Advantages Of Owning a Jet Boat

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The very first question that comes to comes to a people's heads when they hear the term Jet Boat might be"Is that like a big jet ski?" The answer to this question is: somewhat yes, but NO. Obviously there is one huge similarity because they both use"jet propulsion." And that is pretty much where the similarities between jet boats and jet skis end.


The jet boat was created from the 1950's Even though Jet Boats have been among the growing sections in the industry. The idea is straightforward: Water is sucked up from underneath the vessel through an ingestion and taken out the back through a nozzle. There is generally a pump or impeller supporting the intake which sucks on the water and pushes it out the back.


The difference between a Jet Boat and Stern Drive or Outboard powered boat is that there's not an outside propeller on a Jet Boat. This has a lot of benefits in and of itself. More on that later.

Jet Boat Variations

If you are knowledgeable about watercraft, or jet skis, you probably have realized that most of them are similar in size and style. Currently, most personal watercraft are roughly 8′-12′ in span. They are generally rated for 2-3 passengers and have jet motors ranging in 80-350 in horsepower. Their light weight makes them function like a motorcycle on the water.


A jet boat, on the other hand, is more similar to a standard fiberglass runabout. In 2018, most jet boats range in size from 16′-24′. The smaller jet boats under 20′ in span typically have 1 motor. The jet boats that are larger will often have twin motors. Some 24′ jet boats on the market now, such as the Chaparral Vortex 2430 VRX, will have double high performance motors that make a total of 500hp.


There are several main benefits Jet Boats have over conventional drives. Based on exactly how and where you plan to do your boating, any of these could benefits might be sufficient to make you opt for a jet boat on a traditional stern drive.


A jet boat doesn't have prop/driveshaft or an outdrive, thus there is normally nothing. This means you could potentially run a jet ship in no more than 12" of water or less (not that we'd suggest that.) If you has stumps or boat, this can make a jet ship a great alternative for you.


Interior Space:

If you have a look at a few of the modern day jet boats, you'll find right away that the amount of room within the cockpit is significantly larger than what you can get in a stern drive. This is because of how the jet engines sit in the ship. They sit lower and further back. They do not require a large sunpad over the surface and are able to expand the cockpit area 12-18" longer than a similar sized brute force. As a consequence, that you could potentially get a 24' stern drive at a 22' jet boat's inside space.


Performance:

Jet boats have the capability that a stern drive could not dream of. Jet boats unmatched turning capability and have acceleration that is quick. They can have great top-speed based on their motor installation and horsepower rating.


Safety:

Jet boats do not have an exterior propeller. This means there is the risk of accidents related to the spinning prop. First of all, you should never have anyone in the water around the prop so this should be a problem when there is a ship running. Even without the motor running outdrive and the prop can get in the way when diving or swimming. On a jet boat, there is nothing vulnerable behind the boat. This makes a jet ship an appealing option for parents with children.


Watersports:

That is related to the safety advantage. The fact that a jet boat does not have a prop sticking out behind the boat opens up the possibility of"wakesurfing." Wakesurfing is a fairly new trend in the watersports world, and it's currently taking over as the most popular watersports activity over skiing and wakeboarding. This entails utilizing the wake behind the boat to push without using a rope, a surfboard you are standing on. It is ordinarily done quite near the back of the ship, which is why it is not safe if the ship has outdrive & an prop. Wakesurfing can only be done safely behind a jet boat or using the Volvo FFD.


Every type of boat has it's own advantages and disadvantages, and there is a jet boat no exception to this. Here are a few things that could maybe be considered disadvantages.


Fuel Consumption:

The motors in modern day jet boats tend to operate at higher RPMs than their stern drive counterparts. This can possibly make them efficient. We're reluctant to label all jet boats. Many things go than just numbers into fuel market. One producer told us in their 24' jet boat the difference was marginal, around 6-8 use. And that is comparing a single drive jet ship that is 500hp, to a twin engine. So check with the maker of the ship you're buying to get more info.


Noise:

This goes hand-in-hand with all the fuel consumption topic and for the identical reason RPMs. There is not much debate that these motors are going to be nosier than their brute force counterparts. That does not mean it is noisier for the ship passengers. Before it can escape the engine compartment, the key is to prevent that sound. Chaparral for example, has done some things that were substantial to reduce noise in their jet boats and it's worked wonderfully. It is to the point that you can't tell much difference. The distinction is in the type of sound. Motors in jet boats have a tendency to be a pitched sound where drives are a noise. Again, don't let this one slow down you if you're taking a look at jet ships.


Maneuverability

You may notice we put an asterisk at this one because this DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL JET BOATS. We would like to be clear about this. For turning not all jet ships use the same system. Some jet boats are at turning, especially in reverse bad. REALLY BAD. But other manufacturers of jet boats aren't. Actually, they are excellent. Perhaps even better than stern drives. So what we are saying is do your own research.

There are lots of different elements which make jet ships different from drives. We have covered. Jet boats are one of the fastest growing segments in the industry. There is clearly a good reason for it. Before you go out and buy a drive that is stern since that's what you have grown up with your lifetime, do yourself a favor and have a look at the new jet boat models. You'll be pleased you did.


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