Outboard Jet Drives (Like Honda 105HP)?

K

Karl

New member
I'm getting ready to buy a center console ~18' boat (probably Key West 176CC) and am wondering if a jet-drive, like the Honda 105HP, is a viable option.

While 90% of my operation will be in 20+ feet of water, I would like the option of exploring some one-foot depths, too.

Does the outboard jet even make sense?

I realize that jets are less efficient (I believe Honda has already derated this motor, so that the 105HP is the prop-equivalent HP), and that there are handling/steering issues with jet drive.

BUT, I'm also seeing references to hull design...does an outboard jet motor require a specific hull shape, or can they be directly swapped for a prop outboard?

Thanks, as always.

-Karl
 
Jets are usally installed on boats with low deadrise.

There is also a difference in shaft length. The otor needs to sit five inches higher if you are going to put a prop leg on it.
 
Outboard jets are about a third less efficient than props. That makes $4 gas about $5.25 comparatively, while in shallow or deep water, not to mention the cost of the jet. If you were going to allocate that extra cost at 9:1 it gets pricey running shallow.

But props and skegs are expensive too. So I guess if you want to run shallow water it makes some sense. It might make sense to consider a kicker on an adjustable bracket that you could run up higher with a "river runner" skeg protector in the shallows?
 
those of use that fish the river here use jet drive, it the only way to get up shallow rivers. I drive my two buddies boats a bit. in one of them i can go 30 mph in 4 inches of water. the flatter the hull design the better the jet will preform and the shallower you can go. some boat have a lot more v but a flat pad just before the jet intake. say the last 2 to 3 ft of the boat. a hull like that will preform well in chop in the sound and in the rivers or lakes. what type of river and bottom are you going into? is is rock and rapids like we have here or mud and just miles of shallow banks and sand bars? if its the later a prop boat and a good prop guard will do you.
 
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