jet pump in salt water

[calawahsteelie]

So I'm about to upgrade from the 12ft smokercraft to a boat that will be more family friendly. I've been looking at a 18 to 20 ft aluminum with a extended transom. My young boys are at the age that water sports are coming into play. I plan to tow it with my truck and camper. I want to use the boat in the bay for salmon, play and fish in the Columbia in the summer and possibly run it on the lower Skagit. My question is can I run a jet pump in the bay without costing me a fortune?

[fishcrazy]

Yes you can!!!

You have described ecactly what I was looking for when I was boat shoping. I ended up buying a 21' Willie Raptor. It's hull is for all around use. It does allot of things well. I run it out of westport when it's not bad and can run some scary small rivers.

Give Mike Jackson @ Willie boats a call. They have some really great prices going now. Their boats are custom biult to each customers needs.

If you would like I could take you for a spin and show you my boat.

Kris

[TEX-X]

but how big of a problem do you have sucking crap up in the pump?  I have a jet ski and it from time to time sucks stuff up in the bump in the bay... that means i get to get into the water and remove the garbage... or slowly drive it to the beach...

[fishcrazy]

I'm not going to turn this into a ford vs. chevy vs. dodge.  Sucking crap into to pump can have ALLOT to do with Hull design. I have not had any problems.  I know other guys who have brand x boats who fight it allot.  I know a guy who has the same boat as me and I asked him about this. He told me him and some of his buddys can run next to each other and run right over a debris line and 2 of them have to stop nearly every time and clean their pumps. The shape of our hull seams to push it around our pump. We both run sport jets. he has the 250 and I have the 200.

If you have an out board you can tilt it up and pull the weeds out. On the inboard pumps they have a special "stomp grate? that when you step on it clears the grate for you.  I don't have the stomp grate.

With this type of boat you will have a kicker motor so in the case you can't clear it you can limp back to the trailer and clear it.

Something els to think about more guys are getting the best of both worlds. they get the pump for the rivers and when they are going to spend allot of time in deeper water they run the prop. The prop will all so give you better fuel economy and more top end speed when yer out on the big water. It could cost you more money up front and a little time to swap the lower units out but might be a good way to go if you go with the out board.

Kris

[TEX-X]

no i wasn't trying to turn it into that.... i was just curious....  that does make sense....  the hull on my ski is designed to funnel all water to the pump  (so much that we are actually having a severe buck because of a pump overstuff issue on modified skis running over 70 MPH)  i could see where they would have room to design it differently on boats.... good luck with your search  I'll keep an eye on this thread

[fishcrazy]

No worry, I was trying to avoid it buy not listing the brands of the other boats.

Intresting how the same technology is used 2 different ways. Some jet boat hulls are built like yer jet ski. They put a small tunnel on them to allow the pump to sit above the bottom of the hull. this really helps when running shallow water or in shallow water hole take offs. This tunnel can be a killer when running ruff water as it allows more air and debris to enter the suck zone of the pump. Over rev from sucking air when going over waves can reduce the life of an engine.

Kris

[huntnphool]

 I take mine out in the bay, even been up the inside passage and fished Rivers Inlet. I have only had a couple times where I was not able to get the crap to fall out of the grate, once was going through the cut on Lake Washington, the millfoil was terrible.

 I keep a wetsuit in the bow just in case but have not had to use it to this point. It takes quite a bit before it requires actually getting in the water.

 If you are really concerned you could always get a stomp grate, this would make it much easier, but I really dont think its a problem as long as you pay attention to where you are going, just avoid the floating crap.
 

[Rick]

So I'm about to upgrade from the 12ft smokercraft to a boat that will be more family friendly. I've been looking at a 18 to 20 ft aluminum with a extended transom. My young boys are at the age that water sports are coming into play. I plan to tow it with my truck and camper. I want to use the boat in the bay for salmon, play and fish in the Columbia in the summer and possibly run it on the lower Skagit. My question is can I run a jet pump in the bay without costing me a fortune?

