 ) the performance is breath taking, 0-70 in 'oh my god!' - quicker than a Ferrari

It's hard to appreciate the performance and handling of a ski until you've been on one. Last weekend a group of us went to the Minquiers Reef south of Jersey. At one point we were flying along at 50kts in about three feet of water 10 feet from the sandbar north of the main island - what a laugh! What persuaded me to get a jet ski was reading the coverage of the three guys who skied from Orkney to Monaco via Biscay unsupported. Hard core even for the biggest of ribs let alone a ski. I've posted this video of them before but for those who haven't seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-uecXAdfgU]

willk · 30 July 2012, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Jet skis are the future of ribbing....and already has gone where even my rib couldn't go.

Just wait until you "discover" galoshes. There won't be a puddle in France beyond your reach