Jet Boats

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NWTHunter

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Been thinking of aquiring a jet boat for some time but have limited experience with them and am completely clueless with respect to how the various manufacturers compare.

My interest was piqued by the Phantom 21' SportJon, but Phantom lists only three dealers; one in Alaska, the second in Idaho, and the third in Virginia.

Several folks have used Harbercraft around here. What, if any, jet boat are you using? Have you used more than one model/ brand? If so what are your observed strengths and weaknesses amongst those boats you've used.

I'd be using mine primarily to hunt moose along a large, swift, muddy river with pleanty of sandbars.
 
Keep in mind I don't have a boat myself but while talking to the guy in town who builds Boats here {JetCraft} he said harbercraft's were junk {while fixing the 6th one this year} but he didn't build it so maybe everything else is junk:D

Bro in law has and sells ThunderJets and it has been a good boat this year, buddy has a Lynx Tuchodi Special {outlaw} that he is happy with. Uncle had one built but it was 100+, not exactly in everybody's range but a damn nice boat.

You can find some nice used ones out there too, if I was to buy my first I'd probably go that way, depending on how mechanicaly inclined you were I guess. One good thing about running the river though is that everybody will stop to make sure your all right\need help if something does go wrong, pretty tightly wrapped little community I've found.

I think I just said a whole lot of nothing:rolleyes:, Is there a River rat type of club there? Hit up the next poker ralley or club meating and go for a ride, if anything it's a good day\weekend\week out;)
 
A good friend of mines has an 'Outlaw'.
We have run up and down the Bow for years
and never had a prob as far as the boat itself
is concerned. It's tough. . . , just because the
rocks are wet, doesn't mean they're under water.
knock'd off a bit of hull paint but thats all.
It's a workhorse. I can't remember the exact year
of the 'blue ghost', buts it's early 80's.
 
Asking about jet boats, in Alaska I saw an attachment on an outboard motor lower housing that had the impeller mounted on the vertical axis. The boat itself looked like a heavier weight aluminum runabout The clamshells were controlled by pulleys. Is this a half-fast (not half-a$$ed) alternative to a full-specification rock-bouncing high horsepower jet boat?
 
Lots of guys up here just run a jet leg on their outboards. You lose a bit of the HP rating (a 40 behaves more like a 30) but they get the job done at a fraction of the cost of a fancy jet boat.
 
Yeah BUM, I've seen a couple of those around here too. I'd prefer the real thing though; and keep a good 16' aluminum for a cabin on one of the lakes, if I every get around to building one. I see Kingland sells Outlaw boats, maybe I'll check them out.
 
You're sitting on the experts...if anybody knows jet boats, it's Russel King. He has more jet boat experience than anybody else up there.
 
I have a Harbercraft 1875 with a 175 sportjet. Great performer when not excessively heavy....will easily take 4 adults and gear on most water. When buying a jet consider where it will be run. Do you need uhmv on the bottom or do you run tamer water. The V8s are heavy and burn a lot of fuel. The sportjets are lighter and the 175 sips fuel unless you are full out alot. A smaller boat with an outboard jet will be the ticket for small rivers and creeks and you usually can push it into deeper water when STUCK...
 
I've got a Lynx Tuchodi with a 175 sportjet in 'er. Its capable of running on some pretty skinny water, and it doesn't seem too bad on gas. The guy I bought if from turned around and bought the exact same boat again, but the new one has a 240 sportjet. He claims its really hard on gas, an wishes he never sold this one. I'm happy with it.
 
I've been told to expect around 8 - 9 gph at 3,000 - 3,200 RPM out of a 20' Nahanni with a 350. That would be about 7.5 to 8.5 hours at a steady 30 mph.

I suspect the V-8 will use more fuel when loaded but will still be appreciated when hauling bulwinkle home.
 
I would recommend Outlaw Marine, the Lynx with Tuchodi bottom if you want a sportjet or a Muskwa if you want V8 power. I would avoid Harbercrafts, although they run nice they are very lite duty, I am on my second boat, the first was a Kenferm built in Sherwood Park, had a 175 sportjet, great running boat but got beat up pretty bad on the bottom, fuel was about 6 gallons per hour empty and 8-9 when fully loaded, the Sportjets are impressive performers for a small package and ran flawlessly for me for 480 hrs, a friend who purchased it has added about 70 more hrs. Am now running a 21 ft Muskwa with a stroked small block (383 CI) consumption at 3200 is about 8 gallons per hr and doesn't really change with a moderate load, fully loaded running 3600-3700 rpm about 12 gallons per hr. If buying a V8 I would recommend the upgrade to the Stroker as fully loaded the 350 seems just adequate, the Hamilton 212 is a great pump for handling anything other than water and a good performer, I am running an American Turbine SD309 which is a good pump as well. If you are running shallow an 8 degree with UHMV is a must. Ther is also a custom manufacturer in my home town, builds outstanding boats but not cheap (as if any are) if you want the deatils on his boats send me a pm and I will get hid contact info to you.
 
Muddy water and sand bars are the most common issue; there's a few rocks but I know where they are. From what I've learned Kingland has sold a lot of Nahannis and Clearwaters and never had an unhappy customer.

I'm seriously contemplating a 20' Outlaw Nahanni. 12 degree, 350 cid, American Turbine SD309, loaded up with all sorts of nice features and at a season-ended sale price.
 
For what its worth, Harbercraft have had a number of sinkings allegedly caused by design problems, poor or missing welds, etc. I say "allegedly" as they are matters that will be litigated.
 
Iron Glove said:
For what its worth, Harbercraft have had a number of sinkings allegedly caused by design problems, poor or missing welds, etc. I say "allegedly" as they are matters that will be litigated.
Click to expand...
I've seeen more Harbourcrafts in the shop with pump box problems than any other brand.
The danged things just ain't made for limerock!!:cool:
My little Marathon is small and not much compared to some of the big jobs, but it is manouverable, light enough to slam up on the gravel in a hurry( bin thhar dun that) then get it off later.
I parks easily in my driveway, and will run in almost no water.
Its 120 Sportjet will do 40 MPH with three guys in the boat and 30gal. of fuel.
the intake grate is much smaller than the outboard jets, so doesn't suck up rocks .
it's got extra protection on the bottom, double batteries, isolater, water trap gas filter, chuck wagon top, plus lots of other extras,and it came in a lot cheaper than most.

It is not nearly as dry a boat to run through the rough stufff as some because of thee gunnel design, but at the same time it's small enought that I don't hhave too get into a lot of the rougher water.
I can get it up small creeks ot trailer it to remote lakes with no sweat.
Even run it right up onto the beach if the weather is rough ( note ice!) and get it off, no problem
This model has been discontinued, it's a shame really.
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