8 Common Issues with Jet Boats

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If you've ever ridden on a jet ski while you're on vacation in the lake or at the beach, you know just how much fun they can be. Jet skis and jet boats can be a lot of fun, especially for people who prefer to be able to speed and cruise across the water.


1. They're Twice as Loud When You Cross the 30 MPH Threshold

Jet skis with 4-stroke motors have an average speed of 65 mph that can be tuned to just over 100 mph. Today's Jet Boats from Scarab, Chapparal, and Yamaha are averaging, in stock form, speeds starting at 41 mph on up to 56 mph.  

Noise will always be around with any type of combustible engine platform from an I/O, Outboard, Rotax or Yamaha motor.  It's an engine, they make noise, but they are nothing in decibels that's more annoying, or any louder than a boat with thru-hull exhaust, or the old famous 2-stroke that we love the exhaust smell from.  This statement is not true with todays Jet boats. 


2. Jet Skis and Jet Boats Can Suck Up Foreign Objects in Shallow Water

We don't recommend using your Seadoo, Yamaha, Kawasaki PWC, or Scarab Jet Boat within 12" of it's allotted draft.  In other words, if a boat drafts 12", meaning that it will float in only 12" of water, use it at idle in 23" of water.  Due to newer technology, Seadoo and Scarab jet boats now offer the all new IDF (Intelligent Debris Free) technology that is used by the click of a button to enable riders or captains to free debris without getting into the water.  In addition, Scarab Jet Boats offer a weedless shaft system that eliminates anything getting wrapped around the drive shaft like a dock-line, or debris under the water.  Normally, you can also just turn the vessel engine off, grab a drink, and that debris usually falls back out without issue.

3. Used Jet Skis Could Include a Slew of Problems

As with any type of recreational vehicle, including your car, the owner needs to keep up on the maintenance, especially for the wear and tear items.  We recommend that you service your recreational vehicle at least 2X a year, whether you are using it or not, especially under harsh conditions like heat, salt water, moisture, and sun damage.  If a jetski or jet boat looks like its in rough shape, ask the Seller for any maintenance receipts from their local dealer prior to negotiating a price or even purchasing it.  There are a lot of good buys at dealers since most of them service what they sell!  


4. Sea-Doo Boats Could Get Rusty Rings and Housings

This doesn't apply to any Rotax (BRP) drivelines since they use an aluminum jet pump housing with a plastic wear ring.  These pumps are designed to let the particles go through without damaging the impeller.  However, Yamaha has an issue with their jet pumps since they use an aluminum housing, and a stainless steel liner, or wear ring as some people call it.  Unfortunately, this design is using 2 dissimilar metals, add in salt water and heat, and the corrosion begins between the 2 metals causing small protrusions that hit the impeller, or even keep the motor from turning over since it can hold the impeller in place over time when not in use.  This should be inspected every 2 years on any Yamaha product for the water.


5. Bilge Pump, Battery Capacity, and Less Torque

I am not sure where this claim came from since it doesn't apply to any 4-stroke engine used in a jetski or a jet boat manufactured from 1997 to present day!  For example, a 500 GPH bilge pump operates on a 12 volt system, and only draws 1.6 amps. Bilge pumps are built in various forms such as: a float switch/panel switch, float only, or just a panel switch style.  They are extremely low on maintenance too!  As for batteries, today the marine industry suggests using an AGM sealed battery.  The AGM battery doesn't leak acid into your hull and will last 3X as long.  They have on average 2 extra plates per cell for an average of 30% higher cranking performance, and are engineered to protect against corrosion, withstand vibration, and eliminates the need to add water.  Any battery today, can easily start any high torque/compression engine.  Torque issues were associated with jet boats from the early 70's with big blocks.  And, I would bet that most of the users were blaming the battery, and not their electrical system for corrosion issues.

6. Inadequate Fuel Consumption

I love this argument!  First, how can you say fuel consumption is inadequate?  Who's saying it?  The guy that can't afford the boat, let alone the fuel?  Is it the guy or gal that uses a brand for chartering, and bought the largest engine on the market for his boat that just needs to save on fuel and can do so with smaller horsepower?  Is it the guy or gal who had to have the twin, triple, or quad motors?  Fuel consumption is irrelevant up until you can decide how you want to use the boat.  On average, 19-21 foot jet boats from Chapparal, Scarab, and Yamaha are burning 8 gph on 250 HP single engines.  Horsepower always equals more fuel usage, but the performance can be actually cheaper to run if you can get to your destination faster based on fuel burn, versus time and speed.  For reference, the Scarab 285 ID has a 145 mile cruise range with a 98 gallon fuel tank, and 11 GPH burn at 23 mph at 5500 RPM.