Do you really think you need a jet for the places you've mentioned? I wouldn't consider any of the places you mentioned as needing a jet.

Being less efficient than a prop,a jet is going to cost you more. You'll need more engine,and it'll burn more fuel.

[fishcrazy]

So I'm about to upgrade from the 12ft smokercraft to a boat that will be more family friendly. I've been looking at a 18 to 20 ft aluminum with a extended transom. My young boys are at the age that water sports are coming into play. I plan to tow it with my truck and camper. I want to use the boat in the bay for salmon, play and fish in the Columbia in the summer and possibly run it on the lower Skagit. My question is can I run a jet pump in the bay without costing me a fortune?

Do you really think you need a jet for the places you've mentioned? I wouldn't consider any of the places you mentioned as needing a jet.

Being less efficient than a prop,a jet is going to cost you more. You'll need more engine,and it'll burn more fuel.

Kinda what I was thinking. A guy can always have both if you have an out board motor

Kris

[huntnphool]

I fish the rivers so a jet was a must for me. If you are not going to be running skinny then I would agree with them, stick with a prop boat.

[h2ofowlr]

I just took my 60/40 jet off my jon boat and replaced it with a prop.  I was hunting in the shallow water, not open water and it sucked.  I was constantly sucking up eel grass.  If you can get out a little further it probably would be good.  Everytime the wind picked up, I had bad cavitation going on and I had to crawl back to shore.

[huntnphool]

Inboard baby

[cohoho]

Used to run some of the smallest waters in AK and a Jet was required, I have had almost every variation of pumps from outboards to Hamiltons.  So far here in WA, I can't really state that a Jet is "absolutely" required, especially if your used to fishing areas with a prop, you'll probably stay with in those safety areas if you buy a pump.....  Too many dams on the rivers here stop you before you get really shallow...  But seriously, a jet opens your options alot, you can run all waters without worries; salt included, but with draw backs.  Big water your going to lose performance as a jet outboard is about 30% lower HP on the lower end performance versus what the power head states, fuel consumption will suffer greatly and possibly ride.  As Fish Crazy stated it is all about the hull design for sure and HP and what type jet unit attached.  Wooldridge web site has some great articles about jet pumps you ought to read and test drive other manufactures to see what you personally like.  Some of the smaller HP motors will not have the juice to blow things out and some of the lower end jet pumps just aren't big enough to blow out the other stuff, a stomp grates is a good addition, but I only used mine a couple times from dead pink salmon carcasses in AK.  Ninety percent of the time if you do get something wedged and lack of power is displayed on your performance and sounds like a whining 4 cylinder car motor, a simple turn the motor off to release the sucking action will drop the larger debris, plastic branches etc.... On very rare occasions do they require hand removal, very- very rare, then it sucks.  Weeds-well if your near them- full throttle over them prevents most intake problems.  If you drive a jet like a prop, you be in trouble.  Too many times here I watch people with Jets get into trouble with beaching, getting debris, off loading and unloading boats, docking, etc...  It is because they are navigating waters like they are in a prop, nice and easy and a jet won't turn without power.  I got the same rule of driving Jet boats as I do driving snow mobiles, "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!"  All around perfect boat isn't out there.  You sacrifice something here and there, but look at where you'll be utilizing the boat the most and get one for that specific water.  

[cohoho]

I just took my 60/40 jet off my jon boat and replaced it with a prop.  I was hunting in the shallow water, not open water and it sucked.  I was constantly sucking up eel grass.  If you can get out a little further it probably would be good.  Everytime the wind picked up, I had bad cavitation going on and I had to crawl back to shore.

The boat sounded like it wasn't properly set up with regards to the foot angle at the bottom of the pump (to high on the transom), or the hull wasn't designed for a jet and pushed water away from the jet foot intake versus towards the pump or totally loaded wrong, i.e. weight too forawrd versus middle load..  

