Thinking of trading deck boat for jet boat

[Toyelectroman]

Currently i have 19 foot deck boat with a yamaha 115 OB on the back that i will take out(weather permitting) on lake erie. I was thinking of switching to a the yamaha 210 or 222 FSH. I know very little about jet boats but love my outboard. Due to garage space I can't get a normal 22 center console with an outboard. So the question is would you all trade for a bigger jet boat or keep a smaller outboard? I am guessing outboard is more reliable than a jet drive

Or my third option is to get a 20 foot center console with an outboard on the back

 

[Scott Danforth]

Im not big into the Yamaha jet boats. primarily from the extra fuel burn

 

[Toyelectroman]

The major thing that kind of worries me is from what I understand there is no way to trim the bow up. Even though my boat is kind of small, I can get the bow up from not getting swamped

 

[JimS123]

My son bought a Yami with twins. The engines are the same as my Yami PWC.

Bullet-proof engines and easy to service and winterize, but everything has to be done twice.

In his case he is in calm waters, so it's a dream. IMHO, not an Erie boat. (I have boated Erie since 1968)

 

[cyclops222]

You have NO IDEA what a long frustrating problem those VACUUM CLEANER boats can be. When they suck up fishline, baby diapers, clear sandwich bags, long stringy weeds. A tow back to the dock is normal. Then the work begins. some jet pumps are easier to clean out if the drive is pulled apart and on a cradle to allow rotating the part. A OB prop is a sharp fillet knife and a few minute in the water.
Jets ONLY in clean water !!
We had some show off jet boats buzzing us. So somebody chopped up small diameter floating GREEN towline. Sprinkled it across their approach path of the jets. AWW shucks. Pumps sucked up those pieces and melted to the impellors. PUTT PUTT home for the jets.

 

[RGrew176]

Seaweed would be a big problem on Lake Erie it is floating all over the lake and it can be difficult to get rid of once sucked up into the drive. It is one of the reasons I traded in my Jet Ski after 2 seasons used on Lake Erie and the Detroit River.

I remember a trip from Grosse Ile to Put in Bay on the Jet Express a few years ago when they had to stop a couple times to clear seaweed from their intake.

Stick with your O/B motor a simple stop and reverse of the prop clears seaweed from the motor.

 

[JimS123]

I have a plastic rake with a telescoping handle that fits in the bow compartment. Just need to bend over and you can feel the weeds on the intake grate and they come right off easy peasy.

I have been jetskiing in the Niagara and Erie for 30 years and luckily have never sucked up a line or plastic bag, but weeds are not a problem.

OTOH once I wrapped some idiot's mooring line around my OB prop while cruising off the Buffalo harbor. Luckily it was mid Summer because I had to jump in the water to cut it off.

 

[briangcc]

I wouldn't. I like being able to steer with the outdrive in N. You lose all steering when you stop powering a jet. But that's just me...and watching a few youtube videos of Black Point Marina. Long live Fred

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

You have NO IDEA what a long frustrating problem those VACUUM CLEANER boats can be.

I never understood why they didn't put a better screen over the intake. It's just two bars that you can fit your hand through.

 

[JimS123]

I wouldn't. I like being able to steer with the outdrive in N. You lose all steering when you stop powering a jet. But that's just me...and watching a few youtube videos of Black Point Marina. Long live Fred

Old story.

Some time ago Seadoo put on "rudders" that we aficionados called "training wheels". Kinda stoopid, but they worked even in neutral.

Today, the current type PWC has 2 levers, port and starboard, that control forward and reverse. With a little practice you can turn the boat on a dime and put the PWC on a dock sidewards. Today steering is easy peasy.

 

[aspeck]

I like jets for certain situations, but I would have a 19 or 20 foot OB over a 21 or 22 foot jet for Erie.

 

[cyclops222]

Rent a jetboat for a short time hours . Might help you decide/

 

[briangcc]

Old story.

Some time ago Seadoo put on "rudders" that we aficionados called "training wheels". Kinda stoopid, but they worked even in neutral.

Today, the current type PWC has 2 levers, port and starboard, that control forward and reverse. With a little practice you can turn the boat on a dime and put the PWC on a dock sidewards. Today steering is easy peasy.

Still wouldn't touch em. Couldn't pay me enough to take one.

Next boat, and I'm already half-heartedly shopping, is a used 16-18' aluminum Sylvan/Starcraft/etc w/outboard. Going to be the kids boat to take out fishing leaving my boat for the grown ups. My oldest can get his boaters certificate this year.

Admiral is onboard with this decision. And she already chased off a chain store salesman with "I'm not trading our boat in on that piece of crap". Was a Tracker if that gives any clues...

 

[Toyelectroman]

Alright I think you all convinced me to stay with an outboard, and not get a jet drive