Ranger Jet Boats, General Marine Co. Talbert Ave Fountain Valley CA 92708

[TallTex]

Any Ranger Jet Drive boat owners on this forum? Anyone have the history or specs of these CA born boats? I rescue and revive vintage cars, motorcycles and glass boats from when I was a child. I rescued a 1978 Ranger Mini Cruiser on a charity auction site. Boat has a low hour 460 Ford, but not sure which maker as I have not picked it up yet (Hardin, Marine Power, etc) and the Jacuzzi Golden Eagle drive. Donor is a senior couple that have not used the boat in three years so it needs some love but boat has not been torn up or abused. Bought a low hour engine and tandem trailer and got a old jet boat for free. Mission for my local Central Texas lakes is more about shooting a big rooster tail, could care less about top end speed. Sort of like doing burn-outs with a vintage vehicle, for fun.

[John S]

I have zero information, to offer. But I like the way you think. I always had a grin when I was lining up against a jet boat in the drag races. If for nothing else, just the audible differences at the line and takeoff between the deep v8 roar and the 2 stroke scream. And there ain’t much cooler visuals than a jet boat roost. Good luck on your project. This probably ain’t the place for much information, but hopefully someone can steer you right. Fair amount of rope racers that might be able to help.

And pics would be appreciated.

[TallTex]

Bought this on a charity auction and got to CA to retrieve it from original owner. Mission is to revive/restore to working condition to shoot rooster tails for no particular reason. Original owner (Prior Owner) tells me they bought it new from a Fresno Dealer and the custom tandem trailer under it has a Fresno trailer maker's tag on it. Boat has a Hardin Marine H320 (marine 460 Ford) engine and Jacuzzi Golden Eagle Jet drive.
Unfortunately I am told that without the modern day Dominator/Berkely internal jet conversion the old Jacuzzi Golden Eagle jet drive is not a high pressure jet. Here is what that Jet drive builder tells me for anyone else on here looking for this type of information on vintage drives:

"Were a Family business building , supplying and manufacturing Jet and jet drive parts for 30 plus years.. The Golden Eagle is a "cousin" to the Jacuzzi YJ , both share parts and both are Axial flow jets (axials use open bladed impellers and don not "squeeze" or pressurized the water exiting like a mixed flow jet (Berkeley , Dominator, Aggressor or even the Jaccuzzi WJ) Axial flows are sort of "work horse" drives that tend to be used in larger launches even the military (Think of the River boat in Apocalypse now) Mixed flow jets tend to like more power and be more efficient As for the trim that Daniel described above , Jacuzzi made a limited amount of hydraulic trim units and support pieces for GEs and YJs , long obsolete , Jacuzzi (now NorthAmerican Marine jet) no longer supports their "small" jet program they are owned by a Australian company call Berdan and make huge drives for military and off shore tugs etc . The trim units are retro fit if one can find one in serviceable condition and offer a modicum of up/down nozzle trim . More and More of the Jacuzzi still in use are modified with "Energizer" or our Xlerator (tm) Mixed flow conversions and when modified they are more efficient and lend themselves to additions like droop snoots and trim units like Place Diverters we build several versions and variations I take calls 7 days a week if you have any questions 805 466 4719 I'm Tom, CEO JJRT inc. Jet Boat Performance jetboatperformance.com Aggressor Jet drives"

[TallTex]

I need to review how to paste a thumbnell photo.