jet boat questions

[NEVERSATISFIED]

Well I have been on the site for a little while. I joined hoping to find a boat and sell my vette.

I have gotten pretty serious and I am thinking about my options. I am selling or trading it for a jet boat.

-I want a big block jet boat?

-I am not sure if I want a tunnel hull or v less than 20' so it can rip

-I live in WI. so small lakes have limits, but I go to bigger lakes often with no limits.

-how much hp in general does it take to gt to like at least 80 mph? ( I know weight and water conditions also affect it), but I had a 22ft cuddy that went 50+ with weighing 4.00+ lbs and people and loaded. I figure I should get some speed out of a jet boat.

any ideas or help would be great are appreciated :cheers:

[BIGA]

here goes , i prefer the tunnel jets for speed, love the looks of a pickle fork. in under 20 feet however one will find space at a premium in a tunnel as compared to a v-bottom jet, also as you mention if you intend to venture out into rougher weater one should look at the free board height of the transom. most of the smaller jets were intended for smoother waters.. i have had a lot of 19 jets but my favorite was a 21 cougar tunnel that i had for years. almost as fast but a lot roomier and safer, and ended the constant watching and bailing of water every time a boat went by. so many variables on the set up weight, style , pump, etc will effect your speed. but with a proper set up somewhere in the 600-700 hp you could easily see 80 or so . if i wanted pure speed i would go with a 19 picklefork ie daytona, tpr, clone,etc. if i had to take mama and the kids i would look at a v-bottom or larger tunnel. just my opinion.

[NEVERSATISFIED]

BIGA
Great info, thanks. Now I am wondering why some of the guys running out bards can go 100mph with just a 250 -300 hp?

I really like the look and sounds of a big block jet boat, but are they maybe not as efficient for speed as an outboard or something?

[Just A Jet]

It is really hard to get a jet above 80 mph, but they will get there alot faster.I have a 18' v-bottom and I had a 500HP 454 in it and it ran 79MPH with me alone,but it has all pump work that you need to do this.
I now have a 461 with blower and make around 650HP and am not sure what the boat is running but should be above 85?
I have a buddy that has a 19' tunnel with a 454 around 450HP and he is running 82 alone,he does have all the right pump work as well but is running a B impeller. I run a A impeller and can get more top end with the B and will be going to the B this year as well as mpve my pump back 4in to get the full top end out of the boat.
I also have a friend that has a 18' tunnel with a 250 outboard and he is only running 65 because his set up is not right for his boat.

I think you need to have the right set up in the water, its not really how much power you have but how you put it to the water.Same as the street if you have 1000hp on stock sup car you are pissin in the wind if you know what I mean.

If you really want to go fast get a big ci motor with alot of power and a nice hydro or flat bottom v-drive.

[NEVERSATISFIED]

Thanks for the reply! That is some great info. I seen both your posts, and it makes a little more sense now.

[flat out all day]

i have a very mild 460 in a small v jet and i can flat out hip any wakeboard boat out ther building a twin turbo setup as we speek and it should make some were around 750 hp id like to tie arope between my boat and an out board and see what happens lol jets are way more fun to me but to each is ther own

[Getnsilver]

