We all want a JET BOAT :):):):)

http://www.akmining.com/boat/jetboats.htm

Who hasnt seen the Bond Movies I have always wanted a Jet boat and I found a gret place to buy them: http://www.akmining.com/boat/jetboats.htm

Getting to Alaska might be a issue but dang they have some fantastic information.

The following is from their site:


If you want to run shallow rivers, you need a jet boat. Jet boats come in different types and sizes, but they all have one thing in common – they depend on a high-pressure column of water pushed out of the engine to propel the boat. They can run in less water depth because there is no prop and lower unit hanging down to snag the river bottom. With the right boat, a highly skilled driver, and a consistent bottom, you can run in as little as two-to-three inches of water.
Jet engines come in two varieties – inboard and outboard. Regardless of the type of motor, the jet system consumes about 30% of the engines horsepower while taking in the water and accelerating it out the back. A 50HP outboard fitted with a jet unit will make about 35HP at the nozzle. Other typical combinations you see are 25/20, 60/40, 90/65, 115/80, 150/105, and 200/140.

Inboard jets usually consist of automotive style engines that are “marinized” for use in boats and to which are fitted jet pump systems. The most common brands of jet pumps in our area are Kodiak and Hamilton. Both are excellent systems, have different characteristics, work well, and have their share of dedicated and vocal advocates. Inboard engine horsepower ratings start around 225HP and go up to 425HP in the boats that we sell.

A hybrid design that has really caught on in the last couple of years is Mercury’s SportJet. With this package Mercury has taken a 2-stroke outboard powerhead and mated it to a proprietary, highly efficient pump system. The result is a fairly small but powerful system that works really well in 18’ to 20’ boats. The SportJet 175 is a carbureted, oil-injected motor, while the 240 is an oil-inject EFI motor. While significantly more expensive, the 240 SportJet really packs a punch, is fairly quiet, and gets excellent fuel mileage for a 2-stroke.

Which motor to pick? Personal preferences reign. For small boats outboards are the answer because of weight. They work well on boats up to about 21’. In the middle range, walk-through windshield style hulls in 18’ to 20’ the Merc SportJet packages are great. The engine/pump systems weigh less than half what even the smallest marinized automotive-style engine weighs and take up a lot less room inside the boat. For larger boats, where you want to take a lot of people, haul a lot of stuff, or drive long distances, there’s nothing like the big V-8s. They run good, they sound good, and they provide the kind of real push you need to operate a boat of that caliber. A classic setup would be a Bosch port-fuel-injected 350 that makes about 330HP with either a 3-stage Kodiak or Hamilton 212 Turbo pump; this is a very satisfying yet still fairly economical package in a 21’ or 22’ riverboat.

You can buy a jet boat at AMDS that ranges anywhere in size from 14’ to 24’. Hull styles include flat-bottomed jons, tunnel jons, and Skiff or Sport styles with 5 degree or 12 degree bottoms. For someone looking for the proverbial “all-around boat,” a 21’ to 24’ inboard with 12 degree V makes a reasonable compromise. One of the beauties of inboard (4-stroke) power is the ready availability of cabin heat and defrost. Having that blast of warm air on a chilly morning is a really nice touch.