Help with Jet Outboard on a Inflatable ?

jackreno · 15 September 2017, 01:16

I currently own a 11 foot fiberglass Rib with a 30 hp prop motor, my boating style has change and prefer to go into swallow rivers here in Americas Northwest, and my current boat will not work, I have already busted my skeg trying so its time for another boat, was looking for a aluminum RIB but it appears the V-hulls are not good for a Jet outboard.

So has anyone used a SIB with jet outboard with good results, what about seating, storage, steering wheel, etc, what brand is best for swallow waters, very shallow like 6 inches and can still hold up after beating on rocks all day.

I want to do it right this time and get the right boat and motor cause this is a expensive hobby or wife is going to stop my credit card.

jackreno · 15 September 2017, 01:26

Also I once owned a SIB with air floor and hated that boat, that was why I moved into a RIB, was thinking of the aluminum floor SIB, are the floors solid in waves and how do you add seats and steering console without damage to the rubber under floor.

HDAV · 16 September 2017, 22:14

Look at zodiac futura mk2 seats and steering etc attach to the tubes and floor with ropes and locks. Jet outboards aren't great what sort of boating are you doing that means a prop won't work?

jackreno · 17 September 2017, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDAV

Look at zodiac futura mk2 seats and steering etc attach to the tubes and floor with ropes and locks. Jet outboards aren't great what sort of boating are you doing that means a prop won't work?

I need a jet outboard for shallow rivers, might be in 6 inch or less in certain areas, a prop motor sticks down about a foot a Jet outboard if set up right does not go below hull or maybe 1 inch below.

Poly · 17 September 2017, 11:45

Never had one, but is the logic not that you need a smooth flow of water into the jet - in which case a soft bottom sounds problematic. Can you not get a shallow V Ali hull? Rotomolded boats haven't really taken off in the us have they? Not sure if any of the NZ suppliers have tried jets with them, but high speed in rivers is their sort of thing!

HDAV · 17 September 2017, 18:47

Unless your going fast the jet will hoover the river bed and break........ inboard jet rib like an Avon or Willans maybe? Still no good in 6" of water unless running fast.......

https://www.williamsjettenders.com/t...t/minijet-280/

paintman · 18 September 2017, 08:20

Internet search shows a number of outboard waterjet engines incl Mercury & Yamaha.
I think your best bet would be to speak to the companies & get their opinion as to the suitability of their engines for your purposes - after all, if it does go wrong then a warranty claim on the basis 'Well someone on the internet said it would be all right' isn't going to cut it.

Starovich · 18 September 2017, 10:12

Jet Tinnie? Looks this kind of thing has been sorted before?

beamishken · 18 September 2017, 12:18

Surely the question was about the suitability of the sib not the engine!
If the op wants to operate in shallow water a jet is the only realistic option
I wouldn't think a sib with a vee shape would be very suitable maybe the futura as already suggested but aluminium seems to be the material of choice for shallow water or shooting rapids. I'd imagine the chances of puncturing a sib would be pretty high where aluminium is a bit tougher and easy to repair.
An aluminium floor sib still relies on the fairly thin fabric underneath to keep the water out
A tinnie would be my choice

HDAV · 18 September 2017, 16:00

Hmm I would say water deep enough to operate a jet won't trouble a shallow rib 10degree or sib but an Alu dory/Jon boat may wear better than fibre glass........

This looks like it's designed for the task
https://youtu.be/QqvI-x5yyXU

Last Tango · 18 September 2017, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDAV

Unless your going fast the jet will hoover the river bed and break........ inboard jet rib like an Avon or Willans maybe? Still no good in 6" of water unless running fast.......

https://www.williamsjettenders.com/t...t/minijet-280/

+1
Been there.
Had a 16ft day boat with a V8 PP jet. Absolute bu@@er in shallow water. I still remember the "crack" off it every time it fired a pebble through the impeller and the time I had to climb over the side to pull all the weed it had sucked up out of the intake grill.
Not where you want to be at 04:00am.

jackreno · 18 September 2017, 19:07

Thanks for the replies, as to a tin boat or aluminum bottom rib I might go with a heavy duty sib, I don't plan on going into logs and sharp rocks/rapids, just clean skinny waters in the North West, I am tired of spending all my boating in the lakes and deep rivers, want to head up into the swallow waters away from the other boaters, as to damage to the Jet outboard I have already got damage on my prop outboard and that was around 1 foot of water, would be nice to just go up river from the lakes and not worry about damage below 1 foot of water, yes I know below 6 inches I could see damage but I will most likely avoid that swallow.

Most North West swallow rivers have few weeds unlike the South East.

Here is videos of a Zodiac sib in the rapids/swallow waters with a 60 hp outboard Jet.

https://youtu.be/oMygp1WQ064

https://youtu.be/pgeDgBaKVNg

https://youtu.be/GVYJHcGClto

tom in utah · 12 October 2020, 01:33

Were you able to get a lead on running shallow in a Zodiac with a jet drive?
The boat in the video definitely had a jet.
We live near the Colorado and Green Rivers in Utah, this set up will enable us to oar down the river then power back upstream.
Your thoughts?
Tom in Utah

Fenlander · 12 October 2020, 08:34

Why not get a boat intended for jet to get the best result? What I think of as the Russian jet boats seem to have the answer as the SIB is properly designed to run a jet motor. There are hundreds of YouTube videos of these boats going well in all types of shallow water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn2KGKa3ULA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQTteIMvKU

Limecc · 12 October 2020, 09:44

Check out these Russian guys who have this type of boating honed to perfection. It's the only type of water they've got.

http://vodnik19.ru/
https://youtu.be/3Jwky1cEQjs

smallribber · 16 October 2020, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

Check out these Russian guys who have this type of boating honed to perfection. It's the only type of water they've got.

Тюнинг и ремонт лодочной техники | интернет-магазин лодок ПВХ | водно-моторная мастерская Стихия воды
https://youtu.be/3Jwky1cEQjs

That looks incredible. Would love to have a go in one of those boats