In my opinion, chose the hull as the first priority. From my personal experience..
The man I worked for, was a dirt track racer, and was the state champion. Between seasons, he had the motor for his car freshened up. It was a 427 big block Chevy, aluminun heads, all roller drivetrain, single holly 850 and a Vertex Magneto. Was over bored .060 to end up at 439 cubic inches.
First race of the new season with this freshen motor, my boss stuffed his car into the wall at the end of a straight on a 1/2mile track. Impact was so severe, it sheared off the mounting bosses on one side of the block where the motor mount bolts went. End of life as a race car motor. I bought it from my boss, and planted it in a 17 foot horizon I had. Had a Berkley pump, with some work done to it. Headed to the next boat drags, ready to set the world on fire.. not to be..... it ran 59 miles an hour. I was disappointed. I knew the motor built a LOT of power... but I had no speed.
The guy directly next to me at the races, had a 18 foot Crusader Tummel for sale. It was not a leightweight, and even had full carpeting in it, but he was running 110-115 MPH. class with a steel headed 482 CID Chevy. So I knew the boat could run given some horsepower. Anyway we made a deal, and he towed it home, pulled his motor, and I picked it up the following weekend. I bought it complete with all the mounts, headers, everything less the engine itself. When I got it home, i put my motor in, and waited for the races on the following month.....
RESULTS? Right off the trailer, with no engine changes from the 59 MPH pass in the Horizon, the Crusader ran 88 MPH. The previous owner helped me with underwater gear, ( nozzle openings, shoe openings, and ride plate shims,) and the boat ran 92 MPH before the weekend was over. remember, this was the EXACT engine that could only push the Horizon 59 MPH. And 88 MPH was the slowest pass this boat ever made in my ownership. I put a Babe Erson .825 lift cam shaft in it, opened up the valves a little, and ran 102 MPh at the next drags. Still all with a single carb. The boat never ran under 100 mph for the next two years I raced it. So if you want to go fast, get a tunnel boat for sure.. Let the air lift the hull and help you get that speed you want. of course just my opinion, but based on facts

[BIGA]

In my opinion, chose the hull as the first priority. From my personal experience..
The man I worked for, was a dirt track racer, and was the state champion. Between seasons, he had the motor for his car freshened up. It was a 427 big block Chevy, aluminun heads, all roller drivetrain, single holly 850 and a Vertex Magneto. Was over bored .060 to end up at 439 cubic inches.
First race of the new season with this freshen motor, my boss stuffed his car into the wall at the end of a straight on a 1/2mile track. Impact was so severe, it sheared off the mounting bosses on one side of the block where the motor mount bolts went. End of life as a race car motor. I bought it from my boss, and planted it in a 17 foot horizon I had. Had a Berkley pump, with some work done to it. Headed to the next boat drags, ready to set the world on fire.. not to be..... it ran 59 miles an hour. I was disappointed. I knew the motor built a LOT of power... but I had no speed.
The guy directly next to me at the races, had a 18 foot Crusader Tummel for sale. It was not a leightweight, and even had full carpeting in it, but he was running 110-115 MPH. class with a steel headed 482 CID Chevy. So I knew the boat could run given some horsepower. Anyway we made a deal, and he towed it home, pulled his motor, and I picked it up the following weekend. I bought it complete with all the mounts, headers, everything less the engine itself. When I got it home, i put my motor in, and waited for the races on the following month.....
RESULTS? Right off the trailer, with no engine changes from the 59 MPH pass in the Horizon, the Crusader ran 88 MPH. The previous owner helped me with underwater gear, ( nozzle openings, shoe openings, and ride plate shims,) and the boat ran 92 MPH before the weekend was over. remember, this was the EXACT engine that could only push the Horizon 59 MPH. And 88 MPH was the slowest pass this boat ever made in my ownership. I put a Babe Erson .825 lift cam shaft in it, opened up the valves a little, and ran 102 MPh at the next drags. Still all with a single carb. The boat never ran under 100 mph for the next two years I raced it. So if you want to go fast, get a tunnel boat for sure.. Let the air lift the hull and help you get that speed you want. of course just my opinion, but based on facts
great post. i have teased a lot of jetters, that if you want to go drag racing you usually dont wont to pull grandmas station wagon out of the woods and start with the heaviest car you can find, same thing applies to the hulls. he who is lightest moves quickest.

[NEVERSATISFIED]

In my opinion, chose the hull as the first priority
RESULTS? Right off the trailer, with no engine changes from the 59 MPH pass in the Horizon, the Crusader ran 88 MPH. The previous owner helped me with underwater gear, ( nozzle openings, shoe openings, and ride plate shims,) and the boat ran 92 MPH before the weekend was over. remember, this was the EXACT engine that could only push the Horizon 59 MPH. And 88 MPH was the slowest pass this boat ever made in my ownership. I put a Babe Erson .825 lift cam shaft in it, opened up the valves a little, and ran 102 MPh at the next drags. Still all with a single carb. The boat never ran under 100 mph for the next two years I raced it. So if you want to go fast, get a tunnel boat for sure.. Let the air lift the hull and help you get that speed you want. of course just my opinion, but based on facts

WOW!!! now that is just what I needed to hear. Thanks man. That is the perfect example, because a guy I know from the corvette world has a 454 built to 468 fresh, and 500+ with lower com (money problems 2K) so I thought HA 2k motor, 2k blower, couple K for a jet boat and go from there.

