Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

I have an 18' jon boat with an 18hp prop motor on it.
It is a light boat, and runs very good with the 18hp.

There is lots of shallow water I would like to fish in,
so I'd like to invest in a jet motor to do that. The boat
will handle 40hp, so does anybody have any tips on
a jet motor to consider? I know Merc has a 25hp and
a new 40hp that are both jet drives, and Yamaha and
Evinrude have 30hp jet drive models.

I really have not heard or read much in the way of
positive reviews about any of those, so I'd appreciate
any tips. Lots of money involved in these motors...

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

there is a big difference in the jet drive and propped motor. the propped motor HP is rated at the prop. thus you are getting basically 18 hp from the prop.

the jet drive looses approx 30 % of the HP thru the jet drive. thats why jet drive motors are rated 80/50 80 hp powerhead, but 50 hp jet drive output. if the boat is rated for 40 hp you can use a 40hp propped motor. but with a jet you can use a larger power head, with the jet drive. but you also have to consider the extra weight on the stern from the jet drive motor.

throughly confused yet?

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

ran across this, 2003 25/20 jet

"http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200169883758&rd=1"

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

So info that might help in your choices:

"http://www.outboardjets.com/BoatSelection.htm"

"http://www.outboardjets.com/FAQ.htm"

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

Had a Ranger boat with a jet drive for use with the sheriff dive team but slow speeds in shallow sandy water always filled the drive up with sand causing problems.

They are more for quick trips across shallow water but not good for slow runs.

Thanks for the great tips!

Thanks for the great tips!

I'm not too keen about chopping up my jon boat to make it
a hybrid jet boat with a jetski motor, but that is an interesting concept,
and it really works for some.


In looking at the difference in usage, and big differences in costs,
I would like to do some exploring in shallow waters, but I am not
a tournament fisherman. I think the tourament fishing boats are the
mainstream market for the jet drives, and I would not be using the
boat for the best purpose of the jet drive, being quick trips to various
destinations.

I think I'll be using my shallow water drive setting more often with my
prop motor, and always carrying a spare prop. I'm using a river type
prop guard, too. And I'll be setting my depth finder shallow water
warning for 2' of water.

I can buy many, many props for the price of a jet drive motor, although
I'm sure I won't be needing many. I think I prefer to be more careful
with my prop drive and maintain my maneuverabilty and power, and
avoid the potential hassles of a jet drive. Happy boating!

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

Same conclusion I keep coming to, until the next jet boat blows by me, and start thinking about it all over again. The big advantage is they can get back up river, in heavy current, but shallow, where a prop running at a shallow water angle, can not.

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

There are jet outboards available. You woud still need to go up in power and weight to get the same performance as your 18HP Prop drive.

Alternatively, how about a used motor from a Boeing 727? LOL

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

I love running the skinny water with a jet drive. You will probably want to go with a 40hp for the jet, but the 25HP would give you about the same performance as your 18HP prop drive. You just have to be careful at sucking up weeds and debris, but if you keep it floored, that doesn't happen often. Just takes some getting used to.

Re: Tips on a jet motor for a jon boat??

Another thing to be careful about when skimming the skinny water are
big flat rocks with sharp edges.

A buddy had a real nice aluminum boat with a V8 mounted in the rear
with a jet drive motor. While speeding to a new fishing spot in a contest,
he saw a big flat rock just ahead under the surface. No time for any
adjustment, and as the boat went over the rock, the jet drive caught on
the sharp edge, and the boat stopped right there. The 2 anglers went
flying to the front of the boat, but luckily were only bruised up a bit.
The boat floor and the jet drive were bent and damaged badly. Over the
next several weeks there were 3 attempts by mechanics to weld and repair,
but they all failed. After several thousand dollars down the drain, he
sacrificed a trade on a standard jon boat with a 45hp jet drive. It ain't
the same, and never will be, but at least he's on the water and fishing
again.

We need to be attentive in all water sports, and still enjoy them and
love them.

I built a jet Jon for around $500.00, got my boat and trailer for $200.00 and the jet ski for $100.00. All the information I got off YouTube. Wasn't that hard a build at all. She goes in about 3" of water and runs out at about 40 mph. Not bad for a month project...

Billyjetjon said:

I built a jet Jon for around $500.00, got my boat and trailer for $200.00 and the jet ski for $100.00. All the information I got off YouTube. Wasn't that hard a build at all. She goes in about 3" of water and runs out at about 40 mph. Not bad for a month project...

Click to expand...

Too bad your one month project is 120 months too late.

Closed.