[cohoho]

Inboard baby

Agreed without doubt...... With HP too!

[fishcrazy]

Well said cohoho. The cool thing is we have some good boat biulders who can make choosing the right boat easy. I allso agree with the inboard comet when running skinny stuff and more power is still not enough.

I remember looking at boats. So much to choose from. It didn't take me long to narrow it down to 2 and finally just 1.


Kris

[cohoho]

You got that right about quality builders here in this region. You got Wooldridge, Thunderjet, Wellscraft, NorthRiver, NorthWest, Hewescarft, Columbia, Willies and who know what else.  So many options and choices it boils down to what you need it for and quite frankly what it looks like (Wife made finally decision  )

There are boats strictly designed for extreme shallows, some better suited for big open water, then the class 4 water boats.  Wish I could have one of each..  If that was true, without a doubt I buy back my old Alaskan Wooldridge for the shallows, exploring, hunting and fun running, buy a big old Hewes Craft like BC Chaser's for the Tuna and big water and keep my TJ for the Columbia---- hey a fellow can dream right....  

[fishcrazy]

Cohoho I know what you are talking about.

I find my self wishing I had one of them little flat bottom Willie Legends or even the Classic in about 20' with a 150 E-tec just for running the shallow small stuff. Or a 24' Grady White with twin 250 yamis for running off the Coast.

So many toys, So little money and time.

Some day when I win the lottery I'll have a bout 10 boats and a truck for each.


Kris

[cohoho]

Twin 250's ----------------- I want to go.... N ow were talking HP...

[huntnphool]

Or a 24' Grady White with twin 250 yamis for running off the Coast.

A buddy of mine has that exact boat, very nice fishing boat.

[calawahsteelie]

Thanks for the input. I won't be running any skinny rivers so I'm leaning towards the prop. I still have the drift boat.

[fishcrazy]

Twin 250's ----------------- I want to go.... N ow were talking HP...

 If iI wasn't so tired of Mercury customer service I might go with twin 300 hp Verado's.

As for hp Go big or go home!!

Kris

[Viszla]

I'd go with older 2 stroke jet outboard.  Just something about that erie howl of a 2 stroke jet on the river...

[wildmanoutdoors]

You said: "extended transom". Are you talking a swimstep over a inboard pump? Thats pretty much standard and works great.

If your talkin a sportjet with a "outback" style mounting like a Motion Marine then its a good setup too. Although they are very loud. However, there are very fast.

If your talking an outboard jet on a "offshore" style bracket it wont work. The outboards need to be directly on the transom pretty much. You can have a hydro lift but it still puts the pump too far back for efficient water entry into the pump. It also submerdges it too deep getting on plane.
It can cause cavitation as well bad splashing coming into the boat over the transom. But a offshore bracket wont work in this case. The boat will still use the back of the transom for its fulcrum area and will submerge the intake too deep.

If you wanna fish the Big c an inboard Jet or prop are fine. Keep in mind though, if you wanna fish the Nootch or Satsop, Inboards are not the norm eticut wise. So your pretty much stuck to the Cow, Skagit and Big C.

Its hard to get the perect all around. Id go with a 20 foot open or like a Mariner NR and set it up for a outboard jet, Yamaha sells a 5" adapter kit so you can put the prop bottom on too as the outboard jets sits 5 inches higher than a prop lower.

If you buy another water pump kit its as easy as about 45 minutes to change over.

Good luck.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I've ran a jet in salt for 7 years, no issues. Just be religious about washing it down after each use and clean the intake also every trip and you should never have a problem. I've ran around 250 hours with two jets on the salt, never had a clog, or rust to speak of. Shark Hide your boat, that will be your biggest concern in the salt...

