What are good jet drive hulls for going out on a lake?
I might be relocating to Austin TX area and nearby Lake Travis. I'm researching what are some good hulls for a safe and fun jet boat? I have 2 boys (who will be 10 and 12) who will be my boating buds. I'm wondering if it'd be better off with a boat design that has the engine behind a hatch or firewall instead of worrying about them getting injured by flying parts if something lets go? Also a hull that can handle some chop is probably better than my brother's old Sanger that couldn't handle 8 inch waves without slapping the crap out of us.
My prior fast boat (in my single days) was a Whipple charged Donzi 22 Classic. So I know a little bit about high HP small boats. I'm looking for something a little safer but still get that big block sound and enjoyment. If I can go 60-70mph, that'll be great.
Austin Metro Lakes thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zimm17
I might be relocating to Austin TX area and nearby Lake Travis. I'm researching what are some good hulls for a safe and fun jet boat? I have 2 boys (who will be 10 and 12) who will be my boating buds. I'm wondering if it'd be better off with a boat design that has the engine behind a hatch or firewall instead of worrying about them getting injured by flying parts if something lets go? Also a hull that can handle some chop is probably better than my brother's old Sanger that couldn't handle 8 inch waves without slapping the crap out of us.
My prior fast boat (in my single days) was a Whipple charged Donzi 22 Classic. So I know a little bit about high HP small boats. I'm looking for something a little safer but still get that big block sound and enjoyment. If I can go 60-70mph, that'll be great.
I saw this old thread from someone not familiar with Central Texas lakes. Lake Travis is the 4th lake on the "Highland Chain of Lakes" . Buchanan (huge lake not constant level), Inks (small constant level), Lake LBJ (large lake constant level), Lake Marble Falls (good size lake constant level), Lake Travis (large lake not constant level), Lake Austin (21 miles long constant level), Town Lake or Ladybird Lake (no wake, constant level runs through downtown Austin)
Travis is a large deep lake that has dams on each end. It is not a constant level lake and with years long droughts we have had in past few years many or all of the public boat ramps on Lake Travis are not available. When Lake Travis public ramps are closed due to low water levels a lot of folks use Lake Austin which makes it extremely rough and crowded. Big Wake Surf boat rule the lake, damage boat docks and people's seawalls. Travis is a big open lake and can get big waves on it. Not for low profile jet powered boats that would get bounced hard with the chop. Currently it is missing a lot of water. Central Texas as a whole, is a water sports and wake surfing focused area on many of the area lakes. Unless they are strictly into fishing boats/craft.
As a result most folks are better off with a direct drive or v-drive boat if you are into skiing, boarding or surfing. My children have skied since they could stand up on a ski so they do everything. I do not see many young people even know how to ski anymore. Some days my children are the only children on a ski (up and down Austin but for some friends that were competition skiers in their day. Our rule was you can tube only after skiing or boarding or surfing is done by the rough water. There is no skill set involved in tubing and its only allowed when the water is too rough for water sports from the big wake boats.