7. Costs of Maintaining a Jet Boat

As a service center, we preach to our customers about doing their services yearly, twice a year to be exact.  It's not any different for the North to the South since the North will need a pre-season service, and their winterization at the end of the year.  Here in the South, we do 2 services, and you keep on boating since we aren't winterizing anything.  Customers, can at times exceed those 2 services requiring a 3rd one depending on their hour usage service interval.  Please, don't be afraid to take your boat into a dealer for service, since we know what can happen to your boat prior to an upcoming 100-hour service.  We will actually try and save you money by doing the things necessary for maintenance that you can't even You-tube or know about.  You would be surprised how many thousands of dollars a dealer can really save you!

8. Changing and reverse Speeds

Scarab jet boats have a Fly-by-wire shifter, so what's the argument here?  Seadoo's offer their IBR (Intelligent Braking Reverse) system so riders can try to avoid an accident by slowing down faster, by pressing the finger-lever on the left side, actuating the reverse gate bucket as a brake.  Scarab jet boats are using a larger reverse gate bucket with ports to enable the driver to drive the boat in NEUTRAL, and/or turn it in a 360 while holding the same position.  Yamaha wave-runners have now caught up to that technology with their RIDE system as well.  Google these and do your research.


General Pros and Cons for Jet Boats

The Pros

  • Closed-loop cooling
  • Shallow Draft and no propeller to destroy lets you navigate and explore waters readily
  • Increased room on the swim platform--No outboards to walk around!
  • More horsepower!!  We are a leader!
  • Notched seating for more leg room
  • New technology every year
  • Safety of having no prop exposed
  • Supercharged/intercooled engines
  • Custom color choices from Scarab
  • Multi-use now due to Scarab making a boat to fit all categories of use from wake boarding, fishing, surfing, and entertaining
  • Quiet ride technology
  • Blue tooth capability
  • JL Audio Sound systems
  • Anti-corrosion paint on all jet pumps
  • Cruise Control
  • Fly by wire technology throttle gives you unmatched maneuverability on the water
  • INR system--Out maneuvers any comparable jet reverse system without gizmo's and extra paddles on the steering wheel!  It just works!
  • IBR system
  • No Wake Modes
  • Ski Modes
  • Docking Mode
  • Wake board ballast system, wakeboard tower, wakeboard racks, digital speed control, let's you configure the boat to your needs!
  • 3 year/480 hour warranty
  • Easy steering
  • Insulated engine covers
  • Excessive storage
  • Cell phone chargers
  • USB Ports
  • Navigation systems on board
  • Stylish boats compared to the average boat we have all seen for years


The Cons

The owner who doesn't listen to the dealer nor reads his owner manual!  I know, I know, easy target!  However, it is true that most boat owners are the root cause for unnecessary repair costs, neverminded the brand they own.  All boats were made to float, and not be to driven up to the sandbar or run-a-ground, yet we service so many various/brands drive-lines with damage from doing so.  Take a boating course to educate yourself with the surrounding waters is advised prior to buying your new dream boat.  Dealers have a lot of experience, and will share anything you ask of them for knowledge.  Nothing personal, but we don't want to see you again until your next service!  However, we do take it personal when something unfortunate happens to help those smiles turn into frowns that could've been avoided with a little education.  Every dealer in America wants nothing more, but every weekend with you and your family to be safe while creating smiles and great memories.  


Final Thoughts

As with any type of boat purchase, be sure to purchase the right boat for your needs, wants, and of course your budget.  Ask questions!  What do want to use the boat for?  Who's going to be using the boat?  What size boat do you really need?  Are you buying it for the family that comes down every 8-12 months?  Are you an experienced boater of sorts?  Is it all about price, value, or overall cost for you when you're deciding to buy pre-owned versus new?  Do you really need two or more engines?  What about safety considerations with the boat you are looking at?  Prop or No prop?  Write your questions down and bring them to the dealer you are thinking about buying a boat from--you will be surprised how much we can really help in your buying decision.  


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