pro 185 jet

[Steve Rizza]

Anybody know anyone that has one of these?Ive been thinking(dreaming) about a new boat and I just keep coming back to these.The only bad thing I hear is in shallow rivers they suck rocks into the impeller.These things look better every time I look at them,but The only time I actually saw one on the water it was the first time out for the guy so he didnt know much about it.Also glad to see things back to normal,or should I say the way they normally are.Younse guys are far from normal.

 

[Staci Matheis]

"Normal" is a setting on a washing machine!



I don't know if I've ever seen anyone post on this board who owns one of the jets - but I've seen a number of them on the streams here in Missouri. The one person I did talk to was very well satisfied.



In outstate Missouri, there are many more jet boats than there are proped boats simply because of the abundance of shallow, Ozark streams. Gravel sucking is something that they all do regardless of make of the motor/impeller. They all seem to survive it!



me!

 

[TrepMan]

OK Rich S. - Stop working with REAL PAYING customers and come back and update the Member List section with a Sort by Boat!! PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE!!!!

 

[Staci Matheis]

I talked with Rich by phone the other day. He sounded absolutely, totally exhausted..... He has been working on a very large project for some time now..... I can't understand why in the world he would give priority to Paying Clients.....

 

[TrepMan]

I Know scott, tried to get him out with my last Thursday for Stripers and he ACTUALY had to WORK!! HAAAAA.



Steve - Sorry to hijack your post on the Jet boat!

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Jets, as a group, great for skinny water but have their own set of problems...mainly lack of ommmph. The equivelant propped motor vs. a jet is like a 20 or 30 hp swing if I'm not mistaken.



TOXIC

 

[Staci Matheis]

1/3 loss is my understanding, TOX.

 

[Mark Hofman]

Because of the way a jet motor is designed, the impeller (which sucks water up into the motor and spits it out the nozzle) will wear down over time from sucking up gravel, sand, mud, etc. Around the impeller are a series of shims. As the impeller wears, you remove a shim from the front and move it to behind the impeller, which essentially lowers the impeller and makes it more effective. After you've moved all the shims from the front of the impeller to the rear of the impeller, you buy a new impeller.



On my brother-in-law's boat in Alaska, that process was fairly easy to do. I'm not so sure about the Tracker jets. You WILL suck stuff up into the impeller, depending on how shallow you run. But that's better than grinding your skeg, or grinding down blades on a regular outboard. (I've done that once or twice!)



And TEE is right. Maneuverability at low speeds leaves a lot to be desired, as does reverse.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Here is a quote from a reliable guy on riversmallies.com, these guys run a LOT of skinny water chasing smallies.



Ken, I ran an old Fisher Netter 16, with a Yamy 40/28 and an old 18 Travelerwith two different Yamy 90/65s for 12 years on Maine rivers and lakes. The little rig is in my backyard now, the bigger boat with the newer 90 is in my sons yard now. The older Yamy 90 was still running when he sold it last year!

Jets are noisy (er), burn more gas, have slightly more (pump) maintenence and cost more. They are great in rivers, not so good in a chop on lakes but do-able.

Dont even think about filling all of that storage! A jet wants to be kept as light as possible. They are also NOT bullet proof. You need to operate in a conservative manner of they will cost you for pump parts. If you are careful. they will get you where most boats will not! Cap'n Chuck



The slash (/) is the hp drop......



TOXIC

 

[Steve Rizza]

Thanks for the input guys.Like I said Im just dreaming.Probably will be at least another 2 years till new boat time.By the time I get a new boat mine will be brand new.This winter its new carpet time.I found a website that sells vynal graphics for boats and such,you can type in the size lettering,style,color,outline,and it will give you a sample with a price Quote.When I find it again I will post it.Bass Tracker in flaming red and yellow might be pretty interesting,but my old dog is just too slow.

 

[Jeremy Boyd]

I got the chance to drive one and they are no speed demon. They are good fro shallow rivers but i prefer teh performance of teh 90 ob on mine.