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Something to really think about is launching and landing capability in the salt. I can't count the days we were able to fish hours more than the big Grady's stacked at the launch when the tide was a big minus, it is VERY nice to be able to launch in 1' of water with a 21' boat. Just make sure you have trim tabs, or you will skip like a rock. Suspension seats are also a must for salt in a jet, in my opinion, or you'll beat the hell out of yourself.

[hawk eyes]

the problem with a jet in salt is you have to go to fresh water to flush it

[cohoho]

Properly designed Jet hulls don't need trim tabs....

[fishcrazy]

Properly designed Jet hulls don't need trim tabs....

You can say that again!!!!

 Kris

[Dmanmastertracker]

Properly designed Jet hulls don't need trim tabs....

 Well, you can keep thinking that about Thundercrap inboard's . I like my tabs in the salt just fine, my TJ skipped like a rock, same degree hull as yours .

[lokidog]

The only time I've been close to the salt in a pump boat below Astoria), it blew air whenever we went over a swell, was not a great ride.   Would probably be fine most of the time in the sound but out in the open I don't know.   

[huntnphool]

I've had mine 10+ miles off buoy 10 and not had any issues, as well as up the inside passage, sounds like a impeller pitch problem, what kind of pump was it?

[lokidog]

Don't know, it was a buddy's brother's many years ago.

[cohoho]

Properly designed Jet hulls don't need trim tabs....

 Well, you can keep thinking that about Thundercrap inboard's . I like my tabs in the salt just fine, my TJ skipped like a rock, same degree hull as yours .

If you stay on top you don't got to worry about the chop...   But TJ's do have a trim tabs (it is along the bottom of every jet boat they build) it sticks about 1 1/2 inches out and you have to bend it up or down with heavy duty pliers.  For speed and crappy ride pull it up and for no chop and loss of speed bend it down.  Of course you need to be on a nice flat lake that you can jump in and out of to tune it then forget about it, not recommend doing that in the Columbia, alittle too chilly for me...  Besides that there is this fact- because I own a TJ doesn't mean I think they are the best...     Again you'll never find the perfect boat, if you want to go everywhere you'll atleast three boats or have friends with different type boats...  So as of right I need a friend with a big ocean boat...lol  Honestly if you want a jet boat with outboard, you'll have a tough time ever beating a Wooldridge, ever!  I ran all types of boats in AK on skinny water and rough water the Wooldridges were simply the best for that type water.  If you want an ocean boat buy an Ocean boat cause you'll never get the best of both worlds with one boat....   

[Antlershed]

the problem with a jet in salt is you have to go to fresh water to flush it

I would hope you would flush any motor with fresh water after going in the salt. Oh, and the sportjet has a port to hook a garden hose to for flushing.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Properly designed Jet hulls don't need trim tabs....

 Well, you can keep thinking that about Thundercrap inboard's . I like my tabs in the salt just fine, my TJ skipped like a rock, same degree hull as yours .

If you stay on top you don't got to worry about the chop...   But TJ's do have a trim tabs (it is along the bottom of every jet boat they build) it sticks about 1 1/2 inches out and you have to bend it up or down with heavy duty pliers.  For speed and crappy ride pull it up and for no chop and loss of speed bend it down.  Of course you need to be on a nice flat lake that you can jump in and out of to tune it then forget about it, not recommend doing that in the Columbia, alittle too chilly for me...  Besides that there is this fact- because I own a TJ doesn't mean I think they are the best...     Again you'll never find the perfect boat, if you want to go everywhere you'll atleast three boats or have friends with different type boats...  So as of right I need a friend with a big ocean boat...lol  Honestly if you want a jet boat with outboard, you'll have a tough time ever beating a Wooldridge, ever!  I ran all types of boats in AK on skinny water and rough water the Wooldridges were simply the best for that type water.  If you want an ocean boat buy an Ocean boat cause you'll never get the best of both worlds with one boat....   

[Dmanmastertracker]

 The only thing I would add is that the weight of the boat really makes a difference too. My Storm is twice as heavy as my old TJ, it tend's to push through bigger waves under power better.