I know there is more to it then that with tuning, and picking parts like everything speed related but...

[Fonz69]

Just something to keep in mind on your 2k blower, you should run a marine blower on your boat not a street one.

Marine ones will have the hardend case and will be built to handle the constant beating from continuous higher rpm runs;)

A nice blower setup would run 5-7k at least unless you can find a used one in good shape with low hours

Dont forget a 2k+ intercooler they are a must IMO to keep your motor alive

[NEVERSATISFIED]

Just something to keep in mind on your 2k blower, you should run a marine blower on your boat not a street one.

Marine ones will have the hardend case and will be built to handle the constant beating from continuous higher rpm runs;)

A nice blower setup would run 5-7k at least unless you can find a used one in good shape with low hours

Dont forget a 2k+ intercooler they are a must IMO to keep your motor alive

That makes sense:thumbsup: I realize it is not a cheap hobby, nothing ever is, but it is cheap to get in to over all.

[150aintenuff]

the way people go 100+ with 250-300 HP is an outboard prop..... a 21 MTR cougar and a 300X runs 110+ if set up right... even a 19 cougar runs 80 with a properly set up 175 fishin motor... but if you want a jet, its going to take you 500+ ponys annd a WHOLE lot of pump work to see the speeds you want.... and honestly id go 22 or 23 ft in a tunnel or pickel.. safer all around... and much more family oriented.. as for cheep relaible power... 454 4 bolt truck block from any old Suburban or pickup, a 496 stroker kit, a retrofit Crane 741 or 651 grind cam, a good set of heads (trick flow, AFR, Heavily worked Dart ) in 315 CC or better and a victor SR with a dominator 1150 and 650 hp natural is EASY.... or take that 9:1 or 9.5:1 bottom end, and add a pro charger or Lysolm style supercharger and take 650 into realm of 850-900 really quickly and still be fairly easily obtainable for fuel... it wont be "cheep" but lasting higher HP motors never are.

[NEVERSATISFIED]

the way people go 100+ with 250-300 HP is an outboard prop..... a 21 MTR cougar and a 300X runs 110+ if set up right... even a 19 cougar runs 80 with a properly set up 175 fishin motor... but if you want a jet, its going to take you 500+ ponys annd a WHOLE lot of pump work to see the speeds you want.... and honestly id go 22 or 23 ft in a tunnel or pickel.. safer all around... and much more family oriented.. as for cheep relaible power... 454 4 bolt truck block from any old Suburban or pickup, a 496 stroker kit, a retrofit Crane 741 or 651 grind cam, a good set of heads (trick flow, AFR, Heavily worked Dart ) in 315 CC or better and a victor SR with a dominator 1150 and 650 hp natural is EASY.... or take that 9:1 or 9.5:1 bottom end, and add a pro charger or Lysolm style supercharger and take 650 into realm of 850-900 really quickly and still be fairly easily obtainable for fuel... it wont be "cheep" but lasting higher HP motors never are.

That is kind of what I was thinking, that the props are a lot more efficient than the pumps. The motor sold that I was looking at, and so did a local boat, so I guess I might be back to reconsidering a fun little outboard. I thnk I really want a tunnel to skate up on the water.

[Just A Jet]

That is kind of what I was thinking, that the props are a lot more efficient than the pumps. The motor sold that I was looking at, and so did a local boat, so I guess I might be back to reconsidering a fun little outboard. I thnk I really want a tunnel to skate up on the water.

not sure where you are, but I know a flawless 18' pickle fork centiron outboard (beautiful boat not a scratch on it,great colors) 9,000 range
Just needs to be set up better,and the guy really wants a jet..

Let me know

[RLP]

The right 496 combo and a little 250 shot will get er done :thumbsup:
Check out Warhawk Performance boats :cheers:

[150aintenuff]

the right 496 combo is in my post.... and a 250 shot would be 900 hp with EASE!!! .....