Mercury in a Sea Doo

[Jamepc]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this post. The engine is a 240 HP Mercury V6 EFI M2 Jet Drive. Is this an Mercury outboard head used to power a jet drive? It's not an outboard or an I/O, right?
I'm was looking for a deck boat with an outboard engine so it can be lifter completely out of the water when docked, then came across this. Would a jet drive be just as conveinent to keep in the water as an outboard (when compared to an I/O)?
Any other pro/cons of a jet drive equipped boat?

Thanks,
James

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

it is a merc outboard with a jet drive, the only problem i know of is effiecency. a 240 is 240 hp at the prop, and jet drive is 30-40 % less. thus you are burning more fuel. loosing speed and thrust. jet drives have there place in shallow water, and rocky rivers. with the price of gas i would hunt a proped motor.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

Thanks for your reply. If the final HP is 30% less then the same boat with an I/O or outboard, the it make the 240 feel like 170 HP? The claims are that the 240 will push the 3400 lb. v hull to about 42 MPH. What do similar 170 and 240 HP outboards push a 3400 lb to?

I drove Sea Doo PWC's before and know that steering is gone without thrust. Would it be the same in this big boat? Would it have the tendency to slide in directions not wanted to (make loading, docking more difficult)?
How are these things prevented from being sucked up in the jet drive? Is this a problem for these?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

Would it be the same in this big boat? Would it have the tendency to slide in directions not wanted to (make loading, docking more difficult)?
How are these things prevented from being sucked up in the jet drive?

Yep, yep, and yep...and what goes in somtimes comes out...usually not a problem

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

If you live in a weedy area, you don't want a jet. They clog like right-now.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

if you want to ski, wakeboard, tube, you will be happier with a prop. get the hp you paid for. yes steering is buy thrust, just like a jet ski, engine dies you have no steering, atleast with a prop works like a rudder, though not well. reverse is iffy as a jet ski.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

I had the pleasure of using a Seadoo Utopia 185 a few times. That 240EFI is a sweet package, with tons of accelleration. You're correct that the jet is required to turn, however unlike the traditional PWC the larger boats have a thrust system which automatically adjusts thrust when the steering wheel is turned at no-wake speed. Assists to help turn at slow speed.

You need to be carfeful not to suck up rocks and debris, but they do offer special screens for the intake depending on the environment you intend to use it in. You can take them into shallow water, provided that you ensure you understand the risk. Consistent use in shallow sandy water can wear out the jet impeller clearances, and reduce efficiency.

I don't like most jet boats, but those with the Merc outboards are a nice package. I believe all the new Seadoo have reverted back to the Rotax 4-Tec motors.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Mercury in a Sea Doo

How about keeping a jet drive in the water. I originally wanted an outboard so it could be lifted completely out of the salty Intercoastal water. With a jet drive, how much of the jet drive is always submerged? With the parts that are always submerged, I assume there's no easy way to apply anti foulant paint? I imagine some sort of intake and output tubes that would be difficult to keep clean.