New 1981 19' long deck JCraft owner (project)

[CottagerGreg]

Well I am now the owner of a 1981 J Craft project boat. I wanted something for slalom skiing but also ripping around the lake.

I saw an ad on the local Kijiji and a guy was selling a Jcraft at a good price. It was less than 10kms away from where our family cottage is. The boat was in great condition considering its age, when I went to see it in person...I just could not leave it.

The boat was kept on a marine rail most of it's life (till 2010) and has not had much rot on it. It has been serviced from the same marine mechanic since 1983.

The stringers and transom are solid and original. The floors and carpet were done a few years ago (2004). As for the hull it does not have one blister or scratch on it!

Speedo doesn't work and the pt&t switch is acting up. So I may just get a GPS speedo and some new controls.

Motor is a 1982 original Mercury 200 black max and has been maintained religiously. Just last year it had the carb redone along with a new starter. Compression ranges between 125-135 on all cylinders. Needs a new prop as I am sure a nice stainless 3 or 4 blade would do wonders to the boat.

Anyhoo... needs some work and clean up. It will be fun project!







Rear area needs some wiring clean up.

[Tomanytoys]

Nice!
wheres the cottage?

[Slimm]

Good looking setup!

Slimm

[CottagerGreg]

Nice!
wheres the cottage?

Just south of Gravenhurst on the Severn

[Tomanytoys]

Just south of Gravenhurst on the Severn

Lol
hey neighbor.
I'm on Kashe, just off #11.
ive got a couple of props you can try next spring if you want.

[CottagerGreg]

Lol
hey neighbor.
I'm on Kashe, just off #11.
ive got a couple of props you can try next spring if you want.

Sweet! I am on sparrow/severn

First off I am looking for a all around but mainly a ski prop.. perhaps a 4 blade as I need enough to get yanked out on a double boot and have been spoiled behind a MC prostar... pm what you have and I may buy a prop off you

[coffeeguy]

Laser II would probably work well.

[CottagerGreg]

Any particular pitch or diameter?

I know Scotty at Central Outboard has a bunch of used stainless props laying around that he can give me a deal on

[Tomanytoys]

I run a hi five on my MC barefoot 200 and it works awesome.
if you've got access to a bunch to try, then try em all and buy what works best.

[LittleCharger]

Love my jcraft for skiing.

Prop it right and it will pull you up with the double boot just the same as the mastercraft, you'll enjoy the smaller wake. Even with the 150 ours will rip your arms off.

[CottagerGreg]

Love my jcraft for skiing.

Prop it right and it will pull you up with the double boot just the same as the mastercraft, you'll enjoy the smaller wake. Even with the 150 ours will rip your arms off.

What prop are you running on your J?

[captd201]

got a 19' J with an Merc XR4 and use a high 5, 22P and pull double boot slalom skiers with no grief at all.

brother has 19' J, pro tournament with a 150 Yamaha Pro V and 19 P prop, great combination, great ski boats all around period!

[LittleCharger]

What prop are you running on your J?

The boat is set up to ski so we mostly run a 20 pitch 3 blade small hub Merc laser prop with a plastic blow out ring which snaps even the big guys out on double boots no problem. I was going to do the add ons to bump the 150 to a 200 but have more then enough bottom end grunt with out it. We also run a 24 pitch 4 blade as well which still has lots of pull and carrys a load around the lake better when cruising, but still usually run the 20.

Take Greg up on his offer to try props at Allisonwonderland...pack a lunch he's got a few props! Lol

[CottagerGreg]

We also run a 24 pitch 4 blade as well which still has lots of pull and carrys a load around the lake better when cruising, but still usually run the 20.

Is this the trophy 4 blade? I guess with the higher pitch you can get some good top end?

I am judging by the comments here that a 19p Laser II maybe my best overall pick for my setup.

Anyone run a chopper on a J for fun and high speed passes? Obv skiing not in the equation

[LittleCharger]

The 24 we run is very similar to the trophy, it's actually a turbo prop by precision propeller industries.

i've never run a chopper on mine, no jack plate so wouldn't get it to work properly. Ours is set up to ski got tired of changing the props on the other boat between go fast and ski so solved the issue with picking up the jcraft, one boat to ski and one to race around in.

Search on the forum for posts by "flat out" he is the authority on j's, he can make them fast as well. He has one that runs